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    Free Daily English · Level A2 (Elementary) · Topic: celebrating a small personal achievement

    Javier Fixes It

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Javier worked at a tech repair counter in a busy shopping center. He started the job three months ago. He was new and he did not know many things. The other workers were fast and skilled. Javier was slow and careful. He often asked questions. Sometimes he made mistakes. His manager, Sara, was kind and patient. She showed him how to fix phones and tablets. Javier practiced every day after work. He watched videos and read guides. He wanted to be good at his job. He did not want to disappoint anyone. Every morning, he arrived early and prepared his tools.

    He believed that hard work was important. One day, a customer came to the counter with a broken laptop. The screen was black and the laptop made a strange noise. The customer looked worried. "Can you help me?" she asked. "I have important files on this laptop." Javier looked at the laptop carefully. He opened it and checked the parts inside. He found the problem. A small cable was loose. He connected it again and cleaned the dust inside. Then he closed the laptop and pressed the power button. The screen turned on. The laptop worked again. The customer smiled and said, "Thank you so much!" Javier felt very happy.

    Sara saw everything from across the counter. She walked over to Javier. "That was great work, Javier," she said. "You fixed it all by yourself." Javier smiled. It was the first time he repaired something without help. He felt proud of himself. The other workers said, "Well done, Javier!" He thanked them all. After work, he sat down and thought about his day. Three months ago, he knew nothing about repairs. Now he fixed a laptop on his own. It was a small achievement, but it meant a lot to him. He picked up his bag and walked home with a big smile. He was ready for the next challenge. Tomorrow, he wanted to learn even more.

    Key vocabulary

    repair (noun/verb)to fix something that is broken, or the act of fixing it“The repair took about thirty minutes.”
    counter (noun)a long flat surface where customers are served in a shop“She put her phone on the counter.”
    skilled (adjective)having the ability to do something well“The skilled worker finished the job quickly.”
    cable (noun)a wire or group of wires used to carry electricity or signals“The cable was loose inside the laptop.”
    loose (adjective)not firmly fixed in place“The screw was loose, so I tightened it.”
    achievement (noun)something good that you have done through effort“Passing the test was a big achievement for her.”
    proud (adjective)feeling happy about something you have done well“He was proud of his good work.”
    challenge (noun)something new and difficult that needs effort“Learning a new language is a big challenge.”

    Useful phrases

    • by yourself — alone, without help from others“"Did you do this by yourself?" she asked.”
    • well done — used to praise someone for doing something good“"Well done, you finished the project on time!"”
    • on his own — without help from anyone else“He completed the task on his own.”
    • meant a lot — was very important or special“Her kind words meant a lot to me.”
    • turned on — started working by pressing a button or switch“She turned on the computer and began to work.”
    • looked worried — appeared to be feeling nervous or anxious“The student looked worried before the exam.”
    • hard work — a lot of effort and energy put into something“His success was the result of hard work.”
    • ready for — prepared to do or face something“I studied a lot and I am ready for the test.”

    Word search

    Find all 8 key words from the story. They can read forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally.

    ABCDEFGHIJKLM
    1SNZCXRLGEKQTA
    2LNCCZOXOVTNAC
    3TVNOEHHUOETBY
    4EAQUXGPGMSHQD
    5JTBNSQNETVEQM
    6FYITUDVECOPAP
    7JAIESEUALOMUU
    8HWFRIIBSRLFLY
    9DSEHTLKIKLANX
    10SZCBERXHZGFHO
    11JARFDMDUORPOC
    12ABSSKILLEDPWB
    13REPAIRXQTKEEQ

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Where does Javier work?

      • A) At a phone shop
      • B) At a tech repair counter
      • C) At a school
      • D) At a computer factory
    2. How long has Javier been working at his job?

      • A) Two months
      • B) Six months
      • C) One month
      • D) Three months
    3. What does the word 'loose' mean in the story?

      • A) Very small
      • B) Very tight
      • C) Not firmly fixed
      • D) Completely broken
    4. What was wrong with the customer's laptop?

      • A) The screen was cracked
      • B) A cable was loose
      • C) The battery was dead
      • D) The keyboard was broken
    5. True or False: Javier asked another worker to help him fix the laptop.

      • A) Not stated
      • B) Not mentioned
      • C) False
      • D) True
    6. What does 'achievement' mean?

      • A) A kind of repair
      • B) A difficult problem
      • C) A type of tool
      • D) Something good done through effort
    7. Who is Sara?

      • A) A customer
      • B) Another repair worker
      • C) Javier's friend
      • D) Javier's manager
    8. True or False: The customer had important files on her laptop.

      • A) True
      • B) Not stated
      • C) False
      • D) Not mentioned
    9. How did Javier feel after fixing the laptop?

      • A) Tired and bored
      • B) Angry and frustrated
      • C) Proud and happy
      • D) Worried and nervous
    10. What does the phrase 'meant a lot' suggest in the story?

      • A) It cost a lot of money
      • B) It took a long time
      • C) It was very important to him
      • D) It was very difficult

    Answer key (A2 (Elementary))

    1. B 2. D 3. C 4. B 5. C 6. D 7. D 8. A 9. C 10. C

    Word search answer key (A2 (Elementary))

    Columns are lettered from the left, rows numbered from the top. The arrow shows the reading direction from the word's first letter.

    achievement: B11 ↗ · cable: I6 ↙ · challenge: M11 ↖ · counter: D2 ↓ · loose: G1 ↘ · proud: K11 ← · repair: A13 → · skilled: D12 →

    Free Daily English · Level B1 (Intermediate) · Topic: celebrating a small personal achievement

    A Small Victory at the Counter

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Javier had been working at the tech repair counter for just under three months, and he still felt like the least experienced person on the team. While his colleagues diagnosed faults with ease and swapped out components in minutes, Javier often found himself double-checking manuals and hesitating before making a move. He had always been interested in technology, but working with real customers and real deadlines was completely different from watching tutorials at home. His supervisor, Sara, had encouraged him from the start, reminding him that everyone needs time to grow. Despite her reassurance, Javier could not help comparing himself to the others. He stayed late most evenings, practicing on old devices that had been left behind. Slowly, his confidence was beginning to build, though he had not yet handled a complicated repair entirely on his own.

    That changed on a particularly busy afternoon when a woman approached the counter holding a laptop that refused to power on. She explained that it contained months of work and that she had not backed up her files. Javier could see the anxiety in her eyes as she placed the device on the counter. Although his first instinct was to call Sara over, he decided to examine the laptop himself. After removing the back panel, he noticed that an internal ribbon cable had come partially disconnected, which was likely causing the power failure. He carefully reattached the cable, cleared out the accumulated dust, and reassembled the device. When the screen flickered to life and the familiar startup sound played, the customer let out a sigh of relief and thanked him repeatedly.

    Sara, who had been observing from a distance, walked over and gave Javier a warm smile. "You handled that perfectly," she said, placing a hand briefly on his shoulder. "I was watching the whole time, and you didn't need me at all." Javier felt a wave of pride wash over him, not because the repair had been technically difficult, but because he had trusted his own knowledge for the first time. His colleagues offered their congratulations, and one of them joked that he would soon be teaching them new tricks. As Javier packed up his tools at the end of the day, he reflected on how far he had come since his nervous first week. It had been a small personal victory, but it gave him the motivation to keep pushing forward and to tackle whatever challenges lay ahead.

    Key vocabulary

    diagnose (verb)to identify the cause of a problem or fault“The technician was able to diagnose the issue within minutes.”
    component (noun)a part or element of a larger system or machine“One of the internal components needed to be replaced.”
    reassurance (noun)words or actions that remove someone's doubts or fears“She offered him reassurance that he was doing a good job.”
    instinct (noun)a natural feeling or reaction that makes you act without thinking“His first instinct was to ask for help.”
    accumulated (adjective)gathered or collected over a period of time“There was a lot of accumulated dust inside the machine.”
    reassemble (verb)to put something back together after it has been taken apart“He reassembled the device carefully after cleaning it.”
    flicker (verb)to shine or appear with an unsteady, quick light“The screen flickered briefly before turning on fully.”
    motivation (noun)the reason or desire that makes you want to do something“Her success gave him the motivation to try harder.”

    Useful phrases

    • double-checking — looking at something again carefully to make sure it is correct“She kept double-checking her answers before submitting the test.”
    • come partially disconnected — become slightly separated from where it should be attached“The wire had come partially disconnected during transport.”
    • let out a sigh of relief — breathe out deeply because you no longer feel worried“When the results came back normal, she let out a sigh of relief.”
    • a wave of pride — a sudden strong feeling of satisfaction and happiness about something you did“He felt a wave of pride when he saw his name on the list.”
    • pushing forward — continuing to make progress despite difficulties“Even though it was hard, she kept pushing forward with her studies.”
    • handled that perfectly — managed a situation in the best possible way“You handled that perfectly; the customer was very satisfied.”
    • how far he had come — the amount of progress someone has made over time“Looking back, she was amazed at how far she had come in one year.”
    • tackle whatever challenges — deal with any difficult situations that may appear“With more experience, you will be able to tackle whatever challenges come your way.”

    Word search

    Find all 8 key words from the story. They can read forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally.

    ABCDEFGHIJKLM
    1TEESQWFWNXPUH
    2NEAYBDKNPBJAR
    3EDCTVMFWWQCOE
    4NWONCMPMPCNAA
    5OCHYANTBUOIYS
    6PYNRDRIMIMWFS
    7MIIHQIUTAZYME
    8OPQAZLASSRYYM
    9CZVKAVNGSNTNB
    10ITNTIDEONAIFL
    11FBETMUPQDOEIE
    12YDOOAQOCSOSRT
    13ZMXREKCILFQEH

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Why did Javier feel less confident than his colleagues?

      • A) He had broken a customer's device before
      • B) He had a difficult relationship with Sara
      • C) He had less experience and often needed to check manuals
      • D) He did not like technology
    2. What does the word 'diagnose' mean in the context of the story?

      • A) To clean the inside of a device
      • B) To identify the cause of a problem
      • C) To repair something quickly
      • D) To sell a new product
    3. True or False: Javier called Sara to help him fix the laptop.

      • A) True
      • B) False
      • C) Not mentioned
      • D) Not stated
    4. What was the cause of the laptop's power failure?

      • A) A damaged hard drive
      • B) A partially disconnected ribbon cable
      • C) A dead battery
      • D) A broken screen
    5. What does the phrase 'let out a sigh of relief' mean?

      • A) To laugh loudly at something funny
      • B) To breathe out because the worry is over
      • C) To cry because of sadness
      • D) To speak very quietly
    6. True or False: The customer had backed up all her files before bringing the laptop in.

      • A) True
      • B) False
      • C) Not stated
      • D) Not mentioned
    7. What does 'accumulated' mean as used in the story?

      • A) Placed inside carefully
      • B) Removed completely
      • C) Cleaned thoroughly
      • D) Gathered over a period of time
    8. Why was Javier's achievement meaningful to him?

      • A) Because Sara asked him to train new workers
      • B) Because the repair was very complex
      • C) Because he earned extra money
      • D) Because he trusted his own knowledge for the first time
    9. What did one of Javier's colleagues joke about?

      • A) That Javier should find a different job
      • B) That Javier would soon be teaching them new tricks
      • C) That Javier broke more things than he fixed
      • D) That Javier was Sara's favorite worker
    10. True or False: Javier had been working at the repair counter for over a year.

      • A) False
      • B) Not mentioned
      • C) Not stated
      • D) True

    Answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

    1. C 2. B 3. B 4. B 5. B 6. B 7. D 8. D 9. B 10. A

    Word search answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

    Columns are lettered from the left, rows numbered from the top. The arrow shows the reading direction from the word's first letter.

    accumulated: L2 ↙ · component: A9 ↑ · diagnose: E6 ↘ · flicker: J13 ← · instinct: K10 ↖ · motivation: B13 ↗ · reassemble: M2 ↓ · reassurance: L12 ↖

    Free Daily English · www.freedailyenglish.com/stories/javier-fixes-it-2026-05-30