Free Daily English · Level A2 (Elementary) · Topic: speaking English in public for the first time

Nico Speaks English in the Taxi

Name: ______________________ Date: ____________

Nico gets into a taxi early in the morning. He needs to go to the city center. He has an important meeting today. Nico is nervous because he wants to speak English. He does not speak English very often. He usually stays quiet when he does not know the words. The driver says, "Good morning! Where are you going?" Nico takes a deep breath. He looks at the driver in the mirror. He says, "Good morning. I need to go to Central Street, please." His voice is very quiet. The driver smiles and says, "No problem!" Nico feels a little better. He did it. He spoke English. The taxi moves through the streets. Nico looks out the window.

He feels nervous again. The driver asks, "Is this your first time in this area?" Nico thinks for a moment. He wants to answer well. He says, "Yes, it is. I am new here." The driver nods and says, "It is a great place. You will love it!" Nico smiles. He says, "Thank you. I hope so." The driver asks, "Do you need directions to anything else?" Nico thinks about this. He says, "No, thank you. Just the meeting." The driver laughs a little. Nico laughs too. It feels nice. He thinks English is not so scary. The taxi arrives at Central Street. The driver says, "Here we are! Have a great meeting." Nico pays the fare.

He says, "Thank you very much. You are very kind." The driver says, "Good luck today!" Nico gets out of the taxi. He stands on the sidewalk. He feels proud of himself. He spoke English the whole ride. He did not stop. He did not give up. He thinks about the driver's smile. It helped him feel calm. Nico walks to his meeting. He is still nervous. But he is also happy. He knows he can do it again. Next time, he will speak a little louder.

Key vocabulary

nervous (adjective)	feeling worried or frightened about something“Nico is nervous because he wants to speak English.”
breath (noun)	the air that you take into and send out of your lungs“He takes a deep breath before he speaks.”
mirror (noun)	a flat piece of glass that shows your reflection“He looks at the driver in the mirror.”
area (noun)	a part of a place or city“The driver asks if it is Nico's first time in this area.”
directions (noun)	instructions that tell you how to get to a place“The driver asks if Nico needs directions to anything else.”
fare (noun)	the money you pay to travel in a taxi or on a bus“Nico pays the fare when the taxi arrives.”
proud (adjective)	feeling happy because you did something well“Nico feels proud of himself after the taxi ride.”
calm (adjective)	not worried or excited; relaxed and quiet“The driver's smile helped Nico feel calm.”

Useful phrases

take a deep breath — to breathe in slowly to help yourself feel less nervous“He takes a deep breath before he speaks to the driver.”
No problem! — used to say that something is easy or that you are happy to help“The driver smiles and says, "No problem!"”
I am new here — used to say that you have not been in a place for a long time“Nico says, "I am new here," when the driver asks about the area.”
I hope so — used to say that you want something to be true“Nico says, "I hope so," when the driver says he will love the place.”
Here we are! — used to say that you have arrived at a place“The driver says, "Here we are!" when the taxi stops.”
Good luck! — used to wish someone success before something important“The driver says, "Good luck today!" before Nico gets out.”
give up — to stop trying to do something“Nico did not give up. He spoke English the whole ride.”
feel proud of yourself — to feel happy and satisfied because you did something well“Nico stands on the sidewalk and feels proud of himself.”

Word search

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

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L
1	T	A	O	S	U	N	I	V	N	T	M	E
2	X	Z	E	Q	D	R	F	Y	T	S	Y	R
3	P	G	T	I	U	J	O	A	W	E	D	Z
4	L	P	U	W	O	P	P	R	R	I	A	F
5	P	R	X	K	R	J	S	J	R	E	I	B
6	S	V	L	P	P	U	D	E	H	I	O	Z
7	X	M	Y	G	O	I	C	T	X	J	M	W
8	I	L	H	V	R	T	A	N	F	K	I	L
9	Q	V	R	C	I	E	G	Z	A	E	R	A
10	L	E	W	O	R	A	Z	M	L	A	C	T
11	N	W	N	B	F	Y	T	V	Y	X	N	C
12	J	S	I	I	A	T	Y	C	T	Y	E	E

Comprehension quiz

Where does Nico need to go?
- A) Central Street
- B) The airport
- C) The bus station
- D) A school
Why is Nico nervous at the start of the story?
- A) He is late for his meeting
- B) He does not have money for the fare
- C) He wants to speak English
- D) The taxi is going the wrong way
What does Nico do before he speaks to the driver?
- A) He takes a deep breath
- B) He closes his eyes
- C) He looks at his phone
- D) He reads a map
What does the driver say after Nico gives the address?
- A) "No problem!"
- B) "Are you sure?"
- C) "Please speak louder."
- D) "I do not know that street."
The driver asks Nico if he needs directions to anything else. What does Nico say?
- A) "No, thank you. Just the meeting."
- B) "Can you wait for me?"
- C) "Yes, please help me."
- D) "I need to find a restaurant."
What does the word 'fare' mean in this story?
- A) The money you pay to travel in a taxi
- B) A map of the city
- C) A type of food
- D) A kind of meeting
How does Nico feel when he stands on the sidewalk at the end?
- A) Proud and happy
- B) Scared and sad
- C) Angry and tired
- D) Confused and lost
True or False: Nico stops speaking English during the taxi ride.
- A) Not mentioned
- B) True
- C) Not stated
- D) False
What helped Nico feel calm in the taxi?
- A) Calling a friend
- B) Looking out the window
- C) The driver's smile
- D) Listening to music
What does Nico decide at the end of the story?
- A) He will not speak English again
- B) He will find a different job
- C) He will speak a little louder next time
- D) He will take the bus next time

Answer key (A2 (Elementary))

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

area: L9 ← · breath: D11 ↗ · calm: K10 ← · directions: K3 ↙ · fare: G2 ↘ · mirror: K7 ↖ · nervous: A11 ↗ · proud: E6 ↑

Free Daily English · Level B1 (Intermediate) · Topic: speaking English in public for the first time

Nico's First English Conversation in the Taxi

Name: ______________________ Date: ____________

Nico slides into the back seat of the taxi and immediately feels his heart rate rise. He has a meeting across town, and he has been rehearsing the address in his head since breakfast. When the driver glances in the rearview mirror and says, "Morning! Where are you headed?", Nico swallows hard and forces himself to answer. "Central Street, please," he says, his voice steadier than he expected. The driver nods and pulls into traffic, and Nico exhales quietly, relieved that the first exchange is already behind him.

A few minutes into the ride, the driver breaks the silence. "First time in this part of town?" he asks in a friendly tone. Nico hesitates for a moment, searching for the right words, then replies, "Yes, I'm still finding my way around." The driver smiles and says, "You'll get used to it fast, trust me." Encouraged by the casual response, Nico relaxes his grip on his bag and starts to enjoy the conversation. They talk briefly about the neighborhood, and Nico realizes that speaking English in public is far less frightening than he had imagined. When the taxi pulls up at Central Street, the driver announces cheerfully, "Here you go! Good luck with your meeting." Nico thanks him warmly, pays the fare, and steps out onto the sidewalk feeling a quiet sense of accomplishment.

He had not stumbled over his words as badly as he feared, and the driver's easy manner had made the whole thing feel natural. Standing outside the building, Nico takes a moment to appreciate what just happened. He had held a real conversation in English with a complete stranger. Whatever happened inside the meeting, he already knew that the hardest part was over.

Key vocabulary

rehearse (verb)	to practice something, such as words or a speech, before you actually say or do it“Nico has been rehearsing the address in his head since breakfast.”
rearview mirror (noun)	the mirror inside a vehicle that allows the driver to see what is behind them“The driver glances in the rearview mirror before speaking.”
exhale (verb)	to breathe out“Nico exhales quietly after the driver accepts his answer.”
hesitate (verb)	to pause before doing or saying something, often because you are uncertain“Nico hesitates for a moment before he replies to the driver's question.”
encouraged (adjective)	feeling more confident or hopeful because of something that happened“Encouraged by the driver's friendly reply, Nico starts to relax.”
accomplishment (noun)	something that you have done successfully, especially after effort“Nico steps out of the taxi with a quiet sense of accomplishment.”
stumble (verb)	to make mistakes or speak in an awkward way“Nico had not stumbled over his words as badly as he feared.”
fare (noun)	the amount of money charged for a journey in a taxi or other vehicle“Nico pays the fare before stepping out onto the sidewalk.”

Useful phrases

find my way around — to become familiar with a new place“Nico tells the driver that he is still finding his way around the city.”
break the silence — to say something after a period when no one has spoken“A few minutes into the ride, the driver breaks the silence with a friendly question.”
trust me — used to encourage someone to believe what you are saying“The driver says, "You'll get used to it fast, trust me."”
get used to something — to become familiar and comfortable with something new“The driver tells Nico that he will get used to the neighborhood fast.”
pull up — when a vehicle stops at a particular place“When the taxi pulls up at Central Street, the driver says goodbye.”
a quiet sense of accomplishment — a personal feeling of satisfaction that you do not need to show loudly“Nico steps onto the sidewalk with a quiet sense of accomplishment.”
the hardest part is over — used to say that the most difficult thing has already been done“Nico knows that the hardest part is over after speaking English in the taxi.”
hold a conversation — to take part in and maintain a conversation with someone“Nico realizes he held a real conversation in English with a complete stranger.”

Word search

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

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L	M	N	O
1	G	E	Q	E	K	T	A	E	L	I	I	L	V	T	W
2	T	Q	E	S	R	A	E	H	E	R	W	X	K	C	R
3	N	O	E	M	U	H	P	O	V	H	N	P	C	E	C
4	E	M	K	N	Z	W	S	H	Q	M	D	P	A	C	C
5	M	D	Z	M	C	B	T	A	I	D	O	R	C	X	F
6	H	N	W	O	S	O	J	C	X	S	V	J	I	F	S
7	S	T	H	Y	L	U	U	G	F	I	R	E	A	E	K
8	I	L	B	F	B	J	H	R	E	X	L	R	T	X	A
9	L	X	A	U	G	B	D	W	A	B	E	A	Z	N	I
10	P	I	S	P	P	G	M	E	M	G	T	U	B	X	B
11	M	G	Q	Q	P	I	I	U	L	I	E	U	U	R	D
12	O	A	I	Q	R	V	T	F	S	A	O	D	K	J	H
13	C	I	K	R	U	S	Y	E	J	T	H	J	E	B	I
14	C	H	O	F	Y	N	H	R	P	R	T	X	N	U	S
15	A	R	D	I	F	Z	H	E	I	L	M	O	E	R	H

Comprehension quiz

What had Nico been doing in his head since breakfast?
- A) Planning what to say at his meeting
- B) Rehearsing the address he needed to give
- C) Thinking about his schedule for the day
- D) Counting the money for the fare
How does Nico feel after successfully giving the driver his destination?
- A) Relieved that the first exchange is behind him
- B) Confused about the route
- C) Angry that he spoke too quietly
- D) More nervous than before
What does the word 'hesitate' mean as used in the story?
- A) To speak very loudly and confidently
- B) To forget the words completely
- C) To pause before speaking because you are uncertain
- D) To change your mind about something
What does Nico reply when the driver asks if it is his first time in that part of town?
- A) "Yes, I just moved here yesterday."
- B) "No, I come here all the time."
- C) "Yes, I'm still finding my way around."
- D) "I'm not sure where I am."
True or False: Nico stumbles badly over his words during the taxi ride.
- A) True
- B) False
- C) Not mentioned
- D) Not stated
What causes Nico to relax his grip on his bag during the ride?
- A) The taxi slows down in traffic
- B) The driver's friendly and casual response encourages him
- C) He receives a message on his phone
- D) He looks out the window and sees a familiar street
What does the phrase 'pull up' mean in this story?
- A) To turn around and go back
- B) To stop at a particular place
- C) To open the car window
- D) To drive faster
True or False: The driver wished Nico good luck with his meeting.
- A) Not mentioned
- B) Not stated
- C) False
- D) True
What does Nico realize at the end of the story?
- A) Speaking English in public is far less frightening than he had imagined
- B) He needs to practice his English more before speaking again
- C) His meeting was more important than the taxi conversation
- D) The taxi driver was not very friendly after all
According to the story, what was the 'hardest part' for Nico?
- A) Finding the right taxi
- B) Paying the fare correctly
- C) Arriving on time for his meeting
- D) Having a real conversation in English with a stranger

Answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

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

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.

accomplishment: A15 ↑ · encouraged: C3 ↘ · exhale: M15 ↖ · fare: N6 ↙ · hesitate: G14 ↗ · rearview mirror: O2 ↙ · rehearse: J2 ← · stumble: F13 ↗

Free Daily English · www.freedailyenglish.com/stories/nico-speaks-english-in-the-taxi-2026-10-24

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L
1	T	A	O	S	U	N	I	V	N	T	M	E
2	X	Z	E	Q	D	R	F	Y	T	S	Y	R
3	P	G	T	I	U	J	O	A	W	E	D	Z
4	L	P	U	W	O	P	P	R	R	I	A	F
5	P	R	X	K	R	J	S	J	R	E	I	B
6	S	V	L	P	P	U	D	E	H	I	O	Z
7	X	M	Y	G	O	I	C	T	X	J	M	W
8	I	L	H	V	R	T	A	N	F	K	I	L
9	Q	V	R	C	I	E	G	Z	A	E	R	A
10	L	E	W	O	R	A	Z	M	L	A	C	T
11	N	W	N	B	F	Y	T	V	Y	X	N	C
12	J	S	I	I	A	T	Y	C	T	Y	E	E

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L	M	N	O
1	G	E	Q	E	K	T	A	E	L	I	I	L	V	T	W
2	T	Q	E	S	R	A	E	H	E	R	W	X	K	C	R
3	N	O	E	M	U	H	P	O	V	H	N	P	C	E	C
4	E	M	K	N	Z	W	S	H	Q	M	D	P	A	C	C
5	M	D	Z	M	C	B	T	A	I	D	O	R	C	X	F
6	H	N	W	O	S	O	J	C	X	S	V	J	I	F	S
7	S	T	H	Y	L	U	U	G	F	I	R	E	A	E	K
8	I	L	B	F	B	J	H	R	E	X	L	R	T	X	A
9	L	X	A	U	G	B	D	W	A	B	E	A	Z	N	I
10	P	I	S	P	P	G	M	E	M	G	T	U	B	X	B
11	M	G	Q	Q	P	I	I	U	L	I	E	U	U	R	D
12	O	A	I	Q	R	V	T	F	S	A	O	D	K	J	H
13	C	I	K	R	U	S	Y	E	J	T	H	J	E	B	I
14	C	H	O	F	Y	N	H	R	P	R	T	X	N	U	S
15	A	R	D	I	F	Z	H	E	I	L	M	O	E	R	H

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L
1	T	A	O	S	U	N	I	V	N	T	M	E
2	X	Z	E	Q	D	R	F	Y	T	S	Y	R
3	P	G	T	I	U	J	O	A	W	E	D	Z
4	L	P	U	W	O	P	P	R	R	I	A	F
5	P	R	X	K	R	J	S	J	R	E	I	B
6	S	V	L	P	P	U	D	E	H	I	O	Z
7	X	M	Y	G	O	I	C	T	X	J	M	W
8	I	L	H	V	R	T	A	N	F	K	I	L
9	Q	V	R	C	I	E	G	Z	A	E	R	A
10	L	E	W	O	R	A	Z	M	L	A	C	T
11	N	W	N	B	F	Y	T	V	Y	X	N	C
12	J	S	I	I	A	T	Y	C	T	Y	E	E

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L	M	N	O
1	G	E	Q	E	K	T	A	E	L	I	I	L	V	T	W
2	T	Q	E	S	R	A	E	H	E	R	W	X	K	C	R
3	N	O	E	M	U	H	P	O	V	H	N	P	C	E	C
4	E	M	K	N	Z	W	S	H	Q	M	D	P	A	C	C
5	M	D	Z	M	C	B	T	A	I	D	O	R	C	X	F
6	H	N	W	O	S	O	J	C	X	S	V	J	I	F	S
7	S	T	H	Y	L	U	U	G	F	I	R	E	A	E	K
8	I	L	B	F	B	J	H	R	E	X	L	R	T	X	A
9	L	X	A	U	G	B	D	W	A	B	E	A	Z	N	I
10	P	I	S	P	P	G	M	E	M	G	T	U	B	X	B
11	M	G	Q	Q	P	I	I	U	L	I	E	U	U	R	D
12	O	A	I	Q	R	V	T	F	S	A	O	D	K	J	H
13	C	I	K	R	U	S	Y	E	J	T	H	J	E	B	I
14	C	H	O	F	Y	N	H	R	P	R	T	X	N	U	S
15	A	R	D	I	F	Z	H	E	I	L	M	O	E	R	H

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L
1	T	A	O	S	U	N	I	V	N	T	M	E
2	X	Z	E	Q	D	R	F	Y	T	S	Y	R
3	P	G	T	I	U	J	O	A	W	E	D	Z
4	L	P	U	W	O	P	P	R	R	I	A	F
5	P	R	X	K	R	J	S	J	R	E	I	B
6	S	V	L	P	P	U	D	E	H	I	O	Z
7	X	M	Y	G	O	I	C	T	X	J	M	W
8	I	L	H	V	R	T	A	N	F	K	I	L
9	Q	V	R	C	I	E	G	Z	A	E	R	A
10	L	E	W	O	R	A	Z	M	L	A	C	T
11	N	W	N	B	F	Y	T	V	Y	X	N	C
12	J	S	I	I	A	T	Y	C	T	Y	E	E

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L	M	N	O
1	G	E	Q	E	K	T	A	E	L	I	I	L	V	T	W
2	T	Q	E	S	R	A	E	H	E	R	W	X	K	C	R
3	N	O	E	M	U	H	P	O	V	H	N	P	C	E	C
4	E	M	K	N	Z	W	S	H	Q	M	D	P	A	C	C
5	M	D	Z	M	C	B	T	A	I	D	O	R	C	X	F
6	H	N	W	O	S	O	J	C	X	S	V	J	I	F	S
7	S	T	H	Y	L	U	U	G	F	I	R	E	A	E	K
8	I	L	B	F	B	J	H	R	E	X	L	R	T	X	A
9	L	X	A	U	G	B	D	W	A	B	E	A	Z	N	I
10	P	I	S	P	P	G	M	E	M	G	T	U	B	X	B
11	M	G	Q	Q	P	I	I	U	L	I	E	U	U	R	D
12	O	A	I	Q	R	V	T	F	S	A	O	D	K	J	H
13	C	I	K	R	U	S	Y	E	J	T	H	J	E	B	I
14	C	H	O	F	Y	N	H	R	P	R	T	X	N	U	S
15	A	R	D	I	F	Z	H	E	I	L	M	O	E	R	H