Jisoo had been living in London for almost a year. She liked the busy streets, old buildings, and friendly people, but sometimes, she missed the taste of home. One cold Saturday evening, she decided to invite her new friends over for dinner.
“I’ll cook something special tonight,” she said proudly.
When they arrived, they saw a small grill in the middle of the table. The smell of sizzling meat filled the room. “What’s this?” asked Tom, looking curious.
“This is Korean BBQ,” Jisoo explained. “You cook the meat yourself, then wrap it in lettuce with rice, garlic, and sauce.”
Her friends followed her instructions carefully. The meat was juicy, and the spicy sauce made their eyes water, but they all laughed.
“This is amazing,” said Anna. “It feels like we’re in Korea!”
As they ate and talked, Jisoo felt warm inside. The taste, the smell, and the laughter reminded her of home. She realized that even far away, she could still share her culture and make new memories.
That night, the little London apartment was full of smoke, laughter, and the sound of sizzling meat – just like home.
🌸 English Review Tasks
🔥 B1 – B2 English Story – The Taste of Home – Intermediate Practice
A. Vocabulary Practice
1. Match the words to their meanings.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| a. culture | 1. To cook something over high heat or on a grill |
| b. BBQ | 2. The customs, food, and traditions of a country or people |
| c. grill | 3. A special meal where people cook meat together |
| d. spicy | 4. Having a strong, hot flavor |
| e. homesick | 5. Missing your home or country when you are away |
2. Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.
- Jisoo moved to London and missed her Korean __________.
(culture / family / job) - She invited her friends for a special dinner of Korean __________.
(BBQ / soup / dessert) - The meat was __________ and made their eyes water.
(sweet / spicy / cold) - They cooked the food on a small __________ in the middle of the table.
(oven / grill / stove) - Jisoo felt a bit __________ before dinner, but later she was happy.
(homesick / tired / lazy)
B. Grammar & Structure Practice
1. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
(Use past simple or present perfect.)
- Jisoo __________ (live) in London for almost a year.
- She __________ (invite) her friends to dinner last Saturday.
- They __________ (cook) the meat together at the table.
- Her friends __________ (say) the food was amazing.
- Jisoo __________ (realize) she could share her culture anywhere.
2. Combine the ideas using connectors (and, because, but, so, although).
Example: Jisoo missed home. She cooked Korean BBQ. → Jisoo cooked Korean BBQ because she missed home.
- Jisoo lives in London. She misses Korean food.
- The meat is spicy. Everyone still enjoys it.
- They laugh together. The room smells like home.
- Her friends learn about Korean culture. They are interested.
- Jisoo feels happy. She shares something special from her country.
C. Writing Practice
✏️ Short Response (70 – 100 words)
Question:
In the story, Jisoo cooks Korean BBQ to share her culture with her friends.
👉 Do you think food is a good way to connect with people from different countries? Why or why not?
Use these words and expressions to help you:
culture, food, share, friends, cook, spicy, home, happy, together
🌿 Extension (Optional Creative Task)
✨ Imagine you are Jisoo preparing a Korean BBQ night.
Write a short paragraph (60 – 80 words) about how you set the table, what food you cook, and how your friends react.
Use descriptive adjectives (e.g., warm, smoky, delicious, spicy, friendly).
How did you find this intermediate English story? Check out the stories page for more!
Don’t forget to review grammar on our grammar page too.
