English at Home

Tuesday, 15 July 2025

🧛 Dracula – Chapter 2: Strange Days in the Castle

Jonathan Harker’s Journal – May 5th
I spent my first full day in Castle Dracula, and already I feel like a prisoner.

The Count is kind and well-mannered. He speaks perfect English, though with a strange accent. We talk about business—he wants to buy a house in London—but something about him makes me nervous.

He never eats with me. In fact, I never see him eat or drink anything.

He only appears at night, never in the daylight.

Today, I woke early and explored the castle. The doors are locked. Every exit is barred. I can walk the halls and rooms—but I cannot leave.

The Count warned me, “Don’t sleep in any room except your own.”
Why would he say that?

May 7th
I noticed something odd. There are no mirrors in the castle.

I used a small mirror from my shaving kit. As I leaned over the sink, I saw my face—but not the Count’s. He stood directly behind me, but he had no reflection.

Startled, I turned around. He reached out and grabbed the mirror, throwing it to the ground.

“A broken mirror is bad luck,” he said calmly. But I saw anger in his eyes.

What kind of man casts no reflection?

Later, I noticed that his hands are covered in hair, and his nails are sharp—more like claws than fingers.

I’m beginning to fear him.

May 10th
Today, I looked out the window and saw something terrible. The Count was crawling down the wall of the castle, headfirst, like a spider.

No human could move like that.

I tried the doors again. Still locked. Still no way out.

I am trapped.

May 12th
At night, I hear strange noises. Whispers. Scratching sounds in the walls.

One night, I couldn’t sleep and wandered into another room—disobeying the Count’s warning.

I found a beautiful, empty bedroom. I lay on the bed and closed my eyes.

Then I heard a soft laugh.

Three women were standing at the end of the bed—pale, with red lips and glowing eyes.

One whispered, “He’s young and warm. Shall we kiss him?”

I couldn’t move. My body was frozen with fear.

As they leaned closer, I felt their cold breath on my neck.

Suddenly, the Count appeared. He was furious. “He belongs to me!” he shouted.

The women hissed and disappeared into the darkness.

The Count looked down at me. “You should not have left your room,” he said.

I’m certain now—he is not human.

📖 Glossary

Word / Phrase	Meaning
Prisoner	Someone who cannot leave a place
Barred	Locked with metal bars
Reflection	The image seen in a mirror
Shaving kit	Small set of tools used for shaving
Claws	Sharp nails, like those of an animal
Hissed	Made a sharp "sss" sound, like a snake

❓ Comprehension Questions

What makes Jonathan feel like a prisoner?
What strange things does he notice about the Count?
What happens with the mirror?
How does the Count move down the castle wall?
Who are the three women Jonathan sees?
How does the Count react when he finds them with Jonathan?
What is Jonathan now sure about?

✅ Answers

All the doors are locked, and he cannot leave the castle.
The Count has no reflection, doesn’t eat, only appears at night, and crawls like a spider.
Jonathan sees no reflection of the Count; the Count becomes angry and breaks the mirror.
He crawls headfirst like a spider.
Three strange, vampire-like women.
He becomes angry and says Jonathan “belongs to him.”
That Count Dracula is not human

Monday, 14 July 2025

✦ IELTS Topic: The Coast – 10 Useful Phrases

Sandy shoreline
e.g., We spent the afternoon walking along the sandy shoreline.
Rocky cliffs
e.g., The rocky cliffs offered spectacular views of the ocean.
Coastal town
e.g., She grew up in a small coastal town known for fishing.
Waves crashing against the shore
e.g., I love falling asleep to the sound of waves crashing against the shore.
Seaside resort
e.g., They booked a week at a luxury seaside resort.
Seagulls calling overhead
e.g., You could hear the seagulls calling overhead as we ate by the harbour.
Stretch of coastline
e.g., This stretch of coastline is protected as a nature reserve.
Tide coming in
e.g., We had to move our things because the tide was coming in quickly.
Fishing village
e.g., The fishing village still maintains its traditional way of life.
Harbour full of boats
e.g., The harbour was full of boats swaying gently in the water.

✦ IELTS Speaking Practice Test – The Coast

Part 1: Introduction & Interview

Do you like visiting the coast?
What activities do people enjoy at the beach?
Is there a popular coastal area in your country?
Would you prefer to live near the sea or inland?
Have you ever stayed in a seaside resort?

Part 2: Cue Card

Describe a coastal place you’ve visited.
You should say:

where it is
what it looks like
what you did there
and explain why you enjoyed it.

✦ Sample Answers Using the Phrases

Part 1 Answers

1. Yes, I find the coast very relaxing, especially when I can walk along a sandy shoreline.
2. People love swimming, sunbathing, and listening to the waves crashing against the shore.
3. We have a famous coastal town that’s popular in summer.
4. I’d prefer to live by the sea—it’s peaceful, and I love the sound of seagulls calling overhead.
5. Yes, once I stayed in a beautiful seaside resort with ocean views.

Part 2 Sample Answer

One coastal place I’ll never forget is a small fishing village I visited in southern Italy. It had narrow streets, colourful houses, and a harbour full of boats.

We arrived just as the tide was coming in, and the sun was setting. You could hear seagulls calling overhead, and the smell of the sea was everywhere.

I walked along the rocky cliffs for a bit, then relaxed on the sandy shoreline. The whole stretch of coastline felt quiet and untouched.

I enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere, the fresh seafood, and the simplicity of life by the sea.

✦ Comprehension Test: The Coast

1. "We spent the afternoon walking along the sandy shoreline."
Q: What kind of surface did they walk on?

2. "The rocky cliffs offered spectacular views of the ocean."
Q: What did the cliffs provide?

3. "She grew up in a small coastal town known for fishing."
Q: What kind of town did she grow up in?

4. "I love falling asleep to the sound of waves crashing against the shore."
Q: What sound helps the speaker relax?

5. "They booked a week at a luxury seaside resort."
Q: Where did they stay?

6. "You could hear the seagulls calling overhead as we ate by the harbour."
Q: What birds were mentioned?

7. "This stretch of coastline is protected as a nature reserve."
Q: What is special about this coastline?

8. "We had to move our things because the tide was coming in quickly."
Q: Why did they move?

9. "The fishing village still maintains its traditional way of life."
Q: What is unique about the village?

10. "The harbour was full of boats swaying gently in the water."
Q: What was the harbour like?

✦ Answer Key

A sandy beach or coastal path.
Amazing ocean views.
A town by the sea.
The sound of ocean waves.
A luxury hotel by the sea.
Seagulls.
It’s protected for nature.
The sea level was rising.
It keeps old traditions.
Full of boats and calm water.

🧛 Dracula – Chapter 1: The Journey to Castle Dracula

Jonathan Harker’s Journal – May 3rd
I left England on the last day of April and have now arrived in Transylvania. My journey has been long and strange. The people here speak many different languages. I try to smile and be polite, but I often feel like an outsider.

The countryside is beautiful—wide rivers, thick forests, and tall mountains. The air smells of pine trees and earth. But as I get closer to my destination, people become quieter.

When I told the innkeeper I was going to Castle Dracula, his eyes widened. His wife crossed herself and muttered a prayer. They begged me not to go. “The castle is cursed,” they whispered.

I tried to laugh it off. “I have business with Count Dracula. He is expecting me.”

That night, an old woman gave me a silver crucifix. “For your protection,” she said.

May 4th
At midnight, a black carriage arrived to take me to the castle. The driver wore a long cloak and had red eyes. He didn’t speak, only pointed. I climbed in.

The horses raced through the darkness. The forest seemed to close in around us. Wolves howled in the distance.

I felt cold, though I wore my thickest coat.

Suddenly, I saw a blue flame burning beside the road. The driver stopped, climbed down, and disappeared. When he returned, we continued.

This happened several times. Each time, the same blue flame. Each time, silence.

At last, we reached the castle.

It stood tall against the mountains, dark and sharp, like a black shadow in the sky. The great wooden door opened silently, and Count Dracula stood there.

He was pale, with sharp features and dark hair. His hands were cold and strong.

“Welcome to my home, Mr. Harker,” he said with a smile.

His voice was calm and polite. But something in his eyes made me uneasy.

We entered the castle. The halls were lit with candlelight, but no mirrors. The air smelled like dust and stone.

The Count showed me to my room. It was comfortable but cold. The windows were barred. The door had no lock on the inside.

As he left, he said, “Sleep well. Tomorrow, we will talk about your work.”

But I didn’t sleep well at all.

📖 Glossary

Word / Phrase	Meaning
Outsider	A person who does not feel part of a place or group
Cursed	Believed to be under a bad magic or spell
Crucifix	A Christian cross, often worn as protection
Barred	Covered with metal bars to stop entry or escape
Uneasy	Worried, nervous, or uncomfortable

❓ Comprehension Questions

Where is Jonathan Harker traveling?
How do the local people react to his destination?
What gift does the old woman give him?
What is strange about the carriage journey?
What does Castle Dracula look like?
How does the Count appear when he greets Jonathan?
Why does Jonathan feel uneasy in the castle?

✅ Answers

He is traveling to Castle Dracula in Transylvania.
They are frightened and beg him not to go.
A silver crucifix.
The driver stops at blue flames and never speaks.
Dark, tall, and sharp—like a shadow in the sky.
Pale, polite, but with something strange in his eyes.
The castle feels cold and locked; there are no mirrors, and the Count seems mysterious.