English speaking lesson · Social & Connection
Declining an invitation
A friend has invited you to something on a day you genuinely can't make. You practice it as a real conversation, at whichever of the four levels fits you — the room and the steps stay the same, only the words get harder.
A call to a friend · you talk to the understanding friend
Free plan: this lesson is free to play at every level, with 10 messages a day. No card needed. The Learning Plan makes messages unlimited — $1.99 a month or $14.99 a year, with a 7-day money-back guarantee.
What you have to do
Decline the invitation warmly, explain briefly, and propose an alternative time. You finish the lesson by getting there in conversation — not by answering questions about it. The tutor never stops to correct you; the feedback appears beside your own messages, and the completion screen collects it all.
How it opens
Hey! We're doing dinner on Saturday — can you make it?
Spoken aloud by the tutor playing the understanding friend.
The 5 steps that finish it
A step clears when you say the thing that clears it. The steps are identical at all four levels — only the example line fades, and at Natural there is none at all.
- 01
React to the invitation
Say thank you for the invitation.
“Thanks for asking me!”
- 02
Say you can't make it
Say kindly that you can't make it.
“Sorry, I can't come on Saturday.”
- 03
Explain briefly
Explain briefly why you can't come.
“I'm busy — I have family visiting.”
- 04
Propose another time
Suggest another day that would work for you.
“Could we do Sunday instead? I'd love to see you.”
- 05
Confirm the new plan
Confirm the new plan, and say thanks again.
“That sounds good — thanks again!”
The words, at all four levels
The same room and the same steps, four vocabularies. These are the words the lesson listens for and scores you on — with what each one means and how it sounds when you are talking to the understanding friend.
Starter
A1 – A2Simple, everyday words with a full hint on every step.
- thanks
- a short way to say thank you
- “Thanks for asking me!”
- asking
- inviting or requesting
- “Thanks for asking me.”
- sorry
- used to apologise
- “Sorry, I can't come.”
- come
- to go to where something is
- “Sorry, I can't come.”
- busy
- having a lot to do
- “I'm busy on Saturday.”
- family
- your parents, children and relatives
- “I have family visiting.”
- Sunday
- the seventh day of the week
- “Could we do Sunday?”
- instead
- in place of something else
- “Sunday instead, maybe?”
- love
- to like something very much
- “I'd love to see you.”
- good
- acceptable, fine
- “That sounds good!”
Conversational
A2 – B1Common words at a natural pace, with hints to lean on.
- kind
- generous and thoughtful
- “That's really kind of you.”
- afraid
- used to soften bad news — 'I'm afraid'
- “I'm afraid I can't make it.”
- unfortunately
- sadly, regrettably
- “Unfortunately I'm away.”
- already
- before now
- “I already have plans.”
- visiting
- coming to stay or see someone
- “My parents are visiting.”
- shame
- a disappointing situation
- “It's such a shame!”
- instead
- in place of something else
- “Could we do Sunday instead?”
- suits
- is convenient for you
- “Whatever suits you.”
- rearrange
- to change to a different time
- “Happy to rearrange.”
- appreciate
- to be grateful for something
- “I really appreciate the invite.”
Confident
B1 – B2Richer, more specific words, with only light hints.
- touched
- moved by someone's kindness
- “I'm touched you thought of me.”
- regrettably
- in a way that causes regret
- “Regrettably I'm unavailable.”
- unavailable
- not free to attend
- “I'm unavailable that evening.”
- commitment
- something you've agreed to do
- “I have a prior commitment.”
- prior
- already arranged beforehand
- “I have a prior commitment.”
- gutted
- very disappointed (informal, British)
- “I'm genuinely gutted.”
- alternative
- another option or choice
- “Could I suggest an alternative?”
- flexible
- able to change easily
- “I'm fairly flexible otherwise.”
- reschedule
- to change the agreed time
- “Happy to reschedule entirely.”
- appreciate
- to be grateful for
- “I'd appreciate that.”
Natural
B2 – C1Advanced, idiomatic words — no hints at all.
- raincheck
- a promise to do something another time (informal)
- “Can I take a raincheck?”
- clashes
- happens at the same time as something else
- “It clashes with something.”
- double-booked
- committed to two things at once
- “I'm double-booked, sadly.”
- gutted
- very disappointed (informal, British)
- “Absolutely gutted about it.”
- shame
- a disappointing situation
- “Such a shame, honestly.”
- shift
- to move something to a different time
- “Any chance we could shift it?”
- pencil
- to note something down loosely (informal)
- “Shall we pencil in Sunday?”
- sorted
- dealt with and settled
- “Brilliant, that's sorted.”
- obliged
- grateful for a favour
- “Much obliged for understanding.”
- flake
- to cancel plans at the last minute (informal)
- “I promise I'm not a flake.”
More Social & Connection lessons
- Small talk at a party
- Making a new friend
- Catching up with an old friend
- Inviting someone
- Apologising for being late
- Congratulating someone
- Hosting a guest
- Meeting your partner's parents
- A first date