ESL Podcast - Previous Episodes

Slow dialogue: 1:30 Explanations: 3:30 Fast dialogue: 15:34 Greg: What are you doing with that map and that globe? Julianna: I’m trying to keep track of Carmen as she travels from country to country. I just got another postcard from her today. Greg: I’m not sure I like the idea of my daughter traveling around the world with a group of people for three months. It’s not safe. Julianna: She can take care of herself. You know she’s the adventurous type. Give her a compass and she can find her way around anywhere. Help me find Nauru on this map. I don’t even know what continent it’s on. I was never any good at geography. Greg: All right. You look above the equator and I’ll look below it, but couldn’t you just look it up on the Internet? It would be easy to find the latitude and longitude of this place. Julianna: This is more fun. I sort of feel like I’m on an adventure myself. Greg: I can’t make heads or tails of this map. It’s not to scale and this legend is all wrong! Julianna: It doesn’t matter. We just need to find the place name, and then I can put a pin in this map showing where’s she’s been. Greg: I have a better idea. I’ll look it up on the Internet and get you all of the vital statistics you’d want, like its location, okay? Julianna: Forget it. Sometimes it’s more fun doing things the hard way. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Ask an American: The Princess and the Frog; pronouncing “address”; to cut the bull/ bullshit; outspoken versus vocal Words: fairy tale extension of (one’s) disbelief dreamland hand-drawn down here to break (someone’s) heart merger to bring back the norm period Americana to open a new chapter to address to cut the bull/bullshit outspoken vocal

Slow dialogue: 1:21 Explanations: 3:12 Fast dialogue: 15:53 Meredith: Are you going to Stanley’s retirement party? Oscar: Sure, I want a glimpse of the future. I can’t wait to retire. Meredith: It’ll be a long time before you get the golden handshake. Me? I may be ready for early retirement. Oscar: Are you seriously thinking about taking the early retirement package the company is offering? Meredith: I’m thinking about it. My health isn’t getting any better, and I don’t want to spend the rest of my days in this office. Oscar: But can you afford it? Meredith: The early retirement package is pretty generous, and I’ve saved up a nice little nest egg over the years. Oscar: Then what are you waiting for? If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t hem and haw about it. I’d make the decision to retire now – today! Meredith: Why are you getting all worked up? Are you after my job? Oscar: No way! I just can’t stand to see someone who can retire stay at this job. I’d trade places with you in a minute. Meredith: I doubt that – not if it meant being a card-carrying member of AARP. You’re too young to be thinking about retirement. Oscar: I didn’t say I was ready for retirement. I’m just thinking about it – all the time! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialogue: 1:36 Explanations: 3:14 Fast dialogue: 16:23 Cora: Hi, I’m Cora. Antonio: I’m Antonio. Nice to meet you. Cora: Same here. Are you from around here? Antonio: No, I’m originally from Arkansas. How about you? Cora: I’m a native Californian, but I grew up in the Middle East. My parents were in the military, so we moved quite a bit, but mainly around the Middle East. Antonio: That’s really interesting. I spent some time in Jordan myself a few years ago doing research for my company. But I’ve lived in Los Angeles for over 10 years and consider it my adopted hometown. Cora: Isn’t that funny? Even though I was born here, I only moved back here two months ago. I’m sure you know the city much better than I do. Antonio: I’d be happy to show you around, to help you get reacquainted with L.A. Cora: I was only eight years old when my family moved away, so I have a lot of catching up to do. Antonio: Let’s start next weekend. I’ll show you some of the places where the locals like to hang out. Cora: That sounds great. Is this how all Angelinos treat newcomers? Antonio: Absolutely! I’m the city’s one-man welcome wagon. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: DUIs and Mothers Against Drunk Drivers; Famous Americans: Martha Stewart; traffic versus transit; at all versus not at all; describing someone who works from home Words: influence impaired sobriety penalty to lobby non-profit fatality business magnate empire homemaking insider information perfectionism traffic transit at all not at all telecommuter

Slow dialogue: 1:25 Explanations: 3:26 Fast dialogue: 16:36 Louise: What’s the matter with you? Gil: I just got off the phone with my mom and she says they’re planning a welcome-home party for me next week – at a restaurant! Louise: What’s wrong with that? Gil: After living abroad for a year, I was really looking forward to a home-cooked meal. Louise: Why didn’t you just tell your mother that? Gil: I didn’t have the heart to do that. She was so excited about the party, and who am I to tell her she has to slave over a hot stove to cook me a lavish dinner? Louise: I’m sure she wouldn’t mind. It’d be a labor of love. Gil: You don’t know my mother. She doesn’t cut corners and makes everything from scratch. She uses these recipes that were passed down to her from her mother. She can make the most intricate dishes, but what I’m craving are the comfort foods she always made for us when we were kids. It makes my mouth water just thinking about her cooking. Louise: After a year of living on instant noodles and take-out food, I’m not surprised you want something home-cooked. I tell you what. After the party, come over to my house and I’ll have a home-cooked meal ready for you. Gil: You, cook for me? Thanks, but no thanks! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialogue: 1:18 Explanations: 2:47 Fast dialogue: 13:18 Patricia: This is the best magic show I’ve ever seen. Have you ever seen so many amazing magic tricks in your life? They’re blowing my mind! Sergio: They’re all just illusions. It’s nothing but smoke and mirrors. Patricia: I don’t know how you can say that. We’ve seen some really impressive sleight of hand tricks and that escape artist seemed to do the impossible. Sergio: Couldn’t you see that it was just misdirection? While you weren’t looking, the magician left through the trap door. Patricia: Maybe that’s how that trick was done, but how do you explain the mind reader? How did he know what I was thinking if he couldn’t really read my mind? Sergio: I’m sure any supernatural powers these magicians and entertainers claim to have have been debunked by somebody. Maybe he used the power of suggestion. Who knows? Patricia: And maybe you’re just jaded. Sergio: And maybe you’re the most gullible person who ever lived! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: The CIA; The Wizard of Oz; deliverable; stress versus pressure; “you had me at ‘hello’” Words: intelligence peacetime secretive speculation espionage covert torture regime change wizard tornado scarecrow plot deliverable stress pressure “you had me at ‘hello’”

Slow dialogue: 1:26 Explanations: 3:30 Fast dialogue: 15:10 Josey: Hello, I’m Josey Kim. Curt: Hi, I’m Curt West. Thanks for agreeing to meet with me. Josey: You mentioned on the phone that you can help us get that government contract we’re bidding on, is that right? Curt: Absolutely. I’m sure I can be of service to your company and secure that contract without too much difficulty. Josey: I appreciate your confidence, but can you tell me more about how you plan to do that? Curt: I think the less said the better. Let’s just say that I have friends in high places. Josey: I’m not sure I understand you. Curt: Come on, you know how business is done on Capitol Hill. If you line the right pockets, it’s not difficult to pull some strings to get what you want. Josey: Are you suggesting that our company use bribery to get preferential treatment on our bid? Curt: I’m simply saying that backroom deals are business as usual in the government. Josey: If you’re suggesting that we hire you to do influence peddling, I can tell you now that we’re not interested. Corruption may be rampant in government, but we’re not willing to do anything unethical to get a contract. Curt: Suit yourself, but without somebody like me doing your dirty work, there’s no way you’re going to win that contract. Josey: That may be, Mr. West, but that’s a chance we’re willing to take. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialogue: 1:32 Explanations: 3:20 Fast dialogue: 15:21 Spiro: Hey, watch out! Nancy: Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there. I thought I would be the only person up at the crack of dawn. What are you doing sitting on the stoop at this ungodly hour? Spiro: I’m trying to turn over a new leaf. Nancy: What do you mean? Spiro: I’m in the habit of staying up until all hours of the night. I hardly ever get enough sleep and walk around all day sleep-deprived. I’m trying to see if I can make the switch from being a night owl to an early riser. I’m hoping the new hours will make me a changed man. Nancy: That sounds very commendable, but that still doesn’t answer my question. What are you doing sitting out here? Spiro: I’m waiting for the coffee shop to open. Nancy: Can you eat breakfast this early in the morning? Spiro: No, but I can drink coffee, lots and lots of coffee. Nancy: You’ll definitely be the first one in line. Spiro: I guess what they say is true: the early bird gets the worm. Nancy: I don’t know about worms, but the early bird will definitely get the first dose of caffeine! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Yosemite National Park; PETA and animal rights; to rebuild versus to reshape; to mind your P’s and Q’s; tag questions Words: national park developed valley striking cliff animal rights suffering factory farm tactic fur undercover arson to rebuild to reshape to mind your P’s and Q’s tag questions

Slow dialogue: 1:16 Explanations: 4:03 Fast dialogue: 19:28 On my way home from work, I stopped at the supermarket. My doctor has been telling me to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, so I finally decided to follow her advice. I resolved to eat better, so I could feel better. I made a beeline for the produce department. First, I looked at some bananas. Since they ripen off the vine, I picked out some that were already ripe and others that were still green. Next, I looked for some tomatoes. They looked picked over, but then I saw some organic tomatoes and decided to give those a try. Then, I went to look for the spinach. I found it, but it didn’t look fresh at all. The leaves were brown and wilted. I decided to pass on the spinach and checked out the mushrooms. The mushrooms didn’t look any better. In fact, some were beginning to rot. I picked up some lettuce instead and headed for the checkout stand. I was feeling pretty good about my new decision to eat better. But then, I passed the cookie aisle. My resolve weakened. I spotted my favorite type of cookies. Before I knew what I was doing, I’d put a bag of those cookies in my cart. I know I should be able to resist impulse buys, especially of things I’m likely to eat all in one sitting, but don’t forget, I’m eating more fruits and vegetables. With my new healthy diet, aren’t I allowed to fall off the wagon now and then? Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialogue: 1:26 Explanations: 3:21 Fast dialogue: 18:55 Hector: Can you believe James? All evening, he tried to tell me how this country would be better if we had no social classes. He's out of his mind. Sophia: He was just trying to get a rise out of you. We all know that the two of you don't see eye to eye. Hector: He thinks that just because he comes from a working-class background, he can criticize anyone who is middle class or upper class. I just can't stand his holier-than-thou attitude. Sophia: He knows you, and he knows which buttons to push to get you worked up. I don't think he was serious when he said he thought class warfare was a good idea. Hector: Well, he was downright insulting. He talks as though we have no sense of social responsibility. We do our share for the poor. What more does he want from me? Sophia: I think he has a chip on his shoulder, because his parents are blue collar and he now lives in a white-collar world. He feels he has to stand up for the marginalized people in our society. Hector: Okay, but does that mean I have to allow him to insult me under my own roof? Sophia: Of course not. Next week, we’re having dinner at their house. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Famous Americans: Tyler Perry; NASA; to think on (one’s) feet; plural for iPod Touch and other proper nouns; recognition versus acknowledgement Words: musical adapted uninhibited recurring to cross-dress no-nonsense to be nominated space in orbit shuttle launch unmanned to think on (one’s) feet recognition acknowledgement

Slow dialogue: 1:48 Explanations: 3:35 Fast dialogue: 15:40 Becky: What are we going to do? Saeed: I don't know. I need time to think about the ramifications of blowing the whistle. Becky: There are no two ways about it. If we step up and do the right thing, we are putting our jobs on the line. Saeed: But we can't keep quiet about this. If it gets out, and we knew about it all along, we’ll get in to even more trouble. And plus, think of how many people would be hurt if we kept our mouths shut. Could we live with that? Becky: Maybe there is a way for us to protect our interests and still do the right thing. Maybe we could be anonymous whistleblowers. Saeed: Don't count on being able to remain anonymous. When this thing blows up, we’ll be in knee-deep. There's only one thing to do. Becky: What? Saeed: I have to put my money where my mouth is and go public with what we know. I’ll just have to let the chips fall where they may. Becky: Don’t be too hasty. Let's sleep on it and talk about it tomorrow. Saeed: You can do that if you want to, but I've made up my mind. The question is: Are you with me? Tarik: Are you okay? Stacey: Yeah, I think so. I’m just a little shaken up, but look at my car! Tarik: Mine is in pretty bad shape, too. Good thing, though, it wasn’t totaled. Stacey: Okay, let’s exchange insurance information, so we can both get out of here. Tarik: Right. I’ll put in a claim today and your insurance should pay to repair both of our cars. Stacey: What? This accident wasn’t my fault. You crashed into me! You rear ended me! Tarik: That’s only because you swerved in front of me and slammed on your brakes! Stacey: I did no such thing. I changed lanes and you began tailgating me. That’s why you rear ended me. I’m not to blame here. Tarik: That’s your account of what happened, and it doesn’t jibe with mine. I say we each call our respective insurance companies and let them battle it out. Stacey: Fine. There’s no point in arguing with someone who won’t own up to his mistakes. Tarik: Those are my thoughts exactly. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse