ESL Podcast - Previous Episodes

Slow dialogue: 1:34 Explanations: 3:32 Fast dialogue: 16:31 Blaire: Do you have any idea what he’s saying? Antonio: It’s Greek to me. You’re supposed to be the one who’s fluent. Can’t you make out what he’s saying? Blaire: I never said I was fluent. I said I could get by in the language. There’s a big difference. Antonio: Why don’t you try saying something to him? Blaire: What should I say? Antonio: How about, “I don’t have a good command of the language. Could you please speak more slowly?” Blaire: I don’t think speaking more slowing will help my comprehension. Besides, I only know a few stock phrases, and even those I can only say haltingly, if I don’t freeze up altogether. Antonio: Give me the phrase book. I’ll see if I can get through to him. Blaire: What are you going to say? Antonio: I don’t know, but we’re two fairly articulate people. We should be able to cobble together a few sentences to get our point across, don’t you think? Blaire: Okay, I’ll follow your lead, but, um, just don’t say anything insulting...like last time. Antonio: Are you bringing that up again?! It’s not my fault that the entire town misinterpreted what I said! I was trying to compliment the women, not insult them. Blaire: Tell that to the men who ran you out of town! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: U.S. government reparations; TV home shopping networks/shows; neither do I versus so do I versus either I; to talk with versus to talk to; to put the cart before the horse (to put the horse before the cart) Words: reparations to make up for (something) descent to disburse heir slave host testimonial interactive voice response impulse buy to regret to flip through the channels neither do I so do I either I to talk with to talk to to put the cart before the horse (to put the horse before the cart)

Slow dialogue: 1:29 Explanations: 3:32 Fast dialogue: 15:09 Receptionist: So the meeting is set for 2:00 on Thursday. Do you know how to get to our offices? Asha: No, I don’t. Could you give me directions? Receptionist: Certainly. We’re located on Main Street. The cross street is Udall. If you’re taking the freeway, the best exit to take is Udall East. Once you’re on Udall, head east for about two miles and when you reach the bend, veer right. If you veer left, you’ll run into a dead end. After you veer right, you’ll be on Monroe Avenue and it’s a one-way street. Our building is on the right-hand side, past the light. If you pass Elm Street, you’ve gone too far. Asha: Okay, I think I’ve got all that. Is there parking available? Receptionist: Unfortunately, there’s only street parking. There is valet parking for the building next door, but they charge $12 and we don’t validate. There are meters on the street and on the side streets, but you may need to circle the block a few times to find an available meter. Asha: All right, and thanks for the information. I guess I need to leave early to have plenty of time to find the building and to find parking. Receptionist: I tell everybody to count on getting lost and having to hunt for parking. Asha: Thanks for the heads up! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialogue: 1:24 Explanations: 3:28 Fast dialogue: 15:29 Eri: What’s that? James: It’s an invitation to a family reunion. Once every five years or so, someone in the family organizes one. Eri: Are you going? James: I’m not sure. It’s always a little awkward seeing extended family. Did you know that there used to be a big feud between my father and his brother? Eri: No, what happened? James: I’m not sure, but it was something that happened before they got married. My father held a grudge for years. Then, about eight years ago, they made up. There’s still no love lost between their wives, but at least there are no hard feelings between the two of them any longer. Eri: So you’ll go to the reunion? James: I’m not sure. My mother’s side of the family has always looked down on my father’s. She comes from old money and they didn’t approve of her marrying my father. It was really hard on my mother. She really looked up to her mother and they were really close before my father came along. Eri: But that’s ancient history, isn’t it? Considering how things turned out, your grandmother can’t hold it against your mother for marrying your father. James: You’ve never met my grandmother. One thing everyone knows about her is this: She doesn’t know the words to forgive and forget. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: American Cities (Territories): Puerto Rico; People Who Work for Celebrities; cooperation versus collaboration; instance versus instantaneous versus instant; pronouncing won’t and want Words: appointed resident mainland diaspora celebrity in the spotlight to work behind the scenes agent publicist stylist personal assistant entourage cooperation collaboration instance instantaneous instant

Slow dialogue: 1:14 Explanations: 3:10 Fast dialogue: 13:55 Teacher: Welcome, everybody, to this self-defense class. Today, you’ll learn how to size up a situation and how to tell the difference between a harmless situation and a threatening one. You’ll also begin to learn some hand-to-hand combat moves to defend yourselves. Amy: Oh, good. I can’t wait to learn some martial arts so I can beat up anyone who tries anything. Teacher: Well, the best thing we can do in a dangerous situation is to avoid having to fight. It’s not a good idea to confront someone pumped up on adrenaline. If you can defuse the situation or run away, that would be the best strategy. Amy: All right, but if someone is harassing me, I want to be ready to do some damage. Teacher: I’m not sure if that’s the right mindset… Amy: I always trust my instincts. If my intuition tells me that someone may be dangerous, I want to get in the first punch. Teacher: Whoa, that’s not the purpose of this class. You’re here to learn defense, remember? Amy: Yes, but you know what they say: The best defense is a good offense! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialogue: 1:25 Explanations: 3:14 Fast dialogue: 14:20 Bruno: Hey, what are you doing? Give me back that remote! Tamara: The movie I want to watch is on right now. Do you mind? Bruno: Of course I mind! I’m watching the playoffs. Can’t you see that? Tamara: The playoffs? Oh, I’ll watch with you. Bruno: You? You don’t know anything about sports. Tamara: It doesn’t matter. I always root for the underdog. Our team will be victorious! Go team! Bruno: Fine, but I’m rooting for the other team. Let’s just watch the game, okay? Tamara: Your team is going to get pounded. We will be the champions! Bruno: Please, can I just watch this game in peace? I’ve been waiting for it all season. Tamara: Oooh, somebody is a little testy. I think it’s because you know you’re backing a losing team. You can’t stand being on the losing side. Am I right? Your players are running scared already. I can tell. Bruno: I’m just trying to follow the game. Tamara: Look at that! Your best player just choked. How could he have missed such an easy shot? Bruno: If you don’t be quiet, I’ll show you what it feels like to get choked! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: The Golden Age of Hollywood and the studio system; the busing controversy of the 1970s; as well versus also versus too; to take into account; “why” as an interjection Words: cinema silent movie of all time classic studio to have (someone) on salary controversy desegregated predominantly inconvenient white flight suburbs as well to take into account why

Slow dialogue: 1:25 Explanations: 3:02 Fast dialogue: 15:21 Goran: Who do you think will be appointed to succeed Ramon on the board? Anne: I don’t know whom they’ll pick to fill the position, but I know who the candidates are. The higher ups have been quietly vetting three people to make sure they don’t have any skeletons in their closets. Goran: Really? Who are they? Anne: I’m not at liberty to say, but I think at least two of the candidates are people outside of the inner circle. Goran: You mean we might actually get a new board member who’s not buddy-buddy with the higher ups? Anne: All I can say is that two outsiders are under consideration. Goran: Wow, that’s huge. Can you at least tell me if the remaining candidate is the interim board member? Everybody thinks he has the inside track. Anne: I can’t tell you that. The selection is being kept under wraps until next Thursday. I’ve already let slip too much. Goran: Don’t worry. My lips are sealed. Anne: They’d better be. You know what they say about loose lips. Goran: Yeah, and I’m not sinking this ship. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialogue: 1:25 Explanations: 3:01 Fast dialogue: 13:06 I’ve been thinking about starting a blog for a long time now, and after talking to my friend Traver, a popular blogger, I’ve decided to take the leap. Traver got me started with a basic template, but I wanted to customize the blog to give it my own flavor before launching it. I already have my first few posts ready to go, and I plan to update it a few times a week. Traver told me that it may take a little time for my blog to catch on and become known in the blogosphere. He suggested I do some basic self-promotion. He told me to register my website with the major search engines and to swap links with other bloggers writing on similar topics. He gave me some other advice to increase hits and I’m taking it all to heart. I can’t wait to get my first comments and to start talking to other people about our common interest: Our love of cats! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Beauty pageants and controversies; the National Weather Service; like versus same as; how do you do?; what’s up; have a good one Words: beauty pageant to be judged contestant articulate talent poise crown sash demeaning forecast warning to disseminate like same as How do you do? what’s up? have a good one

Slow dialogue: 1:33 Explanations: 3:09 Fast dialogue: 14:27 Ellen: What are you wearing to the party? Hiro: Your guess is as good as mine. Ellen: Let’s look through your closet and I’ll help you pick something out. Hiro: Okay, but I have to warn you. I have a pretty limited wardrobe. Ellen: Let’s see, these black pants are nice, but they’re frayed on the bottom. How about these jeans? Hiro: You don’t think they’re too faded? There’s also a rip in the back. Ellen: No, I guess those jeans won’t work. I like this shirt, though. Hiro: Did you see the stain on the front? The zipper is also stuck, I think. Ellen: How about shoes? Do you have any shoes that are presentable? Hiro: Well, I always wear these, but they’re scuffed on the top and the sole is pretty worn. Ellen: Okay, desperate times call for desperate measures. Come on! Hiro: Where are we going? Ellen: We’re going to a magical place with brand spanking new clothes and where everything is flawless. Hiro: Where’s that? Ellen: The mall! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialogue: 1:31 Explanations: 2:58 Fast dialogue: 12:38 Enrique: I don’t know how you talked me into coming with you to Dan’s apartment to riffle through his papers. This snooping is stupid! If you have suspicions, you should just talk to him. Stella: Confront him without any evidence? That would be the height of stupidity. Enrique: Instead, we’re holed up in this closet until he leaves. I thought you said he wouldn’t be home until 6:00. Stella: That’s what I thought. Just sit tight. I think he just came home to pick something up. He’ll be gone in a minute. Enrique: I don’t like confined spaces. If we don’t make a break for it soon, I’m going to suffocate. Stella: Stop your kvetching. Now that we’re here, maybe we can do better than looking through his papers. We can eavesdrop on his conversations. Enrique: Have you lost your mind? Do you know what he would do to us if he found us here? Stella: No guts, no glory! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Ask an American: Nursing; responsible versus accountable; -wise; to double back Words: handmaiden keystone interaction consistently to give care to pull (someone) through to come up to (someone) to proceed to measure to specialize out in acute-care responsible accountable -wise to double back

Slow dialogue: 1:25 Explanations: 3:46 Fast dialogue: 15:50 Laura: I think that’s all we need to talk about regarding last month’s report. Let’s turn to this month’s report, shall we? I didn’t get a copy of it. Could someone hand me one? Gaius: By the way, I have just one last comment before we shift our focus to this month’s report. It seems to me that we need more information on how the Duluth office is doing. Could we ask for more info to be included in next month’s report? Laura: I’m sure we can. Incidentally, Dee is quitting and Kara will be taking her place. This is off the record, of course. Okay, now back to this month’s report... Gaius: Speaking of personnel changes, did you know that Lee is being promoted to V.P. next month? Laura: I hadn’t heard that, but I’m not surprised. She’s been in line for that job for years. Okay, we need to get back to this month’s report… Gaius: Something just occurred to me. If Lee is being promoted, what will happen to the Baseship project? Laura: I think it’s being put on the back burner for now. All right, could someone hand me a copy of this month’s report? Gaius: I don’t mean to change the subject but… Laura: I think that’s precisely what you’re trying to do. What’s the matter with this month’s report? Gaius: It’s not quite finished. It’ll be on your desk this afternoon. Laura: Is that what this tap dance has been about? All right, we’ll talk about it at tomorrow’s meeting. Next time, just give it to me straight, okay? Script by Dr. Lucy Tse