ESL Podcast - Previous Episodes

Slow dialogue: 1:25 Explanations: 4:03 Fast dialogue: 15:30 Danny: Are you sure we should start accepting credit cards from our customers? We’ve always been a cash-only business. Katy: I think we need to for the convenience of our customers. It won’t be as big a nuisance as you think, with this new cash register. Danny: The instructions say the merchant has to swipe the cardholder’s card at the POS. What’s that? Katy: That stands for point of sale. For us, that’s the cash register. All you have to do is take the credit card and swipe it through here, making sure that the magnetic strip is facing you. It’s simple. Danny: Do I have to write down the credit card number, the expiration date, and the security code on the back? Katy: No, the cash register does that for you automatically. It will save you a lot of time. Danny: What if the customer goes over his or her credit limit? Katy: In that case, their card is declined and we tell the customer to call the issuing bank. Danny: What if a customer disputes the charges? Katy: The credit card company will investigate, and if we have double-charged a customer or made a mistake, we’ll have to do a chargeback. We can do it easily with the cash register. Everything can be done with this machine. It’s great. Danny: What if it doesn’t work? Katy: What if what doesn’t work? Danny: What if the cash register breaks down? Katy: Um...I guess you’ll have to write down all of the information and process it when the machine is working again. Danny: Not such a timesaver, huh? Katy: But you only have to do that if it breaks down, and it won’t break down...very often. Danny: We’ll see about that! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialogue: 1:30 Explanations: 3:20 Fast dialogue: 12:44 David: Why has Joyce been moping around all week? What’s wrong with her? Victoria: She’s suffering from a broken heart. Her boyfriend broke up with her over the weekend. They had been together for two years. David: Did she tell you the gruesome details? Victoria: Not really. She just said that she’s feeling depressed and she didn’t want to talk about it, but you can see the grief all over her face. David: I can think of a way to cheer her up. I’ve always wanted to go out with Joyce. Maybe I’ll ask her out. Victoria: Wait a second. I think she’s feeling pretty vulnerable right now, and there’s no way she’s ready to date yet. I think you’re jumping the gun. David: There’s nothing better to help someone bounce back from a failed relationship than the promise of a new one. Victoria: Maybe, but I think it might backfire. If you just want a fling, she might not be able to recover from rejection – twice. David: Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing. I’ll just distract her from her misery for a while until she starts to recover. Victoria: Just tread carefully. David: Leave it to the master. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Ask an American: Getting Old brethren versus brothers, would versus used to, I can’t wait anymore versus I can’t wait any longer Words: hip fracture balance to stub to go flying to fall flat incompetent nursing home to keep something to oneself emergency room acute care rehab to be discharged brethren anymore

Slow dialogue: 1:45 Explanations: 3:32 Fast dialogue: 15:35 Jamal: Have you found a place for us to stay in Chicago? Erin: I’m still exploring the options. Instead of a run-of-the-mill chain hotel, I thought we could do something different. Jamal: How different? Erin: I thought we might stay in a cabin near the lake. Jamal: A cabin? That sounds a little too rustic for me. My days of roughing it in hostels or fleabag motels are over. A cabin sounds like it would be in the same league. Erin: Oh, I don’t know. There are some very nice cabins, and even if they’re less than luxurious, I don’t mind staying in a modest place. We can’t afford an expensive boutique hotel, you know. Jamal: I know that, but there are a lot of other options. We could stay in a bed and breakfast or a vacation rental. Remember the bed and breakfast we stayed in in Montreal? Erin: Yeah, that was nice. Okay, you win. I was trying to appeal to your adventurous spirit. Jamal: My adventurous spirit is still here. It just needs the right inducement. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialogue: 1:45 Explanations: 3:32 Fast dialogue: 15:35 Jamal: Have you found a place for us to stay in Chicago? Erin: I’m still exploring the options. Instead of a run-of-the-mill chain hotel, I thought we could do something different. Jamal: How different? Erin: I thought we might stay in a cabin near the lake. Jamal: A cabin? That sounds a little too rustic for me. My days of roughing it in hostels or fleabag motels are over. A cabin sounds like it would be in the same league. Erin: Oh, I don’t know. There are some very nice cabins, and even if they’re less than luxurious, I don’t mind staying in a modest place. We can’t afford an expensive boutique hotel, you know. Jamal: I know that, but there are a lot of other options. We could stay in a bed and breakfast or a vacation rental. Remember the bed and breakfast we stayed in in Montreal? Erin: Yeah, that was nice. Okay, you win. I was trying to appeal to your adventurous spirit. Jamal: My adventurous spirit is still here. It just needs the right inducement. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Classic children’s television: Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood; American Cities: Washington, D.C.; mix, combine, stir, and beat; stock photography Words: series episode animation puppet make-believe values founding fathers Congress free and open to the public monument memorial bike path to mix to combine to stir to beat stock photography

Slow dialogue: 1:08 Explanations: 3:51 Fast dialogue: 15:17 Bethany: I just talked to Steve about hiring replacements for Cyril, who quit last month and for Megan, who is leaving at the end of this week. Do you know what he told me? He doesn’t want to hire permanent replacements. He wants to make do with temps! Enrique: I can see it from Steve’s perspective. The economy isn’t so good right now and maybe he’s not sure if we can afford full-time replacements. Bethany: But how am I suppose to staff the office to cover all of the work that needs to be done with temps! Enrique: Don’t undervalue temps. Many of them are very skilled and you may be surprised at how well they do. I should know. I worked as a temp right after graduating from college. Bethany: You did? I didn’t know that. But you went to a great school. I’m surprised you had trouble landing a full-time job. Enrique: Actually, I was offered a full-time job before I graduated, but I turned it down. I decided I wanted to test the waters in a few different companies before deciding on where I wanted to work. In retrospect, it was the best thing I could have done. Bethany: You didn’t miss the job security? Enrique: Yeah, I did, but there are other perks to working as a temp. I got offered permanent jobs with two of the companies I temped for. That’s how I got my first full-time job. Working there was the best way to get my foot in the door. Bethany: Well, thanks for the fresh perspective. Maybe working with temps won’t be so bad. Enrique: I hope not. And if they get out of line, just tell me and I’ll set them straight. Bethany: Yeah, right. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialogue: 1:26 Explanations: 3:07 Fast dialogue: 13:24 Julia: Aren’t you nervous about your surgery next week? Hugh: No, it’s a routine procedure. I don’t even need to be admitted overnight. Julia: But aren’t you going under general anesthesia? It’s not the same as local anesthesia, you know. Hugh: Yes, I know. This is an out-patient procedure. If the doctors don’t think I can go home the same day, they’ll just keep me under observation. Julia: All the same, there may be complications. Hugh: It’s supposed to be a low-risk procedure. If there are post-op problems, I’m sure the doctors will take good care of me. Julia: But what if they release you too early from the hospital. I’ve heard that these days doctors are under pressure to free up beds as soon as possible. Hugh: It’s true that I may be impaired after the procedure, but my daughter will be there and I trust her judgment. I’m sure she’ll make sure I’m fine to go home before I’m discharged. Julia: But what if...? Hugh: Don’t worry. Nothing bad is going to happen. If it does, you can say, “I told you so.” Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: New York Theater District/Broadway shows; Barbie dolls/G.I. Joe; I don’t have versus I have no, in the street versus on the street, identifying yourself on the phone Words: district mainstream controversial cutting-edge lucrative figurine infant voluptuous to distort accessory action figure armed force I have no

Slow dialogue: 1:15 Explanations: 3:05 Fast dialogue: 12:38 Juanita: What time is it? Chuck: It’s a quarter to 12. Why? Juanita: At noon, on the dot, I’m supposed to meet James. Chuck: On the dot? What if you don’t get there until a few minutes past four? Will you turn into a pumpkin? Juanita: Knock it off. I have good reason to be on time. I was supposed to meet him at the movies at 8:30 last Saturday and I didn’t turn up until 10 ‘til 9:00. We missed the first 10 minutes of the movie. Chuck: That doesn’t sound too bad. Juanita: You don’t know the half of it. The week before that, I was supposed to pick him up from work at a quarter after 5:00, and I didn’t show up until nearly 20 minutes to six. To add insult to injury, James’ boss saw that he was still in the office and gave him an extra assignment to do that night and he didn’t finish until well after 10:00. Chuck: I can see why he’s pissed off at you. Juanita: What time is it now? Chuck: It’s 12:03. Juanita: Oh my god! I’m late again! What am I going to tell him? Chuck: Tell him it was all my fault. My incredible charm made you lose track of time. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialogue: 1:15 Explanations: 2:58 Fast dialogue: 12:35 Kenji: Hello, my car was stolen and I want to report it. Officer: Where was it when it was stolen? Kenji: It was parked outside of my apartment building. I went outside this morning to drive to work, and it was gone. Officer: Okay, you need to fill out this form. Put down the make and model of the vehicle, the year, and the color. You’ll also need the license plate number. Do you know the vehicle’s VIN number? Kenji: No, I don’t. Officer: That’s okay. Just fill it out and we’ll launch an investigation. Kenji: What do you think the chances are that I’ll recover my car? Officer: That’s hard to say. If it was stolen by some kids who wanted to take a joyride, they’ll abandon it afterwards and you may get it back in one piece. If it was taken by professional car thieves, that’s a different story. They usually strip the cars of their parts and sell them to chop shops. You may not want your car back after it’s been stripped. Kenji: I’ll just have to wish for the best. Officer: We’ll notify you if we have some news. Kenji: Thanks. In the meantime, I’d better get used to hoofing it around town! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Native American reservations/Trail of Tears; retirement communities, the possessive “s,” to be subject to, to be subjected to, hedge trimming Words: ancestor settler reservation forced relocation trail tribe retirement Social Security benefits retirement community clubhouse to deteriorate to cherish to be subject to to be subjected to hedge trimming

Find out what hours a business is open in this episode.Slow dialogue: 1:34 Explanations: 3:45 Fast dialogue: 12:04 Store owner: Hello. Karin: Hello, is this Joe’s Shoe Repair? Store owner: Yes, how can I help you? Karin: I’m calling to find out your business hours. Store owner: We’re open 24/7. Karin: Really? You’re open 24 hours a day, seven days a week? Store owner: Yes, we are, more often than not. Of course we close for major holidays. Karin: Is that all? Store owner: We also close the first and third Monday and every other Sunday of each month, except the fourth Sunday, when we’re always open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., unless we have extended hours. Karin: Oh, okay. If I brought in a pair of shoes to be fixed today, how quickly can you have them ready? Store owner: Normally, we can have shoes repaired in three or four days, but not this week. Karin: Why? Store owner: We’re closed Wednesday through Friday for renovation. Karin: Okay, what if I brought them in next week? Store owner: That’s no good either. The exterminators are coming in and we’re closed Monday through Thursday. Karin: Are you pulling my leg? Store owner: Of course not! This is a respectable business. I never joke about business. Karin: How about the week after next? Store owner: Sorry, but you’re out of luck. The week after next we’re closed for vacation. Karin: When do you actually open 24/7? Store owner: We’re always open 24/7 – with just a few exceptions. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Learn how to get rid of people who call to sell you things in English in this episode. Slow dialogue: 1:07 Explanations: 3:11 Fast dialogue: 12:08 Doris: Hello. Telemarketer: Hello, may I speak to the lady of the house? Doris: What is this regarding? Telemarketer: I’m calling from Cheetam Cable Company and we have a very special offer. This month only, you can get a bundle of services for the low, low price of $69.99! This offer... Doris: Thank you, but I’m not interested. Telemarketer: But that’s because you haven’t heard the rest of the offer yet. If you sign up today, you will get at no extra charge, all of the equipment you’ll need to switch to our cable company. Doris: As I said, I’m not interested. I’m also on the national do-not-call registry and I want to be taken off your call list. Telemarketer: If you’re on my list, it means that you have a prior relationship with our company and telemarketers are allowed to call you. Now about that special offer... Doris: I don’t want to hear your sales pitch. I demand to be taken off your call list and I don’t want to get any more calls from your company. Telemarketer: Is that a “no” on the special offer? Doris: Yes, that’s a “no” on the special offer and a “no” on getting any more calls from your company. Do I make myself clear? Telemarketer: Yes, very clear. If you’re not interested in our special offer, I can tell you about our other services... Doris: No you can’t! [Hangs up the phone] Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Monster truck shows and races; blue jeans and Levi Strauss, to be up against the wall, liability versus responsibility, pronouncing “either” Words: monster pickup truck destructive to crush track obstacle freestyle to root blue jeans (or jeans) denim ranch Gold Rush miner durable to be up against the wall responsibility liability