ESL Podcast - Previous Episodes

Slow dialogue: 1:45 Explanations: 3:18 Fast dialogue: 15:15 Ricky: Aren’t you done with your taxes yet? Shawn: No, not yet. Ricky: Can I help? Shawn: That would be great. I think I’m almost done, but it’d be great if you could look it over. This is the first year I haven’t been exempt or filed an EZ tax return. Ricky: No problem. What are brothers for? Okay, you’ve entered your earnings, including your salary and dividends. You have no dependents... Shawn: I just hope I picked the right number of withholdings. I’d like to get a tax refund, rather than have to pay. Ricky: Well, you can take the standard deduction here, but I suggest itemizing your medical expenses and your charitable contributions. It may make a big difference in the calculations. Shawn: Thanks. I’ll crunch the numbers to find out. So what do I owe you for all of this help? Ricky: That depends on the size of your refund check! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialogue: 1:02 Explanations: 2:51 Fast dialog: 12:57 Charles: I don’t know how long this power outage is going to last. Do you think we should call Elizabeth to tell her we’ll be late for dinner? Jane: That’s a good idea. Do you know her phone number offhand? Charles: No, I don’t, and I can’t look it up in my address book or in the phone book without any lights. Oh, wait. I have it programmed into my cell phone. I should be able to use speed dial to call her. Oh, no. Jane: What’s the matter? Charles: My cell phone battery is dead. Jane: Maybe we can use the landline to call directory assistance. The operator should be able to give us her number. Charles: I doubt it. There must be more than one Elizabeth Bennett in our area code. Jane: You’re probably right, but I’ll try anyway. Where’s the phone? Oh, here it is. Why aren’t I getting a dial tone? Charles: Try listening through the earpiece instead of the mouthpiece. Jane: Oh, right. How do I dial 411 if I can’t see the keypad? Charles: Hey, the power is back on! Jane: Not a moment too soon! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Ask an American: Working as an actor in Los Angeles nevertheless versus despite versus even though, to screw up Words: to be driven craft rejection to get crushed headshot casting submissions studio eye contact to prep to be off nevertheless despite even though to screw up

Slow dialogue: 1:19 Explanations: 2:53 Fast dialogue: 12:28 I pushed the call button to get the attention of the flight attendant. Flight attendant: Yes? What can I do for you? Hal: It’s very cold in the cabin. Is it possible to get a blanket? Flight attendant: We’re out of blankets, but here’s a pillow. Hal: Okay, thanks. I was asleep during the meal service. Could I get a meal? Flight attendant: We don’t have any more of the Baked Chicken. We only have the Bean Salad left. Hal: Oh, okay, I’ll take that. Could I also get a drink? Flight attendant: What would you like? Hal: What do you have? Flight attendant: The complimentary drinks are listed in our in-flight magazine. Beer, wine, and other cocktails are $4. Hal: I’ll have a diet soda. Flight attendant: We’re out of diet soda. Hal: How about just some water? What’s that? Flight attendant: That’s turbulence. Make sure your seatbelt is fastened. Hal: Could I get an airsickness bag, please? Flight attendant: I’m sorry, but we’re out of those, too. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialogue: 1:23 Explanations: 3:36 Fast dialogue: 13:30 Moving to a new city can be a lonely experience. When I first moved to Los Angeles, I didn’t know anyone and it was hard to strike up new friendships. I’m a pretty sociable person, but it’s still hard meeting new people and even harder to make lasting friendships. I’ve never been a lone wolf, so being in a new city out on my own was a new experience. Sometimes I liked doing solitary things, but after awhile, I yearned to be around other people. I would go to busy places to people-watch. I would see families walking by, groups of friends hanging out together, and couples arm-in-arm, and wished I was walking along with them. When you’re feeling lonely, it sometimes feels like there’s a wall between you and everyone else, a wall that’s not easy to break down. Slowly, I started to meet people at my new job and to see them outside of work. Having this companionship and camaraderie, especially with people I had a good rapport with, was a welcomed change. In time, I made some good friends and I no longer dreaded the weekends. But, I’ve never forgotten how hard it was in those first months to be a stranger in a new place! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: FBI history, structure and duties; Reader’s Digest contents, history and readership; consent versus assent, concord versus accord, the long and the short of it Words: federal domestic intelligence serial killer child predator Internet hacker conspiracy secretive digest to condense excerpt humor consent assent concord accord the long and the short of it

Slow dialogue: 1:40 Explanations: 4:06 Fast dialogue: 16:41 Jeannie: Have you heard about the new management dispute? Salih: No, what’s happening? Jeannie: Well, the CEO is having problems with the head of one of the subsidiaries. Salih: Which one? Jeannie: Lance Publishing. Apparently, the head, Bill Riker, is saying that he and the CEO differ too much in their business philosophy and they can’t agree on a future direction for the company. Salih: I really hope they can settle their dispute soon. It doesn’t do anybody any good to have so much hostility in the office. Jeannie: I hope so, too. This company can’t afford to have another high-level departure. We’ve lost so many good people already this past year. Salih: We’ve had a lot of bad press, that’s for sure. It doesn’t matter that our employment contracts have confidentiality agreements. When somebody is disgruntled, they talk, and they talk loudly and to whomever will listen. Jeannie: You’ve got that right. I just hope none of us gets caught in the crossfire. I deal with people at Lance Publishing every week. Salih: I’m with you. I’m keeping a low profile and hoping that the whole thing will blow over soon. What the CEO and the head of Lance Publishing need is a good mediator who can find some way for two incompatible personalities to meet in the middle. Jeannie: What do you think the chances are of that happening? Salih: Quite frankly, knowing the people involved, I think it has a snowball’s chance in hell! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialogue: 1:24 Explanations: 3:36 Fast dialogue: 14:39 Isabella: What are you doing?! Why are you trying to hit that guy? Tony: He deserves it. He insulted you. I’m going to knock his block off! Isabella: Stop it! Be civilized. This isn’t some free-for-all. You can’t punch a guy just because he said something offensive. Tony: Oh, yes I can. Let me at him! I’m going to clobber him. Isabella: If you take another swing at him, he’s going to have you arrested for assault. Get a hold of yourself. Tony: I’m just trying to defend my sister’s honor. What’s wrong with that? Isabella: Nothing, but violence isn’t the answer. Let’s get out of here and cool off a little. Tony: All right, but if I ever see that guy again, he’ll get what’s coming to him. Isabella: Okay, okay, let’s go. You said he insulted me. What did he say? Tony: He said you had nice legs. The nerve of that guy! Isabella: That’s it? He said I had nice legs and you tried to hit him? Tony: Isn’t that enough? He can’t say those things about my little sister. Isabella: I think we need to have another talk about you being overprotective. I’m an adult. I can take care of myself. Tony: Yes, but I’m your big brother and I’m making sure that no one messes with you. That’s what big brothers are for. You don’t have to thank me. Isabella: Thank you? Uh! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Becoming a lawyer in the U.S., famous lines from American movies, proper versus appropriate Words: attorney state bar admission bar exam to hurt (someone’s) feelings to beg frankly black market to refuse to have class contender bum to be unconscious kid proper appropriate

Slow dialogue: 1:25 Explanations: 3:19 Fast dialogue: 14:34 Isaiah: Aren’t you supposed to be working? Nancy: I just thought I would take a break and surf the web a little. Isaiah: You’d better be careful which sites you visit. You know that Big Brother is watching. Nancy: The boss told us that, but I don’t believe it. They’re not going to care if I read a blog or check out a forum once in a while. Isaiah: That may be, but I would suggest clearing your history and your cache after you do that. You never know when someone is going to be checking up on you. Nancy: Listen, I’ve installed plug-ins and downloaded programs I’m not supposed to onto this computer, and I’ve never gotten into trouble. I think the boss is just using scare tactics to keep us from messing around when we’re supposed to be working. Isaiah: Like I said, you can dig your own grave if you want to. Vivian was shopping on the Internet on her work computer a couple of weeks ago, and some questionable pop-ups opened when she moved to a new tab. She didn’t notice it, and when the boss went onto her computer to get a document while she was at lunch, he saw it. She was in hot water. Nancy: Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing. I know how to cover my tracks. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialog: 2:07 Explanations: 4:24 Fast dialog: 17:21 Marjorie: I wish I could have been there when you told the managers that you were leaving the company and starting your own business! Pedro: Everyone was taken aback. Dan gave me a dirty look, of course. He’s always looked down his nose at me. As for Sanjaya, if looks could kill... Marjorie: Sanjaya? I thought if anyone would understand why you wanted to strike out on your own, he would. I honestly don’t know him that well, but I thought he was a happy-go-lucky kind of guy. Pedro: Maybe I misread him, but he certainly wasn’t grinning ear to ear. He just had a frown on his face the entire time. Marjorie: What about Wendy? How did she react? Pedro: I’m not sure what to make of her reaction. She just raised her eyebrows at me. She sort of winced when I broke the news, and then she had a poker face. I really hope she’s not angry with me. Marjorie: I think you’d know it if she were angry with you. The last time she was mad at me, she was purple with rage. So, aren’t you happy about your big announcement? I don’t get it. Why the long face? Pedro: I just wonder if I did the right thing by making an announcement, rather than telling each manager individually. I thought it would feel good to spring it on them all at once, but now I’m doubting whether I did the right thing. Marjorie: It’s no use crying over spilled milk. Forget about the announcement and focus on your new business. You’re going to be big success! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Norman Vincent Peale, Japanese internment camps, straightforward, to tap into, made by versus made of versus made in Words: Protestant denominations affiliation interplay technique affirmations civilian to betray ancestry to mitigate internment camps memoir straightforward to tap into made by made of made in

Slow dialog: 2:06 Explanations: 5:14 Fast dialog: 17:10 Magdalena: Thanks for meeting with me today. I’ve read through the materials your company sent me, but I still have some questions about opening a franchise. Phil: That’s what I’m here for. What questions can I answer for you? Magdalena: Well, I’m familiar with the franchise fee, but are there recurring fees not listed in these materials? Phil: That’s a good question. In addition to the annual franchise fee and the monthly royalties, we also charge a training fee and an advertising fee. Here’s a list of these and other fees. Magdalena: Oh, that’s very useful, thanks. I was also wondering what kinds of quality controls the franchises are subject to. Phil: As you know, when you start a franchise, you are buying into a proven formula for success. We offer a turnkey operation and you will be trained on how to run your business, down to the smallest details. To maintain these standards, we conduct spot checks of all of our franchises from time to time and we audit the books of each franchise once a year to make sure that our standards are being met. Only in very rare occasions do franchises lose their franchise rights because they’ve failed to meet our standards. Magdalena: What if I have problems along the way? What kind of support does the corporate office provide? Phil: We give our franchises as much support as possible. After all, it’s in our own best interest that you succeed. We provide troubleshooting and training for your management and employees. Magdalena: I think those are all of the questions I have right now. I really appreciate your time. If I have other questions in the future, can I contact you? Phil: Certainly. Here’s my card. I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have. Just give me a ring. Magdalena: Thanks, I’ll do that. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialogue: 1:10 Explanations: 2:59 Fast dialogue: 11:26 Manuel: Wow, I’ve never seen so many shopping bags in my life. I can guess where you’ve been. Georgia: I did go overboard a bit today. I went to the outlet mall and I found some real bargains. Nearly everything was discounted. I was in shopping heaven! Manuel: I can see that. Georgia: My favorite store had reduced prices for all of its sweaters, so I bought five. They were already on sale, but the store knocked another $5 off the price. I got them at half-price! I was going to buy three, but the store had a special offer: If you buy four, the fifth one is free. Manuel: But doesn’t that mean you spent more money, since you bought five sweaters when you only wanted three? Georgia: How could I resist? They were being sold at bargain basement prices. At another store, the sale items were two for the price of one. I’ve never seen things in that store so cheap. Manuel: Where are you going now? Georgia: I’m going back to the outlet stores, of course. I just came home for a little breather. There’s more shopping to be done! Manuel: Try to leave a few things for the other shoppers! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: American cities: Portland, Oregon; Take Me Out to the Ballgame; ocean versus sea, ability versus capability Words: metropolitan area confluence to kayak to hike to snowshoe environmentally conscious anthem seventh-inning stretch to root strike ocean sea ability capability