ESL Podcast - Previous Episodes

Slow dialog: 1:30 Explanations: 3:04 Fast dialog: 15:23 Bonnie: I wanted us to meet today to talk about ways to reduce our overhead. One suggestion is for us to outsource some of our operations. I’d like to hear what you think are the pros and cons of doing that. Jean-Luc: I think that, in principle, it’s a good idea. It would save us a lot of money, but I see a downside. We would lose control of some of our key in house operations. Bonnie: Well, I think that we want to focus on non-core operations, such as IT or accounting. I know that other companies have outsourced their call centers, but that would take a lot of training, especially with our call volume. Jean-Luc: I completely agree. I don’t think that the call center needs to be micro-managed, but it does take more oversight than IT or accounting for quality control, especially if we decide to go offshore. Bonnie: Okay, I think we’re thinking along the same lines. Let’s call a meeting with the rest of the staff to get their thoughts. How about next Tuesday at 10 a.m.? Jean-Luc: That works for me. I’ll send out an email out to everybody today. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialog: 1:30 Explanations: 3:53 Fast dialog: 16:23 It’s been almost three months since I got a haircut and I went to the barbershop where I always get it cut. But when I got there, the barbershop had been replaced by a hair salon. Shinobu: Hi, I used to get my hair cut at the barbershop that was here. Nicole: Yeah, they closed. We’ve been open for about a month. I can cut your hair. Shinobu: Uh...I guess that’s okay. Nicole: Why don’t you come over here and sit down. What do you have in mind? Shinobu: Well, as you can see, my hair is pretty curly. When it’s long, it looks like an Afro. I want it to be a lot shorter, but I don’t want a buzz cut. Nicole: Are you sure you want to cut it? If you keep it long, you could have great dreadlocks. Shinobu: Uh, I’m not sure that that style would work for me. Nicole: Okay, then. How about if I cut it short on the sides, leave the bangs medium length, and then keep the back long? Shinobu: No, I don’t think that would work, either. I’d like it an inch off the collar in back, above the ears, no sideburns, with a part down the right side. I really just need a trim. Nicole: Hmm…how about if I shave your head? You’d look great bald. Shinobu: No! I definitely don’t want that. You know what, I just remembered that I’m supposed to be somewhere else right now. Nicole: Oh, are you sure? I’m sure I know exactly what you want. Shinobu: I’m sure you do, but I really have to go. I left that hair salon as quickly as I could. Who knows what would have happened if I’d stayed there? She may have given me a Mohawk! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Table manners in the U.S., Washington, D.C., easygoing, down to earth, to put someone in harm’s way, to take a shot at someone, inquiry Words: to say grace forearm napkin lap to slurp to burp to chew delicious mayor judicial veteran easygoing down to earth to put someone in harm’s way to take a shot at someone inquiry

Slow dialog: 1:15 Explanations: 3:36 Fast dialog: 17:15 Sarya: Hey Dom, I haven’t seen you in so long. Where have you been? Dominick: Oh, I’ve been busy. Sarya: I’ve missed hanging out together. How’s Leslie? Dominick: She’s okay, but things haven’t been that great between us. Sarya: I’m really sorry to hear that. What’s up? Dominick: Leslie is great, but she’s so jealous of my friends, especially my female friends. She doesn’t like it when I see them or even if I talk to them on the phone. To be honest, that’s why I haven’t called you lately. Sarya: I got the feeling that you’ve been avoiding me. Now I understand that it’s the green-eyed monster at work. Have you been doing anything to make her jealous? Dominick: No! I go out with my friends sometimes but I’m always up front with Leslie and tell her what I’m doing. But, she’s so possessive. Even when I go out with my guy friends, she flips out sometimes. I don’t know why she won’t trust me. Sarya: Maybe she’s just insecure about herself, or maybe she feels insecure about your relationship. But either way, I’d stop this in its tracks before it gets any worse. Have you talked to her about it? Dominick: Not really. We usually get into a big fight and then we make up, but we don’t ever get at the root of the matter. Sarya: I wish I could help. Dominick: You already have. Talking about it helps. Whatever it takes, I’m going to get this under control. Other than this jealousy problem, we have a great relationship. I don’t want anything to jeopardize it. Sarya: Good luck with everything and let me know if I there’s anything I can do. Dominick: Thanks. I will. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialog: 0:47 Explanations: 2:30 Fast dialog: 14:40 I went to the bike shop on Saturday morning to buy a bicycle. Clerk: What kind of bike are you looking for? Lance: I’m really not sure. Clerk: Well, let me show you what we have. We carry road bikes, mountain bikes, beach cruisers, and racing bikes. Lance: I’m going to start biking to work. I’ll be riding mainly on the road, but I want something versatile enough for anything. Clerk: Well, the road bikes are for everyday use. They have heavy frames and tires. The seats are comfortable and so are the handlebars. The mountain bikes are very sturdy for off-road cycling and have wider tires. Beach cruisers have just one speed, so you won’t be shifting any gears. Lance: Okay. Are the brakes hard to handle? Clerk: No. You either have foot brakes, like on the beach cruisers, or you have hand brakes. They’re very easy to get used to. If you want to keep it simple, I would either go for a road bike or a mountain bike. Those are the most popular. Lance: If I get a bike, what other things do I need? Clerk: I usually recommend an air pump, a bike lock, and a helmet. Lance: Okay, I’ll take a look around. Clerk: Sure. Just let me know if you have other questions. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Woodstock Music Festival, Affirmative Action, hands-on vs. hand-off, to struggle, how to ask for a taxi, May I vs. Can I, to carpool Words: gathering overdose national anthem shiny affirmative remedy to be admitted race gender ethnicity reverse hands-on/-off to struggle to call someone a taxi May I…/Can I… to carpool

Slow dialog: 1:07 Explanations: 2:49 Fast dialog: 14:30 Patty: Alberto, can I pick your brain for a minute? Alberto: Yeah, sure, but you’ll have to make it quick. I’m going into a meeting at 3. Patty: Sure. Hopefully, this won’t take long. I’m thinking about asking for a raise. I’ve been working here for a year and half, and I now have a lot more responsibilities on my plate than when I started. I think I’ve earned a raise, but I don’t know how to broach the issue with Wayne. I can’t just go into his office and say, “Give me a raise!” Alberto: You’re right. It’s not an easy thing to bring up. One thing I did when I asked for a raise last year was to remind Wayne of my qualifications and all of the work I do around here. I tried to convince Wayne that I was indispensable. Patty: Obviously it worked. You got a raise and a promotion, too. All I want is a bump in pay. Alberto: The trick is to sell yourself without seeming self-serving. And, you don’t want to give any ultimatums either. That definitely won’t fly with Wayne. Patty: I can see that. I plan to talk to him at the end of the week so wish me luck. Alberto: You don’t need it. I’m sure Wayne will see things your way. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialog: 1:22 Explanations: 3:10 Fast dialog: 16:02 I was at the hospital at with my friend, Wendy. Her father was in an accident and she was waiting to talk to the doctor. Doctor: Hello, I’m Dr. Johnson. How are you holding up? Wendy: Oh, I’m fine. Is there any news? Doctor: Yes. I have examined your father’s test results and I’m afraid the news isn’t good. His condition has deteriorated rapidly, and I want you to prepare for the worst. Wendy: You’re not saying that he won’t recover, are you? Doctor: We can hope for the best, but your father may only have a few days. I’m very sorry. Wendy: Can I see my father? Doctor: Yes, of course. ....... The worst did happen and Wendy’s father passed away the following week. At both the wake and the funeral, we all tried to console Wendy by saying things like, “I’m sorry for your loss,” “Please accept my condolences,” and “My thoughts are with you during this difficult time.” The funeral director made sure that the funeral service went smoothly. The eulogy was short and I went with Wendy to the burial. It was a difficult time for Wendy but hopefully, having her family and friends with her made it more bearable. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Day of the Dead, Desperate Housewives, work vs. job. vs. occupation, older vs. elder Words: saint grave shrine skull desperate housewife suburbs soap opera melodramatic Emmy Award word job occupation older elder

Slow dialog: 1:04 Explanations: 3:13 Fast dialog: 15:02 Our family decided to take a road trip across the country this year. The kids were really excited and my oldest son wanted to help navigate. Before the trip, we looked at the road maps and decided on our route and the points of interest we would try to see. Since we wouldn’t be taking a camper, we needed to make hotel reservations along the way. After a little planning, we were ready to go. The kids were behaving themselves the first day. My daughter was a little car sick in the morning, but we made it to our first stop without any major problems. On the second day, though, the kids were really acting up. They kept asking, “Are we there yet?” and they wanted to stop at every rest stop. My youngest son, who is only four, kept calling out the mile markers as we passed them, and I thought my head would explode if he didn’t stop. On top of that, my wife wanted to stop every few miles for a photo op and I thought we’d never get to the next town. By the third day, I was really questioning the wisdom of taking three young children on the road for 10 days. I suspect that after this vacation, I’ll need another one to recover from it. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialog: 1:05 Explanations: 2:39 Fast dialog: 13:40 Celeste: I’m so glad it’s Friday. Are you doing anything this weekend? Ryan: I’m going snowboarding with James. Celeste: Didn’t you guys go bungee jumping last weekend? Ryan: Yeah, and we plan to go cave diving in a couple of weeks. Celeste: I didn’t know you were into extreme sports. I guess it’s a big adrenaline rush. Ryan: It is. But for me, it’s about pushing myself to the limit. Celeste: Aren’t you afraid of getting hurt? Ryan: Sure. There’s always a danger of getting hurt, but we don’t do these sports competitively. It’s just for fun. I like trying new stunts and seeing how far we can push the boundaries of the sport. Do you want to come with us sometime? Celeste: Me? I’m not really the adventurous type. Ryan: You never know. You might like it. After cave diving, we’ll probably try climbing. Celeste: Oh, that doesn’t sound too bad. I’ve done some climbing before. Ryan: I should tell you that we plan on going ice climbing. Celeste: Oh. In that case, I think I’ll pass. Have fun this weekend. Ryan: Thanks and let me know if you change your mind. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Genealogy, Bill Cosby, to get down on your knees vs. to get down on one knee Words: blood relative mini-series ancestor to trace your family tree hyphenated American cemetery birth certificate Mormons stand-up comedian to tell a joke album cartoon upper-class to get down on your knees to get down on one knee

Slow dialog: 1:04 Explanations: 2:30 Fast dialog: 16:33 Adam: With our expansion into these new areas of business, I think we need to think seriously about changing our corporate image. We’re much more than just a paper company now. Eva: I think you’re right. Our brand has changed, and if we want to keep brand loyalty, we need to think about protecting and improving our product image. Adam: I agree that that’s a key issue as we reposition ourselves in the industry. We can never lose sight of our end-users. Eva: And, even though we have registered trademarks on some of the new prestige products, we need to have a plan if we want to turn these new products into household names. Adam: I suggest we think about hiring a public relations firm. They may be able to help us update our corporate image and logo, and to shape our new corporate identity. Eva: Why don’t I contact a few PR firms and set up some meetings? Adam: Yes, do that. That seems like the logical next step. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialog: 1:11 Explanations: 2:56 Fast dialog: 14:10 It was 2 o’clock in the morning when my wife woke me up. She is eight-and-a-half months pregnant and she told me that her water had broken. She said that she was having contractions and she was sure that she was in labor. I paged our doctor and drove to the hospital. When we arrived, we went straight to the maternity ward. I went to the reception desk, and told the clerk that my wife was in labor and needed to be admitted right away. The nurse asked me for my insurance card and gave me three forms to fill out. She said that someone would take my wife into the birthing suite soon. The doctor arrived and she examined my wife. She told us that this wasn’t false labor and that my wife was pretty far along. After a lot of pushing, the baby came out head first, not breach, and it was healthy. I was so relieved I couldn’t stop hugging my wife. Then, I hugged the doctor, and the nurse, and the janitor! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Houston, who Americans trust, to get off one’s soapbox, layover vs. transfer, blond vs. blonde Words: gulf (as in water) oil wells metropolitan area port cargo unload mission (as in spaceflight) dome occupation clergy to get off one’s soapbox to hog the floor layover transfer (ground transport to/fro airport) blond, blonde