ESL Podcast - Previous Episodes

Topics: News anchors, public school curriculum, Mark Twain, dictionary vs. thesaurus, shortened words (rehab, lab, mag, celeb), "apparent suicide," feature presentation Words: to flip through the channels remote control newscast spokesperson chairperson decentralized school board federal mandated standards to exit K-12 to appoint humorist to interfere synonym antonym homonym rehabilitation

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse Audio Index Slow dialog: 1:14 Explanations: 3:04 Fast dialog: 15:04 I have been trying to get up the nerve to ask my girlfriend to marry me. We have been dating for almost a year and I think she’s the one. I went shopping for engagement rings and really hated the experience. I wasn’t sure what kind of ring she’d like and it took me a long time to decide. Finally, with the help of the saleswoman, I picked one. So, I’ve got the ring. Now, I’ve just got to find the right time to pop the question. I needed to think of a romantic way to propose. I’ve watched enough romantic movies with my girlfriend to know that the proposal has to be something special. I thought about taking her on a trip to Paris and asking her in the “City of Love.” But I spent all of my money on the ring so that’s out of the question. I thought about writing her a love poem and proposing in the poem. But I’m a terrible writer. I thought about serenading her outside her window, but with my voice, I’m sure the neighbors would call the police. I don’t know what to do. How do I ask her to marry me?

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse Audio Index Slow dialog: 1:03 Explanations: 2:28 Fast dialog: 15:55 Joey: I’ve had it! I’m not going to take it anymore. Rachel: What’s the matter? Joey: I’m sick and tired of being the butt of Chandler’s practical jokes. One of these days, he’s really going to get someone hurt. Rachel: Oh, no. What has he done now? Joey: I went back to my office after lunch and sat down at my desk. After about a half hour, I got up to get some coffee. I walked out of my office and I hear Phoebe giggling behind me. Rachel: What was so funny? Joey: Chandler had put a sticker on my chair that stuck to my pants when I got up. Rachel: What did it say? Joey: It said, “I’m a Red Hot Mama.” Rachel: That’s terrible. I can see why you’re mad. You may be a red hot papa, but definitely not a red hot mama. Joey: Very funny. One of these days, he’s going to get it. I’m planning my revenge…

Topics: High school musicals, what a woman looks for in a man, to drive your point home, to call the shots, pilot TV shows, to be debt-ridden, to be in charge, on behalf of Words: drama hit musical crew backdrop theater set to dim scene cast fundraiser rehearse birdie clueless critical overbearing gentle to please to treat to respect debate

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse Audio Index Slow dialog: 0:48 Explanations: 2:19 Fast dialog: 20:42 I went to see my doctor because I had a nagging pain in my leg. After he examined me and ran some routine tests, he suggested that I go see a specialist. I made an appointment with Dr. Slope. Dr. Slope: Good morning. How are you today? Simon: I’m fine, Dr. Slope. My GP, Dr. Harding, referred me to you. He thought that you might be able to diagnose the problem with my leg. Dr. Slope: Well, let’s take a look…Hmm…I want to order some tests but I think you may need surgery. It’s a simple procedure and it will relieve your pain. Simon: So, it’s not a high risk operation? Dr. Slope: No, not at all. It’s quite routine. Simon: Are there any other treatment options? Dr. Slope: Not that I’d recommend. This is the best course of treatment in my opinion. I was really surprised by what Dr. Slope said. I really didn’t want to have surgery. I think I’d better get a second opinion before going under the knife.

Special Announcement - New Learning Guides Now Available! This is a special ESL Podcast announcement for an exciting new service that we are now offering. I’m Dr. Jeff McQuillan from the Center for Educational Development. At ESL Podcast, we are always looking for ways to make our podcasts more useful to you. We have had many requests and suggestions from you and we thank you for them. We now have an all new website and an all new service at ESL Podcast, called the Podcast Learning Guide. Beginning May 15, each ESL Podcast will have a 8-10 page Learning Guide to help you better understand and use our podcasts. This Learning Guide is a PDF file that you can download from our new website. It is made to help you improve your English even faster. It includes: A Complete Transcript – Beginning with our May 15 podcast, you will receive the entire transcript for each ESL Podcast and English Cafe—every word that is said on the podcast! This is a great help in understanding things you may have missed when listening to the podcast. It also includes… Definitions and Sample Sentences – You will get a glossary (a glossary is a list of words and phrases) with their definitions that are used in the podcast. You will also get some additional sentences using these phrases or expressions, different from the ones used in the podcast. This will give you even more practice with these new expressions. The Guide also includes… Comprehension Questions – We provide comprehension questions and answers for each ESL Podcast to help you make sure you understood the podcast. We have a very interesting section in the Guide called… What Else Does It Mean? – With this, you will get additional explanations and uses of some of the words and phrases from the podcast, giving additional meanings not talked about in the podcast. The Learning Guide also includes… Cultural Notes – You will get more information and details about the topics discussed in the podcast and be able to understand American culture better with each podcast. This will be extra material not found in the podcast. You will also receive… Tips on Improving Your English – With each ESL Café, you will learn ways you can improve your English listening, speaking, reading, and writing. You’ll get advice from me and from Dr. Tse on what to do—and what not to do—to improve your English. Finally, you’ll get… Special Notices from ESL Podcast – You’ll be the first to know about exciting new services in the future! You get a new Learning Guide for each and every podcast we make, beginning May 15th. Because this is an additional, special service, the cost of the Learning Guide Membership is $10 each month. To get more information or to become a member, go to our website at www.eslpod.com. Click on “Learning Guides” in the menu. You can also download a free sample Learning Guide right now so you’ll know what the Learning Guides look like. Just visit our website. Remember: ESL Podcast and English Café are still free to everyone! Don’t worry! Thanks to the many kind people who have donated money to us, we have been able to keep all of our nearly 200 podcasts free to anyone who wants them. This Learning Guide Membership is an additional service, and is completely optional—join only if you want the additional activities and explanations for each podcast. This additional 8-10 pages of material for each podcast of course costs us extra money to prepare, which is why we have a low monthly fee for the Learning Guides. You can continue to listen to the podcasts without being a member or paying any money, again thanks to our listeners who donate to keep the free podcasts available. But for those of you who want more, who want to improve your English even more quickly, we are offering you this opportunity.

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse Audio Index: Slow dialog: 0:48 Explanations: 2:28 Fast dialog: 16:47 In my family, there are penny-pinchers and spendthrifts, and everything in between. My brother Frank has the reputation for being stingy with money. He likes to save up and only spend when he has to. I bet he has a lot stashed away. He’s careful with money but he does spend it when he thinks it’s necessary, and his wife and kids are very comfortable. On the other hand, my brother Jack is known as a spendthrift. It’s not that he’s a big spender or a high roller. It’s just that he’s not very careful with money and doesn’t think it’s that important. When he has it, he doesn’t think twice about spending it. With his friends, he’s generous to a fault. So, what am I? A penny-pincher or a spendthrift? I guess I’m a little of both. It depends on who’s asking and how much they want to borrow.

Topics: Rich Dad Poor Dad, how the US government works, sneak previews, this/that/these/those, "so to speak," by all means, to begin with, under a spell, down to earth Words: self-help scheme executive legislative judicial Congress branch supreme bill (vs. law) veto override overview preview to cast a spell

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse Audio Index: Slow dialog: 0:50 Explanations: 2:28 Fast dialog: 18:43 Even though I’ve only been on the job for six months, my manager asked me to train the new hire. She was starting today and when she arrived, we got down to business. Akira: So, the first thing I’ll do is to give you a run down of the duties of the job. You main responsibilities will be to ensure that the reports are finished each week, make any adjustments that need to be made, and distribute them to each department. Is that clear so far? Frances: Sure. That seems pretty straightforward. Who do I report to? Akira: Your immediate supervisor is Ida Funck. We all work under her in this department. Okay, here’s the employee manual. Make sure you read it. Frances: Great. Thanks. Now, when do I get a break? Akira: A break? You’ve only been here a half an hour. Frances: Has it been that long? I need some coffee. Needless to say, it was a very, very long day.

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse Audio Index Slow dialog: 0:47 Explanations: 2:03 Fast dialog: 17:17 Tom: I wonder how much longer we’ll have to put up with Dennis. He is the most incompetent boss I’ve ever worked for. Katie: He’s not that bad, is he? I don’t have much contact with him. Tom: Are you kidding? He’s always sleeping on the job. The other day, he was supposed to keep an eye on the supervisors visiting from Salt Lake City. Instead, I heard that he went to a baseball game and the supervisors ended up stranded at the downtown office. Katie: It’s hard to believe that he’d fall down on the job like that. Tom: It’s not only that. He’s always passing the buck. Every time something goes wrong at the factory, he blames everyone but himself. Katie: If he’s as bad as you say he is, he must be on his way out. But, you know what they say: “Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.” Tom: Yeah, I know, but I’m willing to take my chances.

Topics: American Idol, Phoenix, aced out, content or contents?, to delay, if vs. whether Words: idol to look up to undiscovered spin off television season audition panel contestants round toll-free number harsh blunt rejection desert tech to migrate retiree snowbird pension trailer park table of contents

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse Audio Index Slow dialog: 0:44 Explanations: 2:03 Fast dialog: 17:52 Elaine: You look happy. Jerry: Me? Oh, I was just talking to Ling. Elaine: Oh, no wonder! You better watch out. She’s a big flirt. Jerry: What do you mean? Elaine: Did she make eyes at you and whisper sweet nothings in your ear? Jerry: Well, yes, she said she’d never met anybody like me before, and by her body language, I think she was serious. Elaine: Then she’s still using the same old line that she used with Kramer. She had him wrapped around her little finger. Jerry: Give me a little credit. I know when I’m being snowed and when a girl is really interested in me. Elaine: I hope you’re right, but she’s quite the heartbreaker. I just don’t want you to get hurt. Jerry: Thanks but I think I can take care of myself. Elaine: Okay. Suit yourself.

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse Audio Index Slow dialog: 0:42 Explanations: 2:10 Fast dialog: 14:48 Robert: You look exhausted. You must have been out late last night having fun. Muriel: I wish. I’ve actually started moonlighting. I’ve decided to go back to school and need the extra money to make ends meet. Robert: Good for you. That’s great. Where are you moonlighting? Muriel: I’m working at the university library. At that time of night, it’s pretty dead. When there are no students around, I can use the time to study. It works out pretty well, except for the hours. Robert: Oh, yeah? What are they? Muriel: My work schedule is pretty good, actually. I work three days a week: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. But my hours are 7 to midnight. By the time I get home, I’m dead tired. Robert: No wonder you look beat. Here, have some more coffee. Muriel: Thanks. I just hope I don’t fall asleep in the morning meeting. Robert: It’s okay. No one will notice. Muriel: Thanks a lot! Robert: Don’t mention it.

Topics: ESL Podcast's Audio Index; news on the Internet; what Americans think about the environment; Capote, Adobe, and Nike; think of vs. think about; "think tank"; when to say good afternoon, good evening, and good night; COB Words: content to go away "I don't suspect" blog to dumb down opinion poll random sample Gallup Poll pollution global warming Green Party recycle proper nouns COB = Close of Business

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse Audio Index Slow dialog: 0:44 Explanations: 2:28 Fast dialog: 13:22 One thing I dread more than anything else is going clothes shopping with my wife. It’s not that I don’t like helping her buy new clothes. It’s just that I have no fashion sense. My wife always asks me, “What do you think of this one?” and I always answer with something like: “That’s nice” or “That looks good on you.” That usually satisfies her but sometimes I get harder questions like, “Which one looks better, this one or the other one?” It’s a hard question to answer because whichever one I pick, she will follow up with the question I dread the most: “Why?” The truth is, I don’t know why. I don’t know if it’s because of the color, the cut, the hemline, or the fit. I might have an idea but I can’t put it into words. One question I do know the answer to, though, is: “Do I look fat in this?” The answer to THAT question is always, always, “No!”