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Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- do for a living: do a job to earn money – What did your father do for a living before he retired?
- study (noun): the activity of learning something – Becoming a lawyer takes years of study and preparation.
- drop by (verb): visit informally
– I’ll drop by your house tonight around 8:00 p.m.
Man: Amy, so what do you do for a living? Woman: Well, I work as an attorney. Man: Oh, and what kind of law do you practice? I mean, what is your specialty? Woman: I work as a personal injury attorney, and we work with all kinds of cases. [ Oh, for example . . . ] Well, like injuries in car accidents, falls, and even animal attacks, [ Oh! ] like a neighbor’s dog that bites you when you go to get the morning newspaper. Man: Wow, and where did you study law? Woman: I graduated from Stanford Law School. Man: Oh. And when was that? Woman: I completed my studies there in 1997. Man: Oh. Well, actually, my son is thinking about going into law. Woman: Hey, Look, if your son is interested, he can even drop by my office this week. I’m there until 5:30 every day. Man: Wow, That’s very kind of you to offer. I’ll let my son know. Thanks.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- do for a living: do a job to earn money – What did your father do for a living before he retired?
- study (noun): the activity of learning something – Becoming a lawyer takes years of study and preparation.
- drop by (verb): visit informally – I’ll drop by your house tonight around 8:00 p.m.
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Audio:
Transcript:
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- do for a living: do a job to earn money – What did your father do for a living before he retired?
- study (noun): the activity of learning something – Becoming a lawyer takes years of study and preparation.
- drop by (verb): visit informally
– I’ll drop by your house tonight around 8:00 p.m.
Man: Amy, so what do you do for a living? Woman: Well, I work as an attorney. Man: Oh, and what kind of law do you practice? I mean, what is your specialty? Woman: I work as a personal injury attorney, and we work with all kinds of cases. [ Oh, for example . . . ] Well, like injuries in car accidents, falls, and even animal attacks, [ Oh! ] like a neighbor’s dog that bites you when you go to get the morning newspaper. Man: Wow, and where did you study law? Woman: I graduated from Stanford Law School. Man: Oh. And when was that? Woman: I completed my studies there in 1997. Man: Oh. Well, actually, my son is thinking about going into law. Woman: Hey, Look, if your son is interested, he can even drop by my office this week. I’m there until 5:30 every day. Man: Wow, That’s very kind of you to offer. I’ll let my son know. Thanks.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- do for a living: do a job to earn money – What did your father do for a living before he retired?
- study (noun): the activity of learning something – Becoming a lawyer takes years of study and preparation.
- drop by (verb): visit informally – I’ll drop by your house tonight around 8:00 p.m.
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Customs Officer: Next. Uh, your passport please.
Woman: Okay.
Customs Officer: Uh, what is the purpose of your visit?
Woman: I’m here to attend a teaching convention for the first part of my trip, and then I plan on touring the capital for a few days.
Customs Officer: And where will you be staying?
Woman: I’ll be staying in a room at a hotel downtown for the entire week.
Customs Officer: And uh, what do you have in your luggage?
Woman: Uh, well, just, just my personal belongings um, . . . clothes, a few books, and a CD player.
Customs Officer: Okay. Uh, please open your bag.
Woman: Sure.
Customs Officer: Okay . . . Everything’s fine. [Great]. Uh, by the way, is this your first visit to the country?
Woman: Well, yes and no. Actually, I was born here when my parents were working in the capital many years ago, but this is my first trip back since then.
Customs Officer: Well, enjoy your trip.
Woman: Thanks.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- attend (verb): to be at or go to
– I’m planning on attending a language class before I go to China. - book (verb): to make arrangements in advance
– You ought to book a room at least a month in advance. - luggage (noun): bags used during traveling to carry your things
– You are only allowed two pieces of luggage on this flight. - belongings (noun): your personal property or possessions
– Be sure to collect your belongings before you leave the plane.
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Woman: Hello. This is the front desk. Tess, speaking, How can I help you?
Man: Yes, I’d like to order room service.
Woman: Okay. What can I get for you?
Man: Well. Okay. I’d like to order a grilled chicken sandwich [ Okay. ], some fries, and a small salad.
Woman: Okay. What kind of dressing?
Man: Okay, well, I’ll . . . . how about Ranch? But I’d like it on the side.
Woman: Okay. On the side. Anything else for you?
Man: Uh, yeah. How about a glass of orange juice?
Woman: Okay. Large or small?
Man: Well, let’s, let’s go with a . . . a large.
Woman: Okay. And what room are you in?
Man: I’m in roo . . I’m in . . . , let’s see. Well, I can’t remember! Oh, yeah. I’m in room 640.
Woman: And your name?
Man: It’s James.
Woman: Alright.
Man: And, uh. Oh, yeah. How long will it take?
Woman: Oh, it shouldn’t be more than about 30 minutes.
Man: Okay and okay. Well, what time is it now?
Woman: [ It’s ] six, forty-five (6:45).
Man: Okay. Alright. Thank you.
Woman: Perfect.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- order (verb): to request or ask for something
– I ordered a cheeseburger, but it took one hour for it to come. It wasn’t very good, either. - on the side (phrase): food served separate from other food
– We all ordered a salad with dressing on the side. - let’s go with (phrase): we’ll take something
– Okay. If rice or potatoes come with the steak, I think I’ll go with the rice. . - should be (modal of high probability): probably be
– The food should be here soon. We ordered over 30 minutes ago. - The food shouldn’t be cold. It just got here.
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Hotel Clerk: Hello. Sunnyside Inn. May I help you?
Man: Yes, I’d like to reserve a room for two on the 21st of March.
Hotel Clerk: Okay. Let me check our computer here for a moment. The 21st of May, right?
Man: No. March, not May.
Hotel Clerk: Oh, sorry. Let me see here. Hmmm.
Man: Are you all booked that night?
Hotel Clerk: Well, we have one suite available, complete with a kitchenette and a sauna bath. And the view of the city is great, too.
Man: How much is that?
Hotel Clerk: It’s only $200 dollars, plus a 10% room tax.
Man: Oh, that’s a little too expensive for me. Do you have a cheaper room available either on the 20th or the 22nd?
Hotel Clerk: Well, would you like a smoking or a non-smoking room?
Man: Non-smoking, please.
Hotel Clerk: Okay, we do have a few rooms available on the 20th; we’re full on the 22nd, unless you want a smoking room.
Man: Well, how much is the non-smoking room on the 20th?
Hotel Clerk: $80 dollars, plus the 10% room tax.
Man: Okay, that’ll be fine.
Hotel Clerk: All right. Could I have your name, please?
Man: Yes. Bob Maexner.
Hotel Clerk: How do you spell your last name, Mr. Maexner?
Man: M-A-E-X-N-E-R.
Hotel Clerk: Okay, Mr. Maexner, we look forward to seeing you on March 20th.
Man: Okay. Goodbye.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- book (verb): reserve
– Let’s book a room at a cheap hotel in the city. - suite (noun): a group of connected rooms at a hotel
– I decided to reserve a suite for our honeymoon. - kitchenette (noun): a very small kitchen
– My first apartment was very small and only had a kitchenette.
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News Reporter: Hello. This is Charles Richards from Channel 7 News, and we’re down here at the, uh, City Mall, interviewing people on how they celebrate Christmas. And, hi young lady. What is your name?
Young Girl: Elizabeth Carter.
News Reporter: And, Elizabeth, uh. How does your family celebrate Christmas?
Young Girl: We go sledding, and then go over to my grandparents’ house and have dinner with them.
News Reporter: Well, that is great, and let me ask this young man. Hi, what is your name? [Johnny.] And Johnny, how old are you?
Johnny: Five.
News Reporter: Five. And, uh, does your family eat anything particular for Christmas?
Johnny: Turkey . . .
News Reporter: And what does Christmas mean to you?
Young Girl: Going to my grandma’s and making their breakfast.
News Reporter: Going to grandma’s and making breakfast. And let me ask another young man. Hi, what is your name? [Steven.] Okay, and Steven, what does Christmas mean to you?
Steven: Giving but not expecting to get.
News Reporter: Yeah. That’s kind of hard for a young man like yourself. And what does that mean: Giving by not expecting?
Steven: Well, one thing that we do is secret giving.
News Reporter: Secret giving? Now how does that work in your family?
Steven: We sneak up to the porch of somebody that we want to give to them, ring the doorbell, and hide.
News Reporter: Ring the doorbell and hide? Uh, so you’re not expecting something; you just want to be generous to someone else. Is that right?
Steven: Yeah. That’s correct.
News Reporter: And let’s interview one more. And, uh, how do you celebrate Christmas? What is the best thing about Christmas and what does it mean to you?
Child: It means getting off from school!
News Reporter: Getting off from school?! Do you all feel that way?
Group of Children: Yeah!!
Young Girl: Because I hate homework.
News Reporter: Yeah. Well, that’s all here from the City Mall. Channel 7 reporting.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- sledding (noun): the activity or sport of riding on a sled, usually in snow
– I took the kids sledding yesterday down a real fun hill, and we had a great time. - particular (adjective): special or specific
– Our family doesn’t do anything particular on Christmas morning besides opening up gifts. - sneak (verb): to advance or approach without being seen
– My son often tries to sneak into the kitchen and take a cookie when no one is watching. - hide (verb): to prevent from being seen or discovered
– Parents often hide their children’s Christmas presents to keep them a secret.
generous (adjective): willing to give or share freely
– People are often very generous around the holiday season and donate.
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Waiter: Hi. Welcome to Heavenly Pies. May I take your order?
Man: Uh . . . yes. I’d like the chicken fried steak.
Waiter: Okay. Would you like fries, bread, or rice with your meal?
Man: Hmm. I’ll take the rice?
Waiter: Would you care for anything to drink?
Man: Yeah. I’ll take a medium orange juice.
Waiter: I’m sorry. We only have large or small.
Man: Well, in that case, uh, I’ll have a small one.
Waiter: Okay. A small juice. And what kind of dressing would you like with your salad. It comes with the fried steak.
Man: What dressings do you have?
Waiter: We have French, Italian, blue cheese, and ranch.
Man: Oh! Ranch, please.
Waiter: Would you like anything else?
Man: Well, I’d like to see your pie menu. That’s the main reason why I like to dine here.
Waiter: Oh, I’m sorry, but we aren’t serving pies today.
Man: Huh? I thought this was Heavenly Pies Restaurant.
Waiter: Well, it usually is, but, Dave, our baker, slipped on a banana in the kitchen two days ago, and hurt his leg. [Oh] He’ll be out for at least two weeks. In the meantime, we’re serving ice cream sundaes instead. Sorry.
Man: Wow. I’m sorry to hear that. Um, well in that case, I’ll have an ice cream sundae.
Woman: Okay. I’ll be back with your order in a few minutes
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- meal (noun): a portion of food served and eaten at one time
– This restaurant serves delicious meals at a reasonable price. - care for (verb): informal, to want or wish for something
– Would you care for another drink? - dine (verb): to eat dinner
– How about dining at my house tonight? - injure (verb): to cause physical damage to someone
– He injured his back when he tried to lift those heavy boxes.
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Woman: So, are you ready for college?
Man: Of course, I am. I have a smartphone, dad’s credit card, and a toothbrush. What more do I need?
Woman: Uh, you’re not prepared at all.
Man: What do mean?
Woman: Well, what are you going to do if you get sick?
Man: What are you talking about? I never get sick.
Woman: Right. Last week, you got a cold, and you couldn’t go to school for three days.
Man: Ah, that was a fluke.
Woman: And the week before that, you had a headache.
Man: Ah, headache? It was the buga virus that was going around.
Woman: The what? Anyway, have you signed up for student health insurance?
Man: What are you talking about? Even if I get sick, I’m still on dad’s health insurance, right?
Woman: Well, you are . . . until Friday when you turn 26 [ What? ], and you don’t qualify any longer.
Man: Oh, so how much does it cost to buy it on my own?
Woman: Well, I think it’s about $180 . . . [ Ah, that’s not bad. ] a month.
Man: A month? Not a year? [ No. ] That’s outrageous. I’m just going to wear a hazmat suit so I don’t catch anything.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- fluke: a lucky or unusual thing that happens by accident
– By some strange fluke, my brother was hit by a baseball at the game. - something is going around (expression): something like a sickness is spreading to other people
– The flu has been going around for the past month. - qualify (verb): have the right to be a part of something
– I really hope I qualify for a college scholarship next year. - outrageous (adjective): shocking, incredible
– The price of this car is outrageous. I’ll never buy something like this.
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Justin: Uh, hi. Do you need some help with those weights? I can move them for you.
Rachel: Uh, no. I can do it myself. I just have to put them back over there.
Justin: No, let me help you. Uh, Oh, Hmpf.
Rachel: Oh, it’s okay.
Justin: Oh, my back!
Rachel: It’s okay, it’s okay. Are you okay?
Justin: I just need to lie down here. Uh. Do you come here often?
Rachel: Yeah. I usually come five times a week.
Justin: Woah, oh man, oh. By the way, my name’s Justin.
Rachel: I’m Rachel.
Justin: Uh, so, where are you from?
Rachel: I’m originally from California.
Justin: Oh . . .ohh! (Said in agony)
Rachel: Are you sure you’re okay?
Justin: Oh, yeah, um, I’m okay. Uh, where are you from?
Rachel: Um, I spent most of my life in a small town in Utah called Spanish Fork actually.
Justin: Oh, um . . . Ohh, oh . . . I just need to lie here.
Rachel: Okay, um, so, where are you from, Justin? I’m gonna [going to] call the manager.
Justin: No, no, no, no, no! I just need to rest. Oh yeah. I’m from . . . Spanish Fork.
Rachel: Wait. Are you sure? You’re not thinking right.
Justin: Oh, no, no. Not Spanish . . . . Ah, No, I’m from Salt Lake City. So, what do you do for a living anyway? Are you a bodybuilder or something?
Rachel: No, no. I’m a teacher.
Justin: Oh . . . So, what do you teach?
Rachel: I teach math and science, and it doesn’t take a science teacher to tell me you need a doctor.
Justin: Ahh, no, I’m okay, I’m okay. I’ll, I’ll stand here in a minute. Uh, could I have your phone number? You know, just in case.
Rachel: I don’t think so. I think 911 is the number you need at this point.
Justin: (Crying in pain) Ohhhh!
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- weights (noun): heavy objects that people raise and lower to exercise
– We are going to lift weights tonight at the gym. - originally (adverb): from the beginning
– I originally played soccer in junior high school, but I switched to basketball two years later. - agony (noun): a lot of physical or mental pain
– Jacob was in agony when he broke his leg during the basketball game - town (noun): a small city
– Many people run for exercise in our small town. - at this point (adverb phrase): now
– We have tried a number of activities and sports so far in this gym class, but at this point, what is your favorite one?
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Hi everyone. I want to talk about what I do to celebrate the new year. For most people, this will probably sound a little boring, but I prefer to live a simple, yet happy life.
Many years ago when I was much younger, I used to enjoy staying up late with my friends. We would have a party, play games, and eat lots of food. I don’t remember exactly, but I’m sure we didn’t eat a nice tasty salad with plenty of vegetables in it. Rather, we probably just ate greasy, unhealthy food like pizza, burgers, and lots of soda.
Now that I’m older, things have changed. When our kids were little, we sometimes stayed up late with them to celebrate the new year, but those times have changed. I find that every day is a new day, and we don’t have to wait until the new year to change our lives. Each day gives you a new opportunity to be better.
As a result, we don’t do anything special on New Year ‘s Eve. We generally stay home that evening because there are sometimes careless drivers on the road. We sometimes watch a movie or visit with family, but I usually go to bed before midnight. I’m usually not a late (night) person, and I would much rather get in bed around 10:00 ‘clock or so and watch a movie and fall asleep before it’s over.
I just enjoy the simple things of life. Happy New Years.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- will probably (future): also, might
– We will probably have a party tonight. - prefer to (verb): rather
– I prefer to call her on the phone. I don’t want to text her. - used to (verb): something that happened again and again in the past
– Maria used to stay up late on New Year’s Eve. - tasty (adjective): having a good flavor
– These cookies are really tasty. Who made them? - plenty of (quantifier): a lot of
– We have plenty of food and cookies for dinner tonight. - greasy (adjective): with a lot of fat and grease
– This meat is very greasy. I think I’ll eat something else . - unhealthy (adjective): not doing well; likely to make sick
– This food is very unhealthy. Your lifestyle is unhealthy, too. You should eat better and get more exercise. - opportunity (adverb): chance
– This holiday is a great opportunity for friends and family to get together and celebrate. - careless (adjective): not careful
– Don’t be careless and drink and drive after the party. Ask someone to drive you home.
.
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Father: Hi Michael. Happy Birthday! How old are you today?
Son: Seven.
Father: Alright. Well, let’s sing Happy Birthday:
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Michael,
Happy Birthday to you.
Father: Alright. So what should we do first?
Son: How about cake and ice cream?
Father: Okay. Well, uh. let’s light the candles. Okay, and make a wish! Don’t tell me.
Son: Don’t tell you?
Father: Yeah, don’t tell me. Okay, and go ahead and blow out the candles. Okay, let’s cut the cake, and then we can have cake and ice cream. And what do you want to do after the cake and ice cream?
Father: Now, how do you freeze play tag?
Son: Um . . . one person is it, and the person who is it tries to tag everyone [Alright. And then . . . ] before I tag someone and then, another person tags me.
Father: Oh, wow. And who’s coming over later today for your birthday?
Son: Well, everyone. Uh, all my cousins, all my aunts and grandmas, grandpas.
Father: Alright. Well, Happy Birthday, Michael.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- make a wish (idiom): wish for something
– Please make a wish before we eat the cake. - freeze (verb): become cold to the point of changing water to ice
– It was so cold out last night that I thought I was going to freeze to death. - tag (verb): touch a player, usually as part of a game
– I tried to get away during the game at the park, but she tagged me on the back, so I was it.
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Woman: Hi Sweetie. Welcome home. We’re ready to eat.
Man: Well, there’s something I . . .
Woman: Uh, we have salmon and your favorite salad.
Man: Oh, yeah. That sounds [Um] . . . great.
Woman: What’s . . . what’s the deal? I worked really hard. And, look, look. For dessert, I made an apple pie.
Man: Well . . . under most circumstances . . .
Woman: Hon. What’s? You . . . I’ve never made a pie before. It took me like three hours.
Man: Well, to be honest . . .
Woman: What’s wrong? [ Man laughing. ] What? Don’t you like my cooking?
Man: No, no, no, no.
Woman: I worked really hard!
Man: I know, I know, I know, but to be honest, I just had a hamburger, fries, and a chocolate shake.
Woman: Why? WHY?
Man: I’m sorry. I didn’t know.
Woman: I told you this morning I was making something nice. [Oh . . .] Didn’t you listen?
Man: I’m sorry, I forgot. I mean . . . Wait . . .
Woman: Serious.
Man: Yeah, wait. Wait, wait. What are you doing? Why are you putting the food in my shoes?
Woman: So you can enjoy it as you walk to work tomorrow.
Man: Oh, no. I’m sorry!
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- salmon (noun): kind of fish
– The chef at this restaurant prepares the best salmon with a special sauce. - What’s the deal? (expression): What’s the story or situation?
What’s the deal? Do you want to go out to eat or not? We need to decide now. - circumstances (noun): situations, facts, or conditions
– We don’t have much money, so I don’t want to eat at an expensive restaurant under these circumstances. - Hon (noun): short for HONEY and said to people you love like a husband or wife
– Hon. Can we go out to dinner for my birthday? I really don’t want to cook.
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Girl: He’s here. Bye Dad.
Dad: Wait, wait, wait . . . Where are you going?
Girl: Dad. I already told mom. I’m going out tonight.
Dad: Who with? You mean you’re going on a date?
Girl: Yeah. Mom met Dirk yesterday. [Dirk!?] He’s sooo cool. We’re going on a double-date with Cindy and Evan.
Dad: Dirk.
Girl: I have to go.
Dad: Wait, wait. I want to meet this guy.
Girl: He’s waiting for me.
Dad: Well, so what are you going to do tonight? Going to the library?
Girl: Dad! We’re going out to eat, and then we’re going to catch a movie.
Dad: What movie and what is it rated?
Girl: It’s a science fiction thriller called . . . well, I don’t know what it is called, but it’s rated PG.
Dad: And where’s the movie showing?
Girl: Down at the Campus Plaza Movie Theater.
Dad: Hey, I was thinking about seeing a movie down there tonight, too.
Girl: Ah, Dad.
Dad: Hey, Let me meet that guy.
[Father looks out the living room window . . .]
Hey, that guy has a mustache!
Girl: Dad. That’s not Dirk. That’s his older brother. He’s taking us there! Can I go now?
Dad: Well . . .
Girl: Mom said I could, and mom knows his parents.
Dad: Well . . .
Girl: Dad.
Dad: Okay, but be home by 8:00.
Girl: Eight!? The movie doesn’t start until 7:30. Come on, Dad.
Dad: Okay. Be back by 11:00.
Girl: Love you, Dad.
Dad: Love you, too.
Girl: Bye.
Dad:Bye.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- cool (adjective): someone who is good-looking or attractive
– She thinks the guy is really cool, but she doesn’t know him like I do. - PG (noun): parental guidance
– The movie is rated PG, so I think we should watch it before we take the kids to see it. - come on (phrasal verb): used to express that something said is unreasonable
– Come on, Mom. You can’t expect me to clean up my room before I go out tonight, can you?
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Carl: Hi. My name’s Carl. Nice to meet you.
Pancho: Nice to meet you, too. My name is Francisco.
Carl: What?
Pancho: Francisco, but all my friends and family back in Peru call me Pancho.
Carl: Okay, Pancho. So, tell me about your family?
Pancho: Well, I have seven brothers and six sisters.
Carl: Wow. That is a big family. So are you the oldest, Pancho?
Pancho: No. I am the second oldest in my family.
Carl: So, what do your parents do?
Pancho: My father is a taxi driver in Lima, Peru. It is a hard job, but he works hard to support the family.
Carl: How about your mother?
Pancho: She helps run a small family store with some of my older brothers and sisters.
Carl: What kind of store?
Pancho: We mainly sell food, like bread, eggs, soft drinks, rice, sugar, and cookies. Things that people buy every day.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- support (verb): give help or assistance
– Does your family support you with your college expenses? - run (verb): be in charge of
– My brother is going to run our business when my father retires. - kind (noun): type
– What kind of work does your mother do? - mainly (adverb): for the most part
– We mainly spend time at home and watch TV in the evenings.
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Emily: Welcome home, Dad.
Dad: Oh, Emily. How are you today?
Emily: Fine.
Dad: Good. And how was school today?
Emily: Really fun.
Dad: Good. And what did you do?
Emily: We made things.
Dad: Like what types of things did you make?
Emily: We made books.
Dad: You made books! Okay. And what else?
Emily: We . . . we made paper kangaroos.
Dad: You made paper kangaroos? Okay, and what did you need to make your paper kangaroos? What kind of supplies did you need?
Emily: We used crayons, papers, glue, and we had to follow directions.
Dad: Well good. And, uh, what did you do after school?
Emily: We went home, played games.
Dad: And did . . . Mom said you went to the junior high school.
Emily: I rode my bike in the tennis court.
Dad: Did you go by yourself?
Emily: I went with the whole family, and we went with Nathan, Sara, Rachael.
Dad: You went with your cousins.
Emily: And my mom.
Dad: Well, that’s great. Well, let’s get ready for dinner.
Emily: Okay.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- types (noun): kinds
– What types of food do you make for your family? - supplies (noun): materials or tools to make something
– The children need supplies to make their art projects. - whole (adjective): all of; entire
– The whole family wants to eat pizza tonight. - cousin (noun): a child of a person’s aunt or uncle for mother usually used by children; also mom.
-My cousin is coming to visit me today.
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Man: Hey, Kathy. I’m thinking about renting a movie for tonight’s party, and I wanna [want to] know what kind of movies you like.
Woman: Okay. What kind of movies do you have in mind?
Man: Well, what about action movies?
Woman: I don’t really like action movies. Too much violence.
Man: Okay, do you like comedies?
Woman: Now, I do enjoy comedies.
Man: Fine. Well, what do you think of horror movies or love stories?
Woman: Um . . . I’m not really crazy about horror movies, but love stories are often fun to watch. Oh, and I really like foreign films, too.
Man: Okay. I’ll go to the video store and see what I can find. Thanks.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- have in mind (verb): to think about
– What activities do you have in mind for tomorrow’s picnic? - crazy about (phrasal verb): to like something very much
– Carla is crazy about rock music.
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Woman: Hey, how are things going?
Man: Well, to be honest, things aren’t going well for us.
Woman: How come?
Man: Well, I lost my job a month ago, and my wife was in the hospital for three weeks. And now, our bills are piling up, and last week, our car died, and it’s going to cost about $2,500 to repair it. And that’s way more than it is worth. I mean, it has almost 275,000 miles.
Woman: Wow. I’m really sorry to hear that.
Man: Thanks.
Woman: Uh, hey listen. I have an older car that I’m not using now. I’ll donate it to you.
Man: No, no. I can’t accept it.
Woman: Please, take it.
Man: Are you sure?
Woman: Of course, the car needs a new oil change and a couple new tires, but otherwise, it runs great.
Man: That’s very kind of you.
Woman: All you owe me is one of your homemade peach pies. That will make us even.
Man: Okay, thanks.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- How come? : Why?
– How come you didn’t come to school yesterday?
– A: I’m really worried about my future. >>> B: How come? - pile up (verb): increase to an amount that is difficult to manage or pay
– Our medical expenses have been piling up for months. - owe (verb): need to repay money to a person, company, or bank
– How much do you owe your parents for school?
Audio:
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Transcript:
Woman: Hey, how are things going?
Man: Well, to be honest, things aren’t going well for us.
Woman: How come?
Man: Well, I lost my job a month ago, and my wife was in the hospital for three weeks. And now, our bills are piling up, and last week, our car died, and it’s going to cost about $2,500 to repair it. And that’s way more than it is worth. I mean, it has almost 275,000 miles.
Woman: Wow. I’m really sorry to hear that.
Man: Thanks.
Woman: Uh, hey listen. I have an older car that I’m not using now. I’ll donate it to you.
Man: No, no. I can’t accept it.
Woman: Please, take it.
Man: Are you sure?
Woman: Of course, the car needs a new oil change and a couple new tires, but otherwise, it runs great.
Man: That’s very kind of you.
Woman: All you owe me is one of your homemade peach pies. That will make us even.
Man: Okay, thanks.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- How come? : Why?
– How come you didn’t come to school yesterday?
– A: I’m really worried about my future. >>> B: How come? - pile up (verb): increase to an amount that is difficult to manage or pay
– Our medical expenses have been piling up for months. - owe (verb): need to repay money to a person, company, or bank
– How much do you owe your parents for school?
Audio:
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Transcript:
- Game Show Host: Hello, everyone and welcome to the Dating Game, where men and women meet the people of their dreams. Now, let’s have our contestants introduce themselves, and then Sarah can ask some questions. Here we go. Contestant number one.
Ryan: Hi, Sarah. My name is Ryan, and I’m 27 years old, and I work as a doctor at City Hospital. I enjoy reading books on history, hiking with my dog, Amelia, and eating Japanese food. I also like a woman who loves adventure, is open to new ideas, and likes discussing world politics and government.
Game Show Host: Okay. Well, thank you, un Ryan. Let’s go on to Contestant Number 2.
Nate: Hi, Sarah. I’m Nate, and I’m 24 years old, and I’m a guitar player in a rock band. I love traveling to new countries, watching action movies, and playing video games with my friends. And I love women who like my music, don’t mind loud rock music, and a person who loves a good cheeseburger over the grill. I think I’m the man for you.
Game Show Host: Well, thank you Nate. That’s Contestant Number 2. Let’s go on to Contestant Number 3.
Charles: Hi, Sarah. My name is Charles, and I’m 29 years old, and I teach English at the University of Utah. In my free time, I enjoy mountain biking, gardening, and raising chickens in my backyard. I also help feed the homeless once a week. I also speak three languages, and I prefer women who have a good sense of humor, and can cook all kinds of food, and who find joy in serving others.
Game Show Host: Well, there we have it. Three contestants. And we will have Sarah ask these contestants questions right after this commercial break.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- contestant (noun): a person who takes part in a game or contest
– My brother was a contestant on a game show, and he won $10,000. - adventure (noun): a dangerous or exciting experience
– Brittany loves adventure, so she will enjoy the camping trip. - discuss (verb): talk about something with a person or group
– You should discuss your plans for the date with Tonya before you leave. - mind (verb): be bothered by something, dislike
– I don’t mind dating people who are interested in different things. - gardening (noun): the hobby of taking care of plants in a garden
– I enjoy gardening in my free time. - prefer (verb): like something or someone better that something else
– I prefer cooking a meal at home to eating at a restaurant. - joy (noun): great happiness
– Joy is important in a relationship, and sadness can be turned to joy with love. - serve (verb): help or give service, volunteer your time
– You can find great joy when you serve family, friends, and strangers.
- contestant (noun): a person who takes part in a game or contest
Audio:
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Transcript:
Woman: So, what’s your usual day like? You always seem so busy.
Man: Well, I usually get up around 5:00 a.m. and work on the computer until 6:00.
Woman: Why do you get up so early?
Man: Well, I have to leave home at twenty to seven (6:40 a.m.) so I can catch a bus at 7:00 o’clock . It takes me about twenty minutes to walk to the bus stop from my house.
Woman: And what time do you get to work?
Man: Uh, my bus takes about an hour to get there, but it stops right in front of my office.
Woman: That’s nice. And what time do you get off work?
Man: Uh, around 5:00 o’clock. Then, we eat dinner around 6:30, and my wife and I read and play with the kids until 8:00 or so.
Woman: So, when do you work on your website? You said one time that you create it at home?
Man: Well, my wife and I often watch TV or talk until 10:00 o’clock. She then often reads while I work on my site, and I sometimes stay up until the early hours of the morning, but I try to finish everything by one or two.
Woman: And then you get up at 5:00 a.m.?
Man: Well, yeah, but it’s important to live a balanced life. I enjoy what I do, but you have to set aside time for the family and yourself.
Woman: I agree.
Man: But I think my wife has the toughest job. She spends her whole day taking care of the family . . . taking the kids to school, working in the garden, buying groceries, taking the kids to piano lessons . . . [Wow!] That’s a full-time job, but she enjoys what she does.
Woman: Well, it sounds like you’re a busy, but lucky man.
Man: I think so too.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- catch (verb): to get on
– I have to catch a bus in front of the bus station. - get off work (verb): finish work
– She seldom gets off work before 6:00 p.m. - dinner (noun): sometimes supper
– We seldom eat dinner after 8:00 p.m. - stay up (verb): not go to bed
– I almost never stay up past midnight. - set aside (verb): reserve, allow, or give a certain amount to
– You have to set aside enough time to study for your classes. - toughest (adjective): most difficult, hardest
– The toughest part about being a parent is setting aside time for both work, family, and self. - take care of (verb): watch, look after
– You should take care of yourself so you don’t get sick. - groceries (noun): food and other items at a supermarket
– Mom is going to pick up some groceries from the store for dinner.
Audio:
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Transcript:
Maria: Oh, hi Dave. Long time, no see!
Dave: Hi Maria. I was in the neighborhood, so I thought I’d drop by.
Maria: Come on in. [Thanks.] Take a seat. Would you like anything to drink? I have Sprite or orange juice.
Dave: Sprite would be fine. Uh, so, how have you been?
Maria: Oh, not bad. And you?
Dave: Oh, I’m doing okay, but school has been really hectic these days, and I haven’t had time to relax.
Maria: By the way, what’s your major anyway?
Dave: Hotel management.
Maria: Well, what do you want to do once you graduate?
Dave: Uh… I haven’t decided for sure, but I think I’d like to work for a hotel or travel agency in this area. How about you?
Maria: Well, when I first started college, I wanted to major in French, but I realized I might have a hard time finding a job using the language, so I changed majors to computer science. [Oh]. With the right skills, landing a job in the computer industry shouldn’t be as difficult.
Dave: So, do you have a part-time job to support yourself through school?
Maria: Well, fortunately for me, I received a four-year academic scholarship [Wow] that pays for all of my tuition and books.
Dave: Wow. That’s great.
Maria: Yeah. How about you? Are you working your way through school?
Dave: Yeah. I work three times a week at a restaurant near campus.
Maria: Oh. What do you do there?
Dave: I’m a cook.
Maria: How do you like your job?
Dave: It’s okay. The other workers are friendly, and the pay isn’t bad.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- hectic (adjective): very busy
– Life is always very hectic when you’re trying to work and go to school at the same time. - major (noun or verb): course of study
– I’m thinking about majoring in computer science next year. (verb)
– What is your major? (noun) - land (a job) (verb): to secure, win, or get a job
– It is becoming increasingly difficult to land a job in the field of language teaching. - work (your way) through (school) (verb): think through, in this case, work while going to school to support yourself
– Since my parents had no money, I had no choice but to work myself through school
– Sometimes we just have to work through many new experiences before we understand the language and culture.
Audio:
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Transcript:
Man: Yeah. All right. Freedom at last.
Woman: Hey, why are you so happy? Did you win a million dollars?
Man: What? No!
Woman: Well, did you finally move out of your parents house? You weren’t paying rent.
Man: No, not at all. I just found out that I only need to take three more classes to finish, so I’m graduating in the summer.
Woman: Whoa. That’s so cool. What classes do you have left?
Man: I have two business classes and a Spanish class.
Woman: That sounds great. So, what are you going to do with your finance degree after you graduate?
Man: Well, that’s still up in the air, but I’m thinking about working for my dad. He owns a computer software company, and he needs help in their accounting department. And if I don’t do that, I might go back to school and get an MBA.
Woman: And how are you going to pay for that?
Man: I’m not sure, but I might have to take out a loan. We’ll see.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- left (adjective): not used up; remaining
– My daughter has one year left of high school.
– There are two cookies left. Can I have them?
- finance (noun; also a verb): the management of money in a family, at a company, or by governments
– James is a real expert in finance at his company. OR James is going to finance his children’s college education. - up in the air (expression): undecided
– Our travel plans are up in the air right now until weather improves.
Audio:
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Transcript:
Ashley: Hey, Jake. Are you ready for your trip?
Jake: Well, not really. I still have to buy
some clothes.
Ashley: Well, what’s the weather like where
you’re going?
Jake: Well, uh, it’s really hot in the summer,
so I’m going to buy some shorts, sandals, and a few t-shirts.
Ashley: What about the rest of
the year?
Jake: People say that the fall can still be
warm until November, so I’m gonna [going to] buy some jeans and a few casual
shirts.
Ashley: Will you need any warm clothes for the
winter?
Jake: Well, the weather doesn’t get too cold,
but it often snows in the mountains, so I’m going to buy a couple of warm
sweaters, a jacket, and a hat. I don’t have room in
my suitcase to pack a coat, so I’m going to wait until I get
there and buy it when I really need it.
Ashley: Are you going to take anything else?
Jake: They say it rains cats
and dogs in the spring, but again, I’ll probably just wait
and pick
up a raincoat or an umbrella later on. But, I’m going to
take a good pair of shoes because I plan on walking to and from school
everyday.
Ashley: Do you need any clothing for formal
occasions?
Jake: Well, you never know when you might need
something on the spur of the moment for a wedding or maybe
someone’s graduation, or a nice date, so I’ll probably take some nice slacks,
a dress shirt, and a couple (of) crazy ties or two.
Ashley: Um, that makes sense.
Jake: And I’ll just rent a tuxedo if I need
anything more formal. Hey, maybe I’ll get married.
Ashley: You? Married? Haha!
Jake: Wait. What are you trying to say?
Ashley: I just can’t imagine you getting
decked out in a tuxedo for any formal occasion. [What?!]
I mean, for high school graduation, you wore an old pair of jeans and tennis
shoes.
Jake: Hey, there was a reason for that, so let
me explain. [Yeah, ha, ha.] No, really. You see, it
goes like this . . .
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- rest (noun): what is left
over after everything else has been used, eaten, etc.
– Wow. Your suitcase is already full of shirts and shoes. What are you
going to do with the rest of your clothing? - room (noun): space
– Do you have any room in your backpack for a couple more
books? - pack (verb): fill a suitcase,
box, or another container
– You’d better start packing your bags tonight so we
don’t have to rush out the door tomorrow. - rain cats and dogs (idiom): rain very hard
– Last night, I was walking home from work when it began raining
cats and dogs. Unfortunately,
I didn’t have my umbrella with me. - pick up (phrasal verb): buy
something
– Could you pick up some white socks from the store on
your way home from work? - formal occasion (noun): an important
event where people wear special clothing and behave politely
– I sometimes rent a tuxedo for formal occasions. I don’t want
to buy one that I will only wear once every few years. - on the spur of the moment (idiom): without
planning or preparation
– She always makes decisions on the spur of the moment, so you
never know what she’s planning. - slacks (noun): good-quality
pants
– You don’t have to wear a suit to the event, but you might want to wear a
pair of nice slacks and a conservative tie. - make sense (idiom): have a clear
meaning or a sensible explanation
– It makes sense to ask teachers to wear a nice shirt and
tie to work. - be decked out (idiom): dressed in
formal clothes for special occasions
– Everyone was shocked when my brother came to the barbecue decked
out in a white tuxedo. Then, we realized he came to propose to
his girlfriend.
Audio:
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Transcript:
manda: Hey, I know you. You’re James, right? James Roberts.
James: Amanda? Amanda Brown? Wow! It’s been a long time.
Amanda: Yeah. Oh, are you going to the class reunion in two weeks?
James: Uh, I’ve heard about it, but I’m not sure. Where is it anyway?
Amanda: The reunion is going to be held at the Mountain Country Club across from Park City.
James: Man. That’s a nice place! Yeah, so, and what time does it start?
Amanda: I think it starts at 6:00.
James: And how much does it cost? You know, those reunions sometimes are really pricey.
Amanda: Well, it’s twenty dollars a ticket. That includes dinner and entertainment.
James: And what kind of entertainment are they going to have?
Amanda: They’re going to have a live jazz band and dancing.
James: Well, I’m not interested in dancing . . . a jazz band . . . That doesn’t sound bad. So, well, who’s organizing the event this time?
Amanda: Do you remember Chad Phillips?
James: Ah, yeah. Wasn’t he the quarterback on the football team?
Amanda: Right, right. Well, he married Sarah Rogers.
James: Oh, Sarah Rogers?
Amanda: Yeah, and they’re in charge of the event. So, what do you think? Are you gonna go?
James: Well, I don’t know. Sarah Roberts, oh, Rogers, yeah, yeah. Well, I never really fit in to high school, and I was kind of a loner. And to be honest, I also remember asking Sarah out on a date, and she turned me down. She said . . . I know, and she said she was sick, and it turned out she went out with someone else that night. And . . . I don’t know. This could be a little awkward, don’t you think?
Amanda: Well, why don’t we go together?
James: Are you sure?
Amanda: Yeah.
James: Well, sure. Uh, why not? Um, can I be honest? [Yeah.] Well, I always thought you were really nice, and, uh, I just never had the guts to ask you out.
Amanda: Well, here’s your chance.
James: Well, that sounds great. So, what is your number so I can call you?
Amanda: Okay. It’s 435 . . .
James: Wait. Hang on. I gotta get my phone here. Okay, 435 . . .
Amanda: 923 . .
James: 923 . . .
Amanda: 6017.
James: Okay. 6017, Okay. And, where do you live?
Amanda: I only live two blocks south of the old high school.
James: Oh, really? Oh, that’s not far at all. Yeah, I, I know where that is. Okay. And, uh, . . . Well, let me call you a few days before to confirm things.
Amanda: Sounds good. It should be fun.
James: All right.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- reunion (noun): a get together of people who have been apart for a long time – We are going to hold the class reunion on September first.
- organize (verb): put together or plan an event – Ashley organized a very fun party last Friday.
- be in charge of (verb): have control, lead, or be responsible for something – Who was in charge of buying the food and drinks for the reunion?
- fit in (verb): feel a part of or belong to a group – Why didn’t Amanda fit in during high school?
- loner (noun): a person who is often alone or likes to be alone – I was a loner back in high school, and I didn’t have any friends.
- turn someone down (noun): reject or refuse someone – James asked many girls out on dates, but they all turned him down.
- awkward (adjective): uncomfortable or uneasy – Meeting new people is sometimes awkward if you don’t know what to say and do.
- guts (noun): courage – I didn’t have the guts to ask Jessica out on a date.
- confirm (verb): check – Have you confirmed the date of the reunion?
Audio:
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Transcript:
Man: Well, Christmas
is almost here. So, what do you want from Santa this year?
Mikey: A toy car and walkie-talkies.
Man: Really?
Well, and what about you, Emily? What do you want for Christmas?
Emily: If I can’t have a Barbie radio, um, I would have some fragile dolls.
And if I can’t have some fragile dolls, it doesn’t really matter what I get.
Man: Wow.
Well, I’m excited, and Santa’s coming. And how is Santa going to get inside the
house, Mikey?
Mikey: Um, go down the chimney . . .
Man: Okay, so
he’s going to go down the chimney, and should we prepare anything for Santa?
Mikey: Yeah!
Man: What are
we going to prepare for him, Emily?
Emily: Um. We could prepare some cookies for him and some hot chocolate, and,
um, we could give Rudolph some, um, hot chocolate in a bowl and
a cookie. And we could give some of the reindeer some cookies and some hot
chocolate in a bowl.
Man: Well,
what do you think? They, Um, reindeer probably don’t eat cookies, but what else
could we give them, Mikey?
Mikey: Um, apples.
Man: Ah,
that’s good. And, uh . . .
Emily: Oranges and bananas.
Man: Okay and
what time do you think we should go to bed?
Emily: Um, seven.
Man: About
seven o’clock. Well, that’s exciting. I’m really happy that Christmas is
coming.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- walkie-talkies (noun): small portable
radio receiver-transmitters used for communicating with others
– We always take walkie-talkies when we go hiking in case
of emergencies. - barbie (noun): the name of a
brand doll
– My daughter wants a barbie doll house for Christmas. - fragile (adjective): easily
broken or damaged, delicate
– Handle this vase with care. It’s
very fragile. - chimney (noun): the place in a
house where smoke from a fire goes up and out of the roof
– You should clean out the chimney before we use it this
winter. - Rudolph (pronoun): the name of
Santa’s reindeer with the shiny red nose
– According to the story, Santa needed Rudolph to guide
his sleigh on one stormy, Christmas Eve.
Audio:
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Transcript:
Woman: Wait. I thought you were just walking through the hotel to go outside and get something to eat. Why are we stopping at these slot machines? Are you gonna [going to] gamble?
Man: What? Who me? Hey, I’ll meet you back at the conference room with the rest (of the people).
Woman: Uh, no. I’m staying right with you. Does your Sara know about this?
Man: About what? I just have some change in my pocket, and I thought I’d get rid of it. See, look. I have about five bucks or so. Hey, and besides, your wife doesn’t need to know about everything you do, does she?
Woman: Uh, no. This is different. You lost about $1,500 the last time we came here, [uh] and wait, why are you taking out your credit card?
Man: What? Oh this? I’m just gonna [going to] buy a sandwich.
Woman: Oh, no. Give me that.
Man: Oh, okay. Here’s my jacket.
Woman: No, not your jacket. Give me the credit card.
Man: Really? Don’t you trust me?
Woman: No. Let’s use that credit card and get dinner for the rest of the group.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- get rid of (verb): throw away, dispose of, use up
– Let’s get rid of this old table. One of the legs is broken. - buck (noun): informal for dollar
– Could I borrow a couple of bucks for lunch?
Audio:
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Transcript:
Paul: Sara, I’ve been looking forward to our
yearly campout for three weeks. [Me too.] It’s going to be a wonderful day for hiking
tomorrow. The great outdoors. Camping under the stars. This is the life.
Sara: Yeah, but Paul, I’m a little bit worried
about the weather though. The weatherman said it was going to rain later
tonight.
Paul: Ah, nonsense. Nothing
can spoil our
adventure. Those weather reports are never right.
Sara: And it said there was a chance of high
winds.
Paul: Ah. Don’t
worry.
[Thunder]
Sara: Paul. Paul. Did you remember to bring
our raincoats just in case, like I told you?
[Light rain]
Paul: Oh, no. I left them on the front porch.
[Heavy rain]
Sara: Hmm. What are we going to do now?
Paul: We’ll have to sleep in the car! Hurry get in!
[Door shut]
Sara: So, Paul, what are we going to do now?
Paul: Uh, how about playing a card game?
Sara: Uhh. I left them next to the picnic
table. [ Aww] Hey, you don’t want me to go out in the rain and get them,
do you?
Paul: Nah. That’s okay. So what now?
Sara: Well, we could head down the
mountain and stay at that hotel we passed on the way up, or go home.
Paul: Hmm, why don’t we just make the best
of it here and hope the weather clears.
Sara: That’s a good idea.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- nonsense (noun): untrue or
incomprehensible statement or idea
– Stop talking nonsense and tell us exactly what
happened. - spoil (verb): ruin; frustrate;
block; prevent
– I hope this bad weather doesn’t spoil our picnic this
afternoon. - porch (noun): a small area
just outside the front door of homes where you can sit and relax
– Let’s go sit on the porch and enjoy the cool evening
breeze. - head down (phrasal verb): go down
– I’ll head down to the store after dinner to pick up
some milk. - make the best of it (idiom): do what you can
under the circumstances
– We’ve had to make the best of it ever since dad died
last year.
Audio:
Transcript:
Roger: Hello?
Ann: Hello Roger? This is Ann.
Roger: Oh hi, Ann. How have you been? And how’s your new apartment working out?
Ann: Well, that’s what I’m calling about. You see, I’ve decided to look for a new place.
Roger: Oh, what’s the problem with your place now? I thought you liked the apartment.
Ann: Oh, I do, but it’s a little far from campus, and the commute is just killing me. Do you think you could help? I thought you might know more about the housing situation near the school.
Roger: Okay, what’s your budget like? I mean how much do you want to spend on rent?
Ann:Uh, somewhere under $200 a month, including utilities, if I could. Oh, and I’d prefer to rent a furnished apartment.
Roger: Hmm. And anything else?
Ann:Yeah, I need a parking space.
Roger: Well, I know there’s an apartment complex around the corner that seems to have a few vacancies. I’ll drop by there on my way to class today.
Ann: Hey, thanks a lot.
Roger: No problem.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- work out (phrasal verb): going well
– My new job schedule has really worked out for me. - commute (verb; also a noun): to travel between home and work or school
– VERB: I have to commute two hours each day to get to work.
– NOUN: How long is your commute to work every day? - utilities (noun): public services including water, gas, and electricity
– How much do you pay for utilities each month? - furnished (adjective): containing furniture, for example, a sofa, tables, and washing machine
– I decided to rent a furnished apartment so I wouldn’t have to buy so many things. - vacancies (noun): rooms not being used or rented
– Do you have any vacancies starting next month?
Audio:
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Transcript:
News Reporter: Hello. This is James Goodfellow from Channel 4 news. Today, we’re interviewing Sarah Roberts, the star of the new movie, Zombies on Mars Part 4. Sarah, uh, thanks for joining us.
Sarah: You’re welcome, Jimmy.
News Reporter: Uh, it’s James.
Sarah: Whatever . . .
News Reporter: Well, let’s start off the interview with a few basic questions. First of all, where are you from?
Sarah: Well, I’m originally from Miami, but we moved to New York when I was three years old. [Oh.] I lived there until I was 17, and then I moved to Los Angeles to be an actress.
News Reporter: Okay, and where did you go to college?
Sarah: I attended Fernando’s School of Acting, and all of my teachers LOVED my acting.
News Reporter: Oh, and did have a part-time job while you were in school?
Sarah: Yeah. I worked at a movie theater, and everyone LOVED the way I made the popcorn.
News Reporter: Really. Okay, and how old are you now?
Sarah: Well, I’m only 20, but everyone I know says that I look at LEAST 22.
News Reporter: Oh, right. Okay. And, what are your hobbies outside of acting?
Sarah: Oh, I love shopping for clothes and makeup and, and, and . . . . Did I say I love shopping for clothes?
News Reporter: Uh, you DID say clothes . . .
Sarah: Oh, yeah. Well, do you want to take some pictures of me . . . you know, for your homepage or your blog and you can even use them on your Facebook fan page.
News Reporter: Uh, I think we’ll be okay.
Sarah: Okay, well, um . . . Oh, oh look, all of my fans. Hey, gotta go, honey. Hi everyone.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- start off (verb): begin
– Ashley started off her acting career in New York City. - basic (adjective): simple
– We lived in a very basic house when I was little. - originally (adverb): at first, in the beginning
– My mother is originally from Mexico, but she grew up in the United States. - gotta go (informal expression): have to go
– Hey, I (I’ve) gotta go to work now. See you later.
– My brother’s gotta study more if he wants to pass the class. - honey (adjective): sweetheart, dear, love
– Hi, honey! Will you make me lunch, please?
Audio:
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Transcript:
Randall: Hello. Today I’m interviewing Joshua on his experiences going to a Japanese school. Now Joshua, what time do you go to school?
Joshua: Eight O’clock.
Randall: Eight O’clock. And do you go by yourself, or on a school bus?
Joshua: No, I have a group that goes with me.
Randall: So you go with a group?
Joshua: Uh-huh.
Randall: Now what kinds of things do you take to school?
Joshua: I take my taiso fuku, that is gym clothes, and I take my backpack and my books [ Oh, okay. ] and stuff like that.
Randall: Okay and what is the first thing you do when you get to school?
Joshua: We do “kiritsu, rei.”
Randall: “Kiritsu” and “rei.” Now what are those?
Joshua: It means “stand up, bow.”
Randall: Stand up and bow.
Joshua: Uh-huh.
Randall: And what do you study at school?
Joshua: We study kokugo, that is writing and reading and stuff like that [ Okay], and sansu, that’s math. [ Okay. ]. And, let’s see . . . , we do gym too.
Randall: Okay, and where do you eat lunch? Do you have a lunchroom or cafeteria?
Joshua: No, we eat in our classroom.
Randall: You eat in your classroom! [ Yeah. ]. Oh wow. That is very interesting. Now what time do you come home from school?
Joshua: We come home sometimes at 3:00 and sometimes at 2:00.
Randall: Okay, well thank you very much Joshua.
Joshua: You’re welcome.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
stuff (noun): things
– Please put your stuff in your backpacks.bow (verb): bend your head and waist to show respect and thanks to another person
– You should bow in Japan when you meet people in formal situations.math (noun): mathematics
– I don’t like math. It’s hard for me.
Audio:
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Transcript:
Girl: Dad, I’m bored today. I want to go to a movie.
Dad: A movie today? Well, I don’t know. Here. Let me look at the newspaper. Okay. Ah, here’s a movie that starts in the afternoon at 2:45. Well, should we take mommy with us?
Girl: Yeah.
Dad: Okay, we have to wait for mommy because she’s at a meeting right now.
Girl: Okay.
Dad: Alright. And what should we do after we see the movie?
Girl: Go on a walk.
Dad: Well, where would you like to go on a walk? Would you like to go down to the beach or through the park?
Girl: To the beach.
Dad: To the beach. Well, that sounds great. And then maybe we can go out to eat tonight. Does that sound okay?
Girl: Yeah.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
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stuff (noun): things – Please put your stuff in your backpacks.
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bow (verb): bend your head and waist to show respect and thanks to another person – You should bow in Japan when you meet people in formal situations.
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math (noun): mathematics – I don’t like math. It’s hard for me.