Topics: American Presidents – Barack Obama; Famous Songs – “Anchors Aweigh”; diffidence versus timidity versus shyness; receipt versus reception; no problem versus not at all versus no big deal

Words:
community organizer
healthcare
candidate
rising star
biracial
campaign slogan
grassroots
polarized
affordable
anchor
ashore
foam
diffidence
timidity
shyness
receipt
reception
no problem
not at all
no big deal

Let’s not talk about the topic of today’s episode right now. So, how’s your day going?

Slow dialog: 1:25
Explanations: 4:00
Fast dialog: 18:29

Lila: Why aren’t you dating? I have so many friends who would love to go out with you.

George: Let’s change the subject. Talking about my love life isn’t very interesting.

Lila: But really, you’re not getting any younger and…

George: Moving on! Have you seen any good movies lately?

Lila: Listen, all of your friends are settling down and you don’t want to go through life alone and lonely…

George: That reminds me, didn’t you say that you were going to get another dog so that Rover isn’t lonely when you’re not home?

Lila: Forget about my dog. You remember Rachel, don’t you? She just broke up with her boyfriend and she’d be perfect for you.

George: Speaking of Rachel, how is her mother? Wasn’t she in the hospital?

Lila: If Rachel isn’t your type, how about Amina? She has great legs and I know you’re a leg man.

George: And now for something completely different…How is your diet coming along? Have you lost any weight yet?

Lila: I don’t really want to talk about my weight.

George: But I think you’re having trouble shedding those pounds, right? I have lots of suggestions on what you can do.

Lila: Anyway, as I said before, I don’t really want to talk about my diet…

George: You need to cut out sweets if you want to lose weight. Are you eating too many sweets?

Lila: That’s none of your business!

George: My sentiments exactly!

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Movies – Die Hard; American Authors – Emma Lazarus; in front of versus ahead of versus before; as if versus as though versus as for; to take stock

Words:
to be separated
to give (something) another try
to freshen up
hostage
safe
cowboy
to be descend from
to be well received
to dedicate
to persecute
to huddle
to yearn
in front of
ahead of
before
as if
as though
as for
to take stock

Topics: Famous Americans – Muhammad Ali; The Golden Gate Bridge; valuable versus invaluable; north/south versus northern/southern; common ground and universal experience

Words:
to take up
professionally
agile
to reign
nationalist
social activist
to be drafted
to indict
bridge
strait
fog
precaution
dizziness
valuable
invaluable
north / south
northern / southern
common ground
universal

Topics: Famous Americans – Charles Schultz and Peanuts; The Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve; to be pleased to versus to be happy to versus it’s (one’s) pleasure to; to sit versus to seat; willy-nilly

Words:

cartoon
freelance
folks
memoir
tomboy
national park
national preserve
glacier
mine
to designate
volcano
to be pleased to
to be happy to
It’s (one’s) pleasure to
to sit
to seat
willy-nilly

Do you ever go to the supermarket without finding what you’re looking for? Learn more about it in this episode.

Slow dialog: 1:11
Explanations: 3:17
Fast dialog: 16:18

Stocker: Can I help you find something?

Meg: Yes, I’m looking for coffee.

Stocker: That’s on aisle 3. Let me show you where it is.

Meg: Thanks. Hmm, I don’t see the Jitters brand that I normally buy.

Stocker: It looks like we’re out of stock. We should get another shipment next week.

Meg: Okay, I’ll check back. I’m also looking for the Fructose brand soda, but I didn’t see it in the soda aisle.

Stocker: I’m afraid that’s been discontinued. Their parent company no longer makes soda.

Meg: Really? I love Fructose soda. How about the Mushy brand bread? I didn’t see it when I checked the bread aisle.

Stocker: We no longer stock the Mushy brand. There were so quality control issues at the company, so we’ve pulled all of their products from the shelves. Can I help you find anything else?

Meg: No, I guess I’ll just have to try some new brands. Oh, yes, do you carry Worm organic apples?

Stocker: We normally do, but they’re out of season right now. We won’t have any until early summer.

Meg: All of this shopping and I have nothing to show for it. I guess I’m going home empty-handed.

Stocker: We do have chocolate cakes and cookies on sale.

Meg: I’m there!

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Take a look in the mirror and see if you recognize yourself in these descriptions of the beautiful people.

Slow dialog: 1:30
Explanations: 3:18
Fast dialog: 17:55

Pamela: You know that your tongue is hanging out of your mouth, right?

David: That’s because I’ve never seen so many beautiful women in one place before. Why have I never been to this beach before? Look at her! She’s a hottie!

Pamela: Isn’t that what you said about that woman over there?

David: No, I said she’s a babe. Look at the way she sways when she walks.

Pamela: Stop ogling her or her boyfriend or husband is going to come over here.

David: I’m not ogling. I’m admiring the perfection of the female body.

Pamela: You’re undressing her with your eyes. Avert your gaze before you regret it. Oh, wow!

David: What?

Pamela: Check out that guy over there. Hello, Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome!

David: That pretty boy over there? He’s too into himself. Look at the way he’s posing so every woman on this beach can get a look at him. He’s nothing but an exhibitionist.

Pamela: And the women you’ve been ogling in the teeny tiny bikinis?

David: Those women? They’re just showing off what God gave them!

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Lights! Camera! Action! We’re off to the movies. Learn how to talk about seeing a good film in this episode.

Slow dialogue: 0:57
Explanations: 2:37
Fast dialogue: 15:35

Martin: What did you think of that movie?

Joanna: It was okay, but I’m not really into big-budget movies with a lot of special effects and big-name stars.

Martin: Oh, you’re a film snob. I bet you only watch indie films made on a shoestring budget with low production values.

Joanna: No, that’s not true. I just don’t like crowd-pleasers that are predictable. I like movies that stretch the imagination and have some artistic value.

Martin: You mean you like those weird movies with no plot and a lot of strange characters. They’re artsy, but leave you totally confused.

Joanna: I don’t mind some ambiguity, if that’s what you mean.

Martin: Well, I’m going to see the new Spiderboy movie next week. I don’t suppose you want to come?

Joanna: Spiderboy? I’ve been looking forward to seeing that movie.

Martin: But it’s a big-budget blockbuster.

Joanna: I can’t watch artsy films all the time. Variety is the spice of life, don’t you think?

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse