Pick Me English as a Second Language Podcast (With Transcripts)

#ESL Podcast 183 – At the Pharmacy ##GLOSSARY **drug store –** a store that sells medicines; many also sell toiletries, such as toothpaste and make-up *At the drug store, I bought some headache medicine, some toothpaste, and batteries. **to fill a prescription –** to get the medicine that the doctor gave you permission to take *My doctor told me to fill the prescription and to start taking the medicine today. **pharmacy –** a place where medicines are sold *The pharmacy was closed when I got there and I couldn’t get my prescription filled. **medication –** medicine; a drug you take if you are ill *What kind of medication are you taking for your head cold? **pharmacist –** a person trained to prepare and to give out medicine *The pharmacist told me that I shouldn’t take both of my medications at the same time. **over-the-counter –** medicine you can buy without your doctor’s permission *I don’t need to see a doctor. I’m sure I’ll feel better just by taking some over- the-counter medicine. **tablet –** a pill; a small, round, solid piece of medicine *These tablets are so big, I have trouble swallowing them. **capsule –** a small container of medicine you swallow and that dissolves in water *Should I take two capsules before or after I eat? **directions –** instructions; information about how to take a drug or product; usually listed on the back of a bottle of medicine *The directions say that I should drink a lot of water when I take this medication. **dosage –** how much and how often you should take a drug *The dosage on the bottle says to take one tablet every three hours. **warning –** information about a possible problem or danger *Don’t forget the nurse’s warning: You shouldn’t go swimming until your leg is better. **on an empty stomach –** with food; usually listed on a medicine bottle telling you to take the drug during or right after you eat *Taking this medication on an empty stomach will make you sick. **side effects –** something that happens when you take a drug that isn’t suppose to happen; usually a negative thing *One of the side effects of this medication is that I get headaches. **closely –** carefully; doing as the instructions tell you to *I tried to follow the instructions closely but I still couldn’t figure out how to play this game. **overdose –** taking too much of a drug *The news report said that Elvis died of a drug overdose. ##COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS 1. The pharmacist a) told him to be careful so he wouldn’t take an overdose. b) told him to take some over-the-counter medication. c) filled the prescription immediately. 2. The directions on the bottle said to: a) take two tablets everyday on an empty stomach. b) take only the tables, not the capsules. c) take the medication two times a day. ##WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN? directions The word *“directions,”* in this podcast, means the instructions for taking a medication: *“Do you remember if the directions say to take one or two a day?”* We also use the word *“directions”* to mean information on how to get to a specific place. We can *“give”* and *“get”* directions: “She gave me directions on how to get to her house.” Or, *“Did you get directions on how to find the restaurant?”* If you’re lost, you usually *“ask for directions”*: “Is there a place we can stop to ask for directions?” warning In this podcast, the word *“warning”* is used to mean the information on a medicine bottle that tells you about a possible problem or danger: “The warning says I shouldn’t drive when I take this medication.” The word *“warning”* is used more widely to tell of any possible danger, such as *“security warning”* when a person may be trying to harm you, or a *“flood warning”* when it has been raining a lot and you or your property is in danger. We also use the term *“warning signs”* to mean things that happen before an event to tell you that it is coming: “Have you seen any warning sign that this will be a bad storm?” Or, “If you have chest pains, that may be a warning sign that you are going to have a heart attack.” ##CULTURE NOTE In the U.S., people who are 65 years old or older can get health insurance that is paid for by the government. This program is called *“Medicare.”* Medicare covers, or pays for, people to go to the doctor and to stay in a hospital if they are ill. Sometimes, people need medical treatment that isn’t covered by Medicare. In that case, people must pay for that treatment themselves. Since January 2006, Medicare also covers some prescription drugs. The government pays for Medicare by collecting taxes. A large of part of Medicare is paid for by *“payroll taxes.”* *“Payroll”* are the wages, or money, an employer pays to a worker. Each time an employer pays money to a worker, payroll taxes are taken out and given to the government. The employer pays for half and the worker pays for half. The government has another insurance plan called *“Medicaid.”* This is a plan for people who have low income, or who don’t make very much money, and for

#ESL Podcast 182 – A Star Trek Convention ##GLOSSARY **whoa –** an informal greeting used when you are surprised *Whoa! Is that your new car? **check you out! –** look at you!; a way to show that you are surprised to see someone in a different way *She came to work with pink hair and Mike said, *“Check you out!”* **costume –** clothes people wear when they want to look like someone or something else *He came to the party dressed in a Superman costume last year. **Don’t get me wrong –** Don’t misunderstand me; someone uses this expressions when they think that other people might think they mean something else *Don’t get me wrong. He’s a good basketball player. I don’t want him on the team because he doesn’t get along with the other players. **fan –** someone who admires, or has a good opinion of someone or something *He’s been a baseball fan since he played on a team as a child. **no offense –** usually said before or after something that might hurt or upset someone, it’s another way to say *“Don’t get hurt or upset,”* or “Don’t think what I say is unkind” *I told her, *“No offense, but I don’t really want to go on a date with your brother.”* **geek –** an unfashionable person or someone who doesn’t have good social skills *She is a fashion model now, but can you believe she was a geek in high school? **exhibition –** a display or show *I always enjoy the art exhibitions in the museum. **collector –** a person who gets and keeps things; usually things that are rare or valuable *She is a stamp collector with a very large collection. **autograph –** a signature, usually from a famous person *After the movie, he waited in line for three hours to get Brad Pitt’s autograph. **star –** a famous performer, such as actors and musicians *Who is the star of the new TV show? **highlight –** the best part, or the most important part *The highlight of her year was her college graduation. **crowd –** a big group of people close together in the same place *The crowd was so noisy it was difficult to hear the speech. **I can’t make it –** I am not able to come *I can’t make it to your party on Saturday because I have to work. **how come? –** why?; what is the reason? *The boss asked her, *“How come you weren’t at work yesterday?”* **comic book –** a book of drawings, usually with words, that tell a story *Batman is my favorite comic book character of all time. **live long and prosper –** a famous greeting from the Star Trek TV shows and movies; used when saying good-bye to someone, meaning, “I wish you good luck to your future” *I was sure he watched Star Trek because he told me to “Live long and prosper…” ##COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS 1. Why is Guido not going to this year’s Star Trek Convention? a) He is not a fan of the shows. b) He does not like crowds. c) He is already going to the comic book convention. 2. Rita went to last year’s Star Trek Convention with: a) Her friend Claire. b) Her friend Guido. c) Her parents. ##WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN? collector The word *“collector,”* in this podcast, means a person who get and keep things that are rare or valuable: “Book collectors pay a lot of money for old, hard to find books.” But collectors aren’t just people doing something as a hobby. The word can also be used for organizations that collect things as part of their business or job. For example, art museums are collectors of art; and the Internal Revenue Service, the IRS, is a collector of taxes, or money paid to the government. crowd In this podcast, the word *“crowd”* means a big group of people, close together, in the same place: *“I could find her in the crowd.”* The word here is used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb, *“to crowd,”* which means to form into a crowd, or to get together in a group: *“The people crowded into the movie theatre.”* The word is also used as part of the phrase *“to gather a crowd,”* which means to attract many people: “The president’s visit gathered a crowd outside the building.” ##CULTURE NOTE In the U.S., television programs are owned by the production company, or the company that made the show. This is usually the TV network, such as NBC or MTV. In the television industry, or business, *“syndication”* is the sale of the right to show programs to more than one station. This is a way for the company who produces a show to continue making money from it. Syndication usually happens after a show is off the air, or no longer producing new episodes, or shows. Syndication can also be done with past seasons of a show. A *“season”* is a group of shows done in one year, usually 10 to 20. The current season of a show is usually not syndicated until all of the episodes of that season have been shown at least one time. Many shows like Star Trek, for example, become even more popular after they have been syndicated. (*“To syndicate”* is the verb; *“Syndication”* is the noun). With syndication, TV shows can be shown for years after it was originally produced and shown. When a show is shown again on TV

#ESL Podcast 181 – Company Profiles ##GLOSSARY **company profiles –** information that gives facts about a company, such as what a company does and where it is located *Before I applied for the job, I looked at the company profile to try and learn more about the company. **Do you have a minute? –** *“Do you have some time right now?”*; usually meaning *“Do you have some time to help me?”* *Do you have a minute? Dinner is almost ready and it would be helpful if you got drinks for everyone. **feedback –** opinion or advice; someone’s reaction to something, usually given to help make something better *I drew a plan for my art project, but I got feedback from my teacher before I began building it. **so far –** as of now; often used when something is not finished, when you are still working on something *So far, I have only called half of the parents on this list. **Fortune 500 –** the top 500 public corporations in the United States, listed in order according to how much money they make *A company must be very large and very successful to be in the Fortune 500. **world leader –** a company or organization that is one of the most successful in the world in what it does *His company became a world leader in computers by opening stores and offices in over 50 countries. **to manufacture –** to make; to create or produce; usually used when talking about business or factories *This toy factory manufactures over 100,000 toys everyday. **founded –** started; to first be opened for business *I founded this company with my brother over 25 years ago, and it has grown a lot since then. **to set a standard –** to be the best in a field *The company’s performance this year set a standard for many years to come. **headquarters –** the main office of a company or business *I traveled to the company headquarters in New York so I could meet vice president. **to be based –** to be located (somewhere); usually the main office of a business *Even though I work in San Francisco, our company is London-based, so I often visit the United Kingdom. **pioneer –** a person who is the first to achieve something; a leader *The pioneers of medicine and science changed our lives by making important discoveries. **network –** in business, a group of companies that work with each other and help each other *Our business network includes several companies in Chicago. **distributor –** a company that sells products made by another company *We make great televisions, but we are having a hard time finding enough distributors to sell them. **a good start –** a good beginning; usually used to mean a good idea that can still be made even better *You’ve made a good start on this painting. Keep working on the colors and I’m sure it will turn out beautifully. **why don’t you pass (something) by (someone)… –** “why don’t you show me again”; *“let me check them again”* *I want to make sure those letters are perfect. Why don’t you pass them by me again before you sent them out? ##COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS 1. Why does Lee ask Roberta for feedback? a) He thinks she did a good job at the meeting last month. b) He wants her opinion on the company profiles he has written. c) She will get upset if Lee does not ask for her help. 2. Lundrun and Max Electronics are: a) very large international companies. b) new businesses Lee and Roberta are starting. c) both based in Chicago. ##WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN? feedback The word *“feedback,”* in this podcast, means advice or opinion: “Can you give me some feedback on this song I wrote?” Feedback also means the high-pitched loud noise that microphones make. When someone is speaking into a microphone and suddenly you can’t hear them because there is a loud noise that hurts your ears coming from the speakers (where the sound comes out), that noise is called feedback: “His speech was going Well, until the feedback from the microphone made him stop in the middle.” pioneer In this podcast, the word *“pioneer”* is used as a noun meaning someone or something that is the first to do something or has made great progress in an area: “The State of California is a pioneer in making it illegal to smoke in public places.” People can be pioneers, too, like the American pioneers who first went to the western part of the United States. Another word for these people is *“settlers”*: the first to come and settle, or make a community, in a new place. Pioneer can also be a verb, *“to pioneer,”* meaning to lead the way or make discoveries for the first time. ##CULTURE NOTE The New York Stock Exchange in New York City is the center of the U.S. stock market. This stock exchange is also called *“Wall Street”* since the building is located on this street. Wall Street is famous for having very wealthy businesspeople and a fast pace of life. So what happens there? Stocks and shares are the main currency of the New York Stock Exchange. *“Stock”* is the capital, or money, made by a corporation or company. A *“share”* is a small part of that stock. *“Sharehold

#ESL Podcast 180 – Airport Layover ##GLOSSARY **frequent flyer miles –** points airline companies give to customers who fly on their airline; customers can use the points to get things such as free airline tickets or to stay for free at hotels *Because I flew to Europe so many times last year, I have enough frequent flyer miles to go to Australia this summer. **booked –** to purchase; to make a reservation *Have you booked the room for our weekend in Palm Springs yet? **layover –** the period of time you must wait between flights when you are changing from one flight to another *The layover in New York is just enough time for us to take a break and eat a real dinner. **to kill –** to spend or to waste, usually while waiting for something *I have so much time to kill now that I have finished my work early. **food court –** an area with several different fast food shops; usually the shops are around an area with tables and chairs where customers can eat *At the food court, I usually eat McDonalds and my friend gets Chinese food. **to check (one’s) bags –** to give your luggage to the airline to be put into the airplane; not luggage you plan to take on the airplane *The first thing I do at the airport is to check my bags, because I hate carrying them around while I wait for my flight. **roller bag –** a suitcase or backpack with wheels on the bottom and a handle on the top *I’m so glad I bought a roller bag. Now, I don’t need to carry the heavy bag all over the airport. **carry on –** hand luggage that is small enough to be taken on an airplane *Since I’ll need my book and my computer on the plane, I put them in my carry on. **to lug –** to carry or to take heavy things; usually used for things that are difficult to carry *I need to find Richard. I’ve been lugging his textbooks around for him all day. **to be taken –** to be unavailable; to be occupied *At the theater, we wanted to sit together in the middle, but all of the good seats were taken. **to share –** to divide; to give parts of something to other people *You must be hungry. Do you want to share my sandwich? **to be packed –** to be crowded *The grocery store is always packed when I go there after work. **stuff –** things or objects *My desk is so messy. There is always so much stuff on it, I can’t find anything. **to keep an eye on –** to watch; to guard *In soccer, you should keep your eye on the ball so you know where the action is. **to take it with (someone) –** to keep something near you *I’d rather not take the book with me. It’s too heavy. **to save a seat –** to keep the seat free; not let anyone else sit there *Jimmy said he would be coming. We should save this seat him. **you got it –** “I'll certainly do it for you."; [informal] *You want some French fries and a soda? No problem. You got it! ##COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS 1. The person in the story has a friend in a) the food court. b) Oklahoma City c) Denver 2. When is the food court always packed? a) Sunday nights b) Tuesday mornings c) Friday afternoons ##WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN? packed The word *“packed,”* in this podcast, means crowded, or filled with many people or things: *“The room was packed when we arrived late for the presentation.”* Or, *“The books are really packed in that box.”* *“To pack”* is also commonly used as a verb meaning to prepare for travel, when you put clothes and other personal things into a suitcase or bag: *“I packed yesterday for my trip this weekend.”* Or, *“Did you remember to pack your swimsuit?”* to kill In this podcast, the phrase *“to kill”* means to spend or waste time. It’s usually used to refer to free time, or unoccupied time. You could *“kill time”* because you don’t have any work to do or if you are waiting for something else to happen: “I have three hours to kill before my kids get home from school.” *“To kill”* can also be used as a verb meaning to end something. It is possible “to kill a conversation” by saying something that no one can respond to or that other people don’t like: “It killed the conversation when she started complaining about her best friend.” ##CULTURE NOTE Since 9/11/2001, when terrorists, or people who use violence for political reasons, attacked New York City, U.S. airports have given a lot more attention to security to make sure that travelers are safe. Before 9/11, people could travel with simple objects, like nail clippers used for cutting your nails. But now, these types of things are not allowed on airplanes because they may be used as weapons to hurt other people. If a security guard finds these objects in your luggage, they will take them from you. Even tools and sports equipment, such as baseball bats or golf clubs, are not allowed. Lighters and matches are not allowed past the security checkpoint, the area where the security guards stop you. After these things are confiscated, or taken from you, you will not be able to get them back. The security guards check your luggage, but they also check to make sure you are not car

#ESL Podcast 179 – Shopping for a Cell Phone ##GLOSSARY **Have you been helped? –** another way of asking *“can I help you?”* *I walked into a store and right away, a salesperson asked, “Have you been helped?” **to be with our company –** to be using a product or service of a business or group *You would be paying less for your internet if you were with our company. **to switch –** to change from one to another *He moved all of the time so he was always switching jobs. **features –** parts of a product, service, or thing *One of the best features of vacationing in Mexico are the great beaches. **camera phone –** a phone that can take and keep pictures like a camera *She forgot her camera at home, but luckily, her friend had a camera phone with her. **video recorder –** a machine that can record video or movies *No one saw who broke the window, but the store has a video recorder running 24 hours a day, so they should be able to find who did it. **instant messaging –** an internet program that lets you talk to people by typing, sending, and getting back messages at the same speed of speaking *She didn’t call me, but she told me by instant messaging to meet her at six o’clock. **download –** to get something from the internet and keep it in your computer or phone *It took 20 minutes for my computer to download that movie! **ring tones –** the sound or music your phone makes when you get a call *My phone has fifteen different ring tones. **flip phone –** a cell phone that you fold open to use *Her new flip phone is so small that it can fit in her pocket. **in that case –** another way of saying *“if that should happen”* *She has a test tomorrow? In that case, she can’t go to the movies tonight. **plan –** the type of service that a company or business can offer for a set amount of money *The two plans looked the same so I chose the least expensive one. **unlimited –** without limit; as much as possible *His parents are rich so he has an unlimited amount of money to spend. **mobile-to-mobile –** a cell phone call made to another cell phone *I only call her mobile-to-mobile because I’ve forgotten her home telephone number. **to roll over (verb)/rollover (adjective) –** to take something from one to the other *If I change banks, the money from my old account will roll over into the new account in twenty-four hours. **agreement –** where people or groups promise each other something *We have an agreement that if she gets an A in the class, I would take her to Disneyland. ##COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS 1. Why doesn’t Greg like the first phone the salesperson shows him? a) It’s not a camera phone. b) It’s not a flip phone. c) It’s not a phone that can download music and ring tones. 2. Which is not a feature of the phone the salesperson shows Greg: a) E-mail. b) Video recorder. c) Instant messaging. ##WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN? plans The word *“plans,”* in this podcast, means the types of service that you can choose for a set amount of money: “Which plan gives me the most minutes each month?” But *“plans”* can have different meanings. It can mean the design of an object to be built: *“She drew plans for the house she wanted to build.”* Or, “The plans for the new machine don’t work.” *“Plans”* can also be used to mean what someone is going to do in order to reach a goal: “We made plans to save money for a vacation.” It is also used in phrases like *“according to plans,”* which means for something to happen without problems: *“The party went according to plans.”* with our company In this podcast, the phrase *“with our company”* means to be a customer of a company or business: “If you are already with our company, you will get a discount.” But it can also mean to be working for a company: “His name tag let me know that he was with our company.” Or, “Jan has been with our company for over 30 years.” Although *“with our company”* is a common phrase, “with our…” can be used with other words, too, such as *“with our group,”* “with our team,” or *“with our school”*: “That teacher has been with our school since she graduated from college.” ##CULTURE NOTE In the U.S. today, cell phones are very common, so common that they have created problems. In some states, places such as law courts, schools, and churches now ask people to turn off their cell phones before entering the building. In places like movie theaters, people are asked to use their cell phones only outside theater. However, most restaurants have no restrictions on the use of cell phones and it is common to see and hear people answer their cell phones or make cell phone calls in a restaurant. Using a cell phone while driving has been the cause of many accidents on the road. In 2001, the state of New York passed a law prohibiting, or not allow, people to drive and talk on the cell phone at the same time. However, the law does allow people to dial, or call a phone number, while driving and they can use a *“hands-free kit,”* so they can talk on their cell phones without holding i

#ESL Podcast 178 – A Fight ##GLOSSARY **I can’t believe it –** it’s not possible; I can’t believe this has happened *After all of that studying, I failed my math exam. I can’t believe it! **to get caught up –** to be kept somewhere longer than you had planned *I wanted to leave work at 5:00, but someone called me at 4:55 and I got caught up talking on the phone for 40 minutes. **to be worked up –** to be upset *My girlfriend got really worked up when she found out I had crashed our car. **to have it up to here –** to be at the end of your patience; to be fed up with something *I’ve had it up to here with his rudeness. **excuses –** things you say to get yourself out of trouble; an explanation about why something bad that has happened is not your fault *She asked Brent why he had lost the money, but instead of an answer, all she got were excuses. **to have been over this –** we have already talked about this; we have already had this disagreement before *Maria’s parents asked her when she was going to go back to college, but all she would say was, *“We’ve been over this.”* **and plus –** and also; furthermore *This trip would be very expensive, and plus, neither of us can take that much vacation time. **what’s the big deal –** what’s the problem; why is this so important *What’s the big deal? I only borrowed $20 from him, so I can easily pay him back. **to be inconsiderate –** to only think about yourself; to not worry about what another person might need when you make a decision *Bill said that it was very inconsiderate of me to give away the sofa without asking him first. **look –** an expression meant to get someone’s attention, similar to saying *“listen”* *Look, we’re both tired, so why don’t we go home and rest, and then finish this tomorrow. **to ruin –** to destroy; to make something unpleasant or bad *Mike wore his new coat in the rain and it was ruined. **to overreact –** to get too upset by a situation that is not really important; to make something more important than it should be *When Charlie forgot my birthday I didn’t talk to him for a week. I guess I overreacted a little. **to make it up to –** to try and fix a mistake or situation by doing something nice *I lost the book you lent me. Let me make it up to you by buying you a new one. **to nag –** to continue to find fault with someone; to complain over and over again *My wife is always nagging me to clean the garage. ##COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS 1. Why is Ginger upset with Fred? a) He forgot that they had dinner plans. b) She asked him to bring home some food and he didn’t do so. c) He stayed at work late again and didn’t call to tell her. 2. Ginger and Fred decide: a) to not speak with each other for the rest of the night. b) to go to dinner and to try to feel better. c) that Ginger needs to stop nagging. ##WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN? to be worked up In this podcast, the phrase *“worked up”* means to be upset, to be angry about something: *“Why are you so worked up?”* Another meaning *“to be worked up”* is to be nervous or excited about something. For example, if you plan to attend a big party and someone you want to date was going to be there, you would be nervous about going to the party. You would be *“worked up”* about the possibility of seeing that person at the party: “I tried not to get too worked up about seeing Gerard at the party.” to ruin *“To ruin,”* in this podcast, is a verb that means to destroy something or to make it unpleasant. Another use of *“ruin,”* as a noun, means something that is old and falling apart, usually a building. For example, a very old building or temple that has not been used for several hundred years might be called a ruin: “We went to Central America to see the Mayan ruins.” We may also use *“ruin”* to describe what remains after something bad happens: *“The fire left the house in ruins.”* Or, *“Their relationship was in ruins after she found out about his lies.”* ##CULTURE NOTE When people are in relationships, it is natural that they might get into fights. In the U.S., there are a lot of places where couples can go to find help if their relationship is not going well. *“Marriage counselors”* are people who have been trained to help married couples work out problems. They meet with couples to try and find out what is causing problems in their relationship, and to try and solve those problems through talking together. Churches are another place where couples can get help. Some couples may talk to their *“priest”* or *“pastor”* – the person who leads the church – to ask for advice and help. Even with this help, there is a high divorce rate in the U.S. today. *“Divorce”* is when a husband and wife decide to stop being married. Some say that that fifty percent of new marriages in the United States end in divorce. Research shows that more than half of the divorces in America are *“filed for,”* or asked for, by women. While divorce might end a relationship that has problems, it causes problems, too. A couple that c

#ESL Podcast 177 – A Wild Driver ##GLOSSARY **Staples Center –** the large stadium in downtown Los Angeles for basketball games, events, and concerts *I just bought tickets to see the next Lakers’ game at the Staples Center. **to warn –** to caution; to tell someone in advance about problem *I warned Tom that getting a pet would be a lot of work. **ride –** to be in a moving car or vehicle, usually with someone else driving *I was happy that Mary agreed to give me a ride to the airport. **to rear-end –** to crash into the back of a car *The man rear-ended my car while talking on his cell phone. **SUV –** stands for *“Sports Utility Vehicle”*; a large type of car that is good for rough driving, such as driving in the mountains or on bad roads *Diane is excited about driving her new SUV to the mountains to go camping this weekend. **take it easy –** calm down or relax *Take it easy! I know dinner was expensive, but I will pay for it all. **to have (everything) under control –** to be well-prepared *Don’t worry about the party, Jake is good at planning events. I’m sure he has everything under control. **speeding –** driving too fast; driving at a speed that is over the legal speed limit *I got into a bad accident because I was speeding in a neighborhood with children playing in the street. **You’re the one who… –** you are responsible, this is your fault or your decision; an expression that places blame *Don’t blame me for the fire! You’re the one who was playing with matches. **in one piece –** safe or not damaged *I fell on the stairs, but luckily, I’m still in one piece! **U-turn –** to turn your car around and go in the other direction *There was a *“No U-Turn”* sign at the stoplight, so I had to wait until the next street to turn around. **lanes –** lines on the road to show cars where they should drive *Three of the four freeway lanes were closed because of the car accident. **one-way street –** a street where cars can only go in one direction *It would be a very dangerous mistake to go the wrong way on a one-way street. **to take 10 years off one’s life –** to scare someone very badly, to frighten someone very much *When Ana jumped out from behind the tree, I was so scared. It took ten years off my life! **wuss –** someone who is weak or gets scared easily *Pete called me a wuss when I screamed during the scary movie. **to buckle up –** to fasten your seatbelt; to put on your seatbelt in a car *Always remember to buckle up when you’re in the car. ##COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS 1. Why is Pedro afraid? a) Yasmine drives very fast. b) Yasmine wants to be Pedro’s girlfriend. c) He and Yasmine are late for the show. 2. Yasmine tells Pedro to a) relax and to put on his seatbelt. b) drive the car for her. c) not speak to her for ten years. ##WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN? ride The word *“ride,”* in this podcast, is a noun that means being in a moving vehicle, such as a car. Usually someone else is driving and this is called *“getting a ride,”* or, *“going for a ride.”* *“To ride”* is the verb and it means to travel in a moving vehicle: *“I was riding on the bus when it broke down.”* You can also *“ride”* other objects that help you travel: you can *“ride a horse,”* or *“ride a bicycle.”* Ride can also be used as a noun to mean the fast moving games at amusement parks: “I went to Disneyland and rode on all of the rides.” to take it easy In this podcast, the phrase *“to take it easy”* means, *“to calm down,”* or “don’t worry”: *“Try to take it easy. Getting angry won’t help.”* *“Take it easy”* can also be used to mean *“to relax.”* When you are going on vacation and you plan to spend everyday at the beach, you are *“taking it easy.”* If someone asked you, *“What are you planning to do on your vacation?”* you would answer, “I am going to take it easy,” meaning *“I am not going to do much. I am going to relax.”* ##CULTURE NOTE As in most countries, if a police officer in the U.S. sees a driver doing something illegal, the officer will give the driver a traffic ticket. A traffic ticket is a piece of paper that a police officer gives a driver because they have broken the law. This ticket tells you how much you must pay as a fine, an amount of money you pay to the government as your punishment. When you get a ticket, you have two choices. You can pay the fine or, if you don’t think you broke the law, you can *“fight”* the ticket. To fight the ticket, you must go to traffic court to prove to a judge that you are right and that you did not break the law. In traffic court, you will *“testify,”* or tell your story, and the police office will testify, too. If the judge believes you and decides that you did not break the law, you will not need to pay the fine. However, if the judge decides against you, you will need to pay the fine. Getting a traffic ticket can have some bad results. In most states, drivers are required to have car insurance, that is, to have a company that promises to pay for any problems with your car, such as havin

#ESL Podcast 176 – Time Off from Work ##GLOSSARY bachelor party - a party held for a man before his wedding day *All of Eric's friends have been invited to his surprise bachelor party. Vegas - short for Las Vegas; a city in the state of Nevada where gambling is legal *Some people go to Vegas to get married, but I go there to win money! last weekend of the month - the last Friday, Saturday and Sunday before a month ends *I like to visit my family every last weekend of the month. time off from work - time spent away from work; usually a vacation or leave *I'm taking some time off from work to visit my wife's family. to miss out - to be left out of an experience or event; used when someone misses a chance to do something they think they may enjoy *The whole shop is having a sale. You should buy something or you'll miss out! vacation leave - a period of time away from a job for a vacation or holiday *I am saving my vacation leave for a summer trip to Europe next year. company policy - a set of rules that a company follows *It's company policy to wear a tie to work. to sign off - to approve something *If the city government signs off on this project, we can start building. maternity leave - a period of time away from a job so that a worker can take care of a new baby *Betty is on maternity leave for the moment, but she will return in two weeks. leave of absence - a longer period of time away from a job *After his sister's car accident, he took a leave of absence to take care of her children. to call in sick - to say you are sick and will not be going to work *I called in sick to work this morning when I woke up with a fever. to accumulate - to get more and more, usually over a period of time *I have too many books! I don’t know how I accumulated so many. sick leave - time away from work for a person who is sick *I have enough accumulated sick leave to call in sick for six weeks. to leave (someone) hanging - short for "to leave hanging in the air"; to break a promise, an expectation, or an agreement *Erica said she would help me with my report, but she didn't show up and left me hanging. straight out - honest or blunt; directly *I will tell you straight out that I don't like the way you spoke to my wife. wild weekend - a fun weekend that involves parties and drinking *I had such a wild weekend when I went to Ibitha. the guys - a group of men *I'm just going to see a movie with the guys tonight. Would you like to come? ##COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS 1. Why is the speaker's friend, Rob, planning a bachelor party? a) because he wants to get time off work b) because Jack is getting married c) because he wants to go to Vegas 2. What kind of leave does the speaker want to take? a) vacation leave b) sick leave c) maternity leave ##WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN? to signs off The phrase "to sign off" in this podcast means to approve. It is usually used when your boss approves something that you have done or would like to do: "My boss liked my idea and signed off on it." "To sign off" can also be used when you are communicating with someone and you are going to end the communication. On the radio, you may hear the *“DJ”* – the person who speaks in between playing songs – say : "This is Gordo, signing off," because he is going to stop talking and end the radio show. If you are speaking to someone on an instant messenger service on your computer, you may notice that they "sign off" when they leave. to leave (someone) hanging The phrase "to leave (someone) hanging" in this podcast means to break an agreement or promise. The person who is expecting something but does not get it is the person who is "left hanging." The person who does not fulfill the expectation is the one who "leaves (someone) hanging." This can also mean to leave things uncertain, undecided, or in suspense. For instance, "You need to finish your book. Please don't leave me hanging!" It is considered impolite to "leave (someone) hanging.” ##CULTURE NOTE In U.S. companies, workers are given a certain amount of vacation leave each year. The usual amount of leave for one year for an employee in an American company is about two weeks. This is far less time than the amount of leave that workers in many European and Asian companies get (around four weeks or more). In most companies, the longer you stay with the company or the more important your job, the more vacation leave you have. So, while the typical worker may have two weeks, their manager may have four weeks a year. Different companies have different leave policies or rules. Many companies will allow workers to earn their time for vacation leave. For example, if a worker works one month, he or she can earn eight hours of leave. This sort of leave can accumulate for a certain amount of time, so that a person may have small vacations in one year or a large vacation after a longer period of work. However, there is usually a limit on how much vacation you can accumulate. Most companies have maternity leave for a woman to hav

#ESL Podcast 175 – Places to Live ##GLOSSARY **apartment –** a set of rooms to live in that can be rented in a building; usually a bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, and living room *Let’s clean the apartment before my parents arrive for a visit. **condo –** short for condominium; a set of rooms to live in, like an apartment, that someone can buy *Our condo is on fifth floor and Jack’s is on the sixth. **townhouse –** a home in a row of houses, built with the wall of one townhouse connected to the next one *I live in a two-story townhouse not far from my work. **down payment –** the part of the money owed on a home or object that is given to the owner when you promise to buy; it is also a promise that you will pay the rest later *You can hold the item with a down payment and then make payments each month. **to go through –** to have someone/something help you to do something *Do you think we need to go through a ticket agency to get front-row tickets for this concert? **real estate agent –** someone who is licensed to help people buy and sell property *A real estate agent can tell us which neighborhoods are the safest. **single-family home –** a house and the property around it; these houses are separate from each other and are not connected *You won’t find any apartments in this area. There are only single-family homes in this part of town. **multi-story building –** a building with more than one floor or level *The Apex Corporation is on the third floor of that multi-story building over there. **penthouse –** an apartment on the top floor of a building *This is the only elevator in the building that goes all the way up to the penthouse. **backyard –** the area on a property behind a house *The children are playing soccer and having fun in the backyard. **duplex –** a building, usually a big house, separated into two areas which can be lived in or owned separately *I live in the front unit of this duplex and my landlord lives in the back unit. **[ ]-bedroom, [ ]-bath –** a quick way to describe the details of a place to live by saying how many bedrooms and bathrooms it has *Now that we are expecting our third child, we’d like to move to a three- bedroom, two-bath house. **bungalow –** a small, one-level house *After my parents retired, they sold their big house and moved into a small bungalow. **love at first sight –** to love someone or something the first time you see them/it *When she saw him from across the room, it was love at first sight. **to forgive –** to stop feeling angry toward someone *I hope you’ll forgive me for not remembering your name. ##COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS 1. How will the man in the story find a new home? a) He will ask a real estate agent to find one for him. b) He will look at all of the two-bedroom, one bath houses for sale in his neighborhood. c) He doesn’t know what type of home he wants yet and he plans to look around on his own. 2. The man decides to buy a houses he sees because: a) his dog likes it a lot. b) it is a duplex. c) the real estate agent said that it was a very good price. ##WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN? to go through The phrase *“to go through,”* in this podcast, means to have someone or something help you to do something: “I couldn’t find a job on my own so I decided to go through an employment agency.” The phrase *“to go through”* also means to finish something or to do something until the end: “Did he go through with the treatment for his illness?” Or, “He went through with the performance even though he was very nervous.” to forgive In this podcast, the verb *“to forgive”* means to stop feeling angry toward someone: “I don’t think the president will ever forgive them for not supporting his plans.” There is a popular saying, *“to forgive and forget,”* that means the same thing: “After Newman and Jerry decided to forgive and forget, they became very good friends.” Or, “It’s hard to forgive and forget when their actions caused so much pain to so many people.” ##CULTURE NOTE Finding a place to live requires a lot of patience in the U.S. There are many ways to go about finding a house to purchase. An easy way to start is through a real estate agent. A real estate agent is someone who is paid a commission, or a fee, to find properties to purchase based on specific guidelines (such as price, location, or size) provided by the person who is looking for a home. It is not necessary to go through a real estate agent, but it does help. Someone may also find a home by looking through the classified advertisement section of a newspaper or local newsletter. In the U.S., the newspaper on Sundays have a special section that lists *“open houses.”* A open house is when a house that is for sale is open for anyone to look at it. Usually, open houses are on Sunday afternoons, for three to five hours. Homeowners usually go through a real estate agent to sell their home, but there is a new trend or change in homeowners trying to sell their houses themselves. This is called "For Sale By Owner," be

#ESL Podcast 174 – A Potluck ##GLOSSARY **block party –** a neighborhood party, often with food, games, and music *Nearly all of the neighbors came to the block party this year. **cocktail party –** a party where people wear formal clothes and drinks and snacks are served *This year, the company cocktail party will be at a downtown hotel. **guest list –** a list of all the people invited to a party or event *There are 30 people on our guest list, but only 20 are coming. **to attend –** to go to an event, such as a party or a concert *Will you be attending the opening of the new museum? **invitations –** letters or cards given to people to ask them to come to a party or event *Don’t forget to put the address of the party on the invitations. **potluck –** a type of party where each person brings a different food item, drink, or serving item (like plates or cups) for everyone to share *I’m a terrible cook so I always bring drinks to a potluck. **RSVP –** to tell the person having a party or event that you can attend, you will come to the event *The last day to RSVP for the wedding reception is this Friday. **main dish –** the biggest part of the meal; usually there is a salad or soup to start, then the main dish, then dessert *For a main dish, I’d like the steak and potatoes. **chips and dip –** small snacks usually at parties; chips are things like potato chips and corn chips; dip is the thick sauce that you put the chips into before you eat it *I ate so much of the chips and dip at the party that I wasn’t hungry for dinner that night. **dessert –** a sweet dish served at the end of a meal *Would you like ice cream or chocolate cake for dessert? **BYOB –** stands for *“Bring Your Own Beverage;”* each person brings their own drinks to a party or event *Since the party is a BYOB, we’re bringing some beer and wine. **soda –** a sweat drink, such as Coca-Cola and 7-Up *Could you please order me a sandwich and a soda? **paper plates and cups –** plates and cups made out of paper that you can throw away after using them: usually used for informal meals or meals eaten outside *I’m glad we used paper plates and cups so we don’t have to wash dishes. **plastic utensils –** these are knives, forks, and spoons you throw away after using them *I packed a picnic for us to eat in the park, but I forgot to bring the plastic utensils so we’ll have to eat with our hands. **to have (something) under control –** to be sure you can manage a situation; to not worry because you know you can do something *We have the project under control and will definitely finish it on time. **There’s a first time for everything! –** an expression, a joke meaning that this is the first time I have succeeded or completed something *I finished doing my taxes a month early. There’s a first time for everything! ##COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS 1. The party is a potluck, so a) Susan will make all of the food for the party. b) each person will bring something to share. c) anyone who comes to the party will have a lot of luck. 2. Mike didn’t ask Bree to help him plan the party because a) the last time he asked her to help, Bree didn’t do any work. b) she may turn the block party into a more formal event. c) Bree is in another town visiting her son. ##WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN? block The word *“block”* in *“block party”* in this podcast means the distance between two streets: *“I walked six blocks to get to the train station.”* The word *“block”* can also be used as a verb to mean to prevent or to stop a movement: “The government blocked our plans to build a park in this neighborhood.” Or, “The ship blocked the river so the boats couldn’t get through.” dip In this podcast, the word *“dip”* in the phrase *“chips and dip”* means a thick sauce that you put other things into before eating: “For a snack, I like to have carrots with ranch dip.” *“Dip,”* as a verb, can mean to go down, usually before coming back up: *“The company profits took a dip before rebounding last month.”* Or, *“The temperature dipped to 0 degrees last night.”* As a noun, it can also mean a brief swim: *“I’m going to take a dip before getting dressed for dinner.”* Or, “It’s too cold to take a dip in the ocean in the early morning.” ##CULTURE NOTE A block party is a large celebration held in a neighborhood where everyone is invited and comes together to share food, drinks, music, and entertainment. A block is the distance between two streets. Block parties get their name because everyone who lives on a certain *“block,”* or part of the street, is invited to the party. Block parties are usually held to celebrate something, like a holiday or a certain season. Summer is a popular time to have block parties because the weather is nice and block parties are usually held outside on the street. Block parties can also be held when someone new comes to a neighborhood so the new neighbors can meet everyone all at the same time. Block parties became popular in the United States in the 1970’s. They are still po

#ESL Podcast 173 - Buying Souvenirs ##GLOSSARY **souvenir store –** a store that sells objects to help you remember where you have traveled *There is a good souvenir store across the street from the hotel. **T-shirt –** a shirt with short sleeves and no collar *If I wear a t-shirt with no jacket, I’ll be cold all night. **Can I help you find something? –** something that a clerk in a store asks when you first enter meaning, do you know what you are looking for? *Hi, welcome to Lucy’s Shoe Store. Can I help you find something? **about (someone’s) size –** to have the same height or body shape as someone else; to wear the same size clothing as someone else *I thought his son was about my size, but he’s actually a lot taller. **small, medium, large –** three standard sizes of clothing; from smallest to largest *I tried on a small and it didn’t fit. I think I need a medium or a large. **style –** a pattern or design * What style do you think would look good on me? **Could you recommend… –** Can you give me a suggestion about…? *Could you recommend a good restaurant near the airport? **locally-made –** made in the same city or area you are visiting *We have a lot of items to choose from, including these locally-made music boxes. **mug –** a tall, round cup with a flat bottom and a handle; often used for drinking coffee *Do you want your tea in a glass or in a mug? **key chain –** a ring that can hold keys; usually attached to another object *My house key fell off my key chain and I can’t find it anywhere! **snow globe –** a round glass container filled with water and glitter, with a small building or statue inside; when you shake it, it looks like snow is falling on the building or statue *It’s strange to see snow globes of Los Angeles since it never snows here. **jewelry –** ornaments such as rings, necklaces, or bracelets *What kind of jewelry do you think I should wear with this dress? **bracelet –** jewelry that can be worn around the wrist *The bracelet is made of gold and is very heavy. **How much is it? –** What is the cost? How much do I have to pay for this? *I really like that new car. How much is it? **I’ll take… –** I will have; I would like to have *I’ll take some bread, chocolate cake, and cookies. **There you go. –** Here is what you need; usually used when giving something to someone else *There you go. These are the clothes for the poor we collected in our neighborhood. **change –** the difference between what you owe and what you pay *I gave the waitress $20 but she only gave me change for a $10 bill. ##COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS 1. When Lydia asks the clerk for a recommendation, the clerk suggests: a) a key chain or a snow globe. b) a framed picture of Dr. Jeff McQuillan. c) some locally-made jewelry. 2. Lydia decides to buy: a) a bracelet. b) a bracelet and a t-shirt. c) a bracelet, a t-shirt, and a mug. ##WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN? mug The noun *“mug,”* in this podcast, means a large cup with a handle, usually used for hot drinks: *“Drinking a big mug of tea helps me stay warm on a cold night.”* *“Mug”* can also be used as a verb to mean to attack and rob someone: “I was walking in the park when I was mugged.” A person who does the attacking and robbing is called a *“mugger”*: “The mugger told me to give him my money or he would use his knife on me.” change In this podcast, the word *“change”* means the extra money returned to you when you pay for something: *“Did you give me the correct change?”* *“Change”* can also be used as a verb to mean to put on a clean diaper—a piece of material around a baby’s bottom for the baby to go to the bathroom: “The more that baby eats, the more often I have to change her.” *“Change”* can also be used to mean to put on different clothes: “After work, I plan to go home to change before going to the party.” ##CULTURE NOTE People often collect souvenirs to remember a good time they had when they traveled, or to prove that they have been somewhere. A souvenir usually has the name or the picture of the place you are visiting. Some souvenirs can be useful, like clothing, pens, or books. Other souvenirs are objects used for decoration like toy animals, snow globes, or very small spoons or forks. Some people collect souvenirs for themselves because they like to have them. Often souvenirs are given as gifts, as a way to share the travel experience with others. It is a tradition to bring gifts for close family and friends after taking a long trip or vacation. The good thing about souvenirs is that when someone else sees a souvenir, they can ask about it and you can talk about your experience traveling. It is a nice way to get to know someone with similar interests. Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – c; 2 – b ##COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT Welcome to Number 173, “Buying Souvenirs.” This is Episode 173. I'm your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California. Be sure to visit our website at and get the

#ESL Podcast 172 - Legal Problems ##GLOSSARY **to be arrested –** to be taken to jail, usually by the police, for breaking the law *The police arrested two women for robbing a bank. **to be charged –** to be blamed or held responsible for committing a crime *He wasn’t charged for the crime and the police let him go. **burglary –** the act of entering a building or property without permission in order to steal *There was a burglary in the store over the weekend and all of the money was taken. **assault –** to attack someone in order to hurt them *Those two men were fighting and one was arrested for assault. **security guard –** a person hired to make sure everything and everyone stays safe and in order *The president has security guards with him wherever he goes. **to break into –** to enter a place or get access to a thing illegally *The thieves broke into the house after everyone was asleep. **to steal –** to take without permission something that belongs to someone else *Are those children trying to steal some candy? **to be arraigned –** to go to court and tell the judge if you are guilty or innocent *She was arraigned in front of a very strict judge. **court –** a government building with rooms (courtrooms) where a judge and, most of the time, a jury listen to lawyers during a trial *The lawyers arrived in court late and the judge was very angry. **prosecutor –** a lawyer for the person who is accusing another person of doing something wrong or illegal *The prosecutor made a strong case and convinced everyone in court. **felony –** a major illegal action usually punished by time in jail *You will have to go to jail if you are convicted of a felony in this state. **misdemeanor –** a minor illegal action usually punished by a fine, not time in jail *It’s only a misdemeanor so she shouldn’t need to go to jail. **flight risk –** a person who the court thinks would try to leave, without permission, the area where he/she was arrested and is on trial in order to avoid being charged and sentenced *The court took away his passport because he is a flight risk. **bail –** a sum of money left with the court to make sure that a person released from jail comes back for the trial *If you don’t make bail, you’ll have to stay in jail until the trial. **to be found guilty –** to be held responsible for committing a crime or doing something wrong *Did you hear that he was found guilty of burglary for stealing those paintings? **to be sentenced –** to be given punishment by a court or judge for having committed a crime *I afraid that they will be sentenced to ten years in jail by the judge. **up to –** not more than *I don’t have a lot of money, but I can lend you up to $100. ##COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS 1. Why was the student in the story arrested? a) He broke into his professor’s office to steal a computer. b) He was a security guard and helped with the burglary. c) He told the prosecutor he committed assault. 2. The judge set the bail at $2 million because: a) the judge needed the money. b) the student was a flight risk. c) the student had been convicted of felonies before. ##WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN? to break into The phrase *“to break into,”* in this podcast, means to enter illegally: “Someone broke into my car and stole the radio.” The phrase can also be used more generally to mean *“to enter”*: “Those actors have been trying to break into show business for years.” The term *“show business”* is often used to mean the entertainment business, such as TV or movies. Another example would be: “He is getting his degree in business and wants to break into the real estate business.” up to In this podcast, the phrase *“up to”* means not more than: “He likes to eat cookies. He can eat up to three bags a day.” This phrase can mean something very different. When used in *“What are the children up to?”* it means, “What are they doing (right now)?” This can be used as an informal greeting, too, if you haven’t seen someone for a long time. *“What have you been up to?”* means, *“What have you been doing lately?”* ##CULTURE NOTE In the U.S., anyone accused of breaking the law has certain rights to make sure that they get a fair trial. One of these rights is called the Miranda warning. Before the police can ask questions of a person they have arrested, they have to let the person know that they have a right not to say anything until they have a lawyer to help them. This protects the person from admitting to taking part in a crime when, really, they are just scared or didn’t understand what was going on. The U.S. legal system wants to make sure that anyone who is arrested for breaking the law knows exactly why they are in trouble. The person who is arrested has a right to know what crimes he or she has been charged with. In the Miranda warning, the police also tells the person that they have a right to have a lawyer present whenever they are being asked questions. If they don’t have money to hire a lawyer, the court gives the person a *“pub

#ESL Podcast 171 – Buying a Used Car ##GLOSSARY **used car –** an automobile that is not new, usually one being sold to another person *She’s worried about buying a used car from someone she doesn’t know. **reliable –** dependable; someone or something that you can have confidence in or rely upon *I need someone reliable for this important job. **just the thing –** useful or well-suited *My sister made me some soup when I was sick, which was just the thing to make me feel better. **low miles –** a car that has not been driven very much; a car that has been driven very few miles *I don’t drive this car very often so it has low miles. **good condition –** something without any serious problems *We were surprised to find the house in good condition after the bad storm. **fell off the back of a truck –** used to describe something that has been stolen or taken illegally and then is sold to someone else *The price on that watch is great, but suspect that it fell off the back of a truck. **interior –** the inside of something, such as a car, house, or airplane *It’s a nice house, but the interior needs a lot of work. **power windows/doors –** windows that you can open and close in a car by pushing a button instead of rolling it up and down with your hand; doors that can be locked by pressing a button that locks all of the doors in the car *The power windows and doors are standard features on this car. **gas mileage –** the number of miles you can drive for each gallon of gasoline in your car; usually described as *“miles per gallon”* *With these high gas prices, cars with poor gas mileage cost drivers a lot of money. **a steal –** to pay a very low price for something *I got this sofa on sale. It was a steal! **a lemon –** something that has serious problems, often problems you don’t discover until after you have bought it *He promised me that it wasn’t a lemon and said that if it doesn’t work, I can return it. **to steer (someone) wrong –** to give someone bad advice about something *My best friend really steered me wrong when he told me that his sister was interested in me. **it won’t hurt to –** to do something that you aren’t very interested in, but that does not require very much time or effort *We’re not really interested in their product, but it won’t hurt to meet with the sales team to hear what they have to say. **test drive –** to drive a car before you buy it to see if you like it *This is a very expensive car. I want to test drive it a few times before making a decision. **You won’t be sorry. –** you will be happy with your decision; used when you are trying to convince someone that the decision you want them to make is a good one *I want you to meet Danielle. You won’t be sorry. She’s beautiful and smart. **We’ll see about that. –** I have my doubts, so I will wait to see what happens in the future; also can mean that you do not like what someone is doing and are going to try to change or influence what happens next *He called and said that he was too tired to come to work today. We’ll see about that! ##COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS 1. Why is Samantha not sure about buying a used car from Terry’s bother? a) She and Terry’s brother used to be boyfriend and girlfriend. b) Terry tells her that his brother is not reliable. c) She thinks that Terry’s brother tried to sell her a stolen radio. 2. Samantha decides to: a) test drive the used car. b) buy it from Terry now before someone else buys it. c) buy a new car instead. ##WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN? just the thing The phrase *“just the thing”* in this podcast means something useful or well-suited: *“I know just the thing to make this party special.”* The phrase *“the thing”* also has several other meanings. We use it to refer to something that is difficult to name or when we can’t remember what it is called: “Where is the thing we use to open the wine bottle?” (It’s called a *“cork screw.”*) The phrase *“the thing”* is also used to mean something that is fashionable or very popular: “This year, the thing to do for fun is sky diving.” good condition In this podcast, the phrase *“good condition”* means that something is in good shape: “Even after wearing and washing these pants for a year, they are still in good condition.” We can also use this phrase to describe a person’s physical condition: *“He is now in good condition, six months after the accident.”* Or, “She has been exercising a lot and is in good condition for the race.” Another, even more common, phrase we use to describe a person’s physical fitness is *“shape.”* *“He is still in great shape at the age of 70”* means that he is very healthy and in good physical condition. ##CULTURE NOTE Many U.S. cities do not have good public transportation systems. They do not have the subways, buses, and trains that are often found in other countries. This means that owning a car is essential or very important to most Americans. More than 90% of all American families own at least one car. Even those who do not make very

#ESL Podcast 170 – Questions and Answers at a Presentation ##GLOSSARY **outside firm –** a company that is not part of your company or organization *I don’t think we have the knowledge and experience to do this project ourselves. Let’s hire an outside firm. **to set up –** to arrange or prepare; to make ready to use *Could you come over a little early to help set up for the luncheon? **to keep track of –** to follow; to be able to see the progress of something over time *There are so many kids in this class that it’s hard to keep track of their progress. **afterwards –** the time after an event or action *We went to the football game, and then, to dinner afterwards. **in a nutshell –** a summary; the most important point or idea *He talked a lot but, in a nutshell, he didn’t like the proposal and wants us to start again. **From your description, it sounds like… –** From what you say, it appears that… *From your description, it sounds like the two of them got along very well on the trip. **Can you speak to that? –** Can you talk about that?; usually used when asking a question of someone who is giving a presentation *Some people think that the plan is too expensive. Can you speak to that? **I understand your concern, but actually... –** I hear what you are saying, but the real situation is different; a polite way of telling someone that you understand their ideas, but that they are wrong *Doctor, I understand your concern, but actually, I feel fine and I want to go back to work next week. **on a daily basis –** every day *I check my email on a daily basis and can respond quickly to any questions. **My biggest concern is –** what concerns or worries me the most is *My biggest concern is whether the new suppliers can meet the deadline. **to access –** to get into; to enter *The front door is locked. Can I get access to this building any other way? **How does this affect…? –** What change, difference, or influence will this have on…? *My girlfriend is moving to Dallas for her work. I asked her, “How does this affect our relationship?” **That’s a good question. –** You are asking something important or interesting *My girlfriend said, “That’s a good question. I’m not sure how my move to Dallas will affect our relationship.” **key –** very important or the most important *The key reason my application was rejected is that I didn’t include all of the information they asked for. **his or her –** used when you don’t know if the person being referred to is a man or a woman; sometimes also *“they”* or *“their”* is used *Each musician has his or her own talents. **if there are no other questions… –** a way to end a presentation at which you have been answering questions; it tells your audience that you are now going to end your presentation *If there are no other questions, we can move on to the next part of our tour. ##COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS 1. The new system: a) has a lot of features. b) helps to keep track of the company’s money. c) was developed by Yuri. 2. Cecilia explains that: a) the typical employee uses nearly all of the features on a daily basis. b) anyone can get access to sensitive information. c) project managers can limit access to their projects. ##WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN? set up The phrase *“set up,”* in this podcast, means to arrange or to prepare something: *“Since the show starts at 8:00, you should arrive by 7:30 to set up.”* This phrase is also used to mean match-making, when someone arranges a romantic meeting or relationship for someone else: “Can you set me up on a date with your roommate?” or, “I decided not to go to the dinner party when I found out that I was being set up.” key In this podcast, *“key”* is used as an adjective to mean something that is very important: *“The key strategy is to sell at a low price.”* But *“key”* has many other meanings as a noun. It can mean a small piece of metal that fits into a lock, such as a *“house key”* or a *“car key.”* It can also be used to mean a list of explanations of symbols used on a map: “The key tells us the actual distance on this map.” A third meaning for *“key,”* used as a noun, is to describe the scale, or group of notes, used for music: “His voice is very low. We need to lower the key so he can sing it.” ##CULTURE NOTE U.S. business presentations are usually very direct and *“to the point”* – that is, they don’t waste time with things that are not key to the topic. This means that you will not find a lot of theoretical or philosophical information in an American business presentation. They are simple and *“straightforward”* (not complicated or elaborate). A common expression in U.S. business communication is “less is more” – that is, talking a long time in a presentation is not necessarily better than keeping the presentation brief. U.S. businesspeople expect presentations to be limited to the key points or ideas you are trying to communicate. They also expect presentations to be *“slick”* (very professional looking, like a good TV commerci

#ESL Podcast 169 – Describing People’s Appearance ##GLOSSARY **back home –** to return to your home after being away from it; to return to the home of your parents or family when you live in another state or city *It’s nice to be back home after such a long trip. **Let’s have a look –** Let’s inspect or examine what you have *What’s in that package we received in the mail today? Let’s have a look. **cousin –** the children of your aunt or uncle are your cousins *My aunt and my cousins have lived in Memphis for over 10 years. **to look nothing like/to look more like –** Not to resemble or look like a certain person/to resemble or look a lot like a certain person *Everyone tells him that he looks nothing like his father and more like his mother. **fair –** to have light colored skin and/or blond hair *Are you sure you two are really brothers? One of you is so dark and the other is so fair. **heart-shaped face –** a face that is in the shape of a heart, that comes to a point at the chin *When she went to get her haircut, the stylist looked at her heart-shaped face and recommended a new style. **thin lips –** lips that are not very thick; small lips, the opposite of full lips *I wear lipstick to make my thin lips look fuller. **fat cheeks –** cheeks that are large or big (cheeks are the part of your face that are below your eyes and between your nose and your ears) *That little girl had the cutest fat cheeks I had ever seen. **bushy eyebrows –** eyebrows that are very large or big (eyebrows are above your eyes and below your forehead *Do you think he looks manly with those bushy eyebrows? **to not give yourself enough credit –** to be too humble, to not think that you are very good *You never give yourself enough credit for the great job you do. **guy friends –** male (a boy or a man) friend of a girl or a woman, but who is not a boyfriend *Why don’t you bring some of your guy friends to my party on Saturday? **pretty –** good-looking *This dress is pretty but the other one fits me better. **wavy/curly (hair) –** hair that goes up and down like a wave; hair that grows in small circles *He has wavy hair now, but it was very curly when he was a kid. **cute –** adorable, good-looking, attractive *Oh, that little dog is so cute! **pudgy –** fat, overweight *Eating all of this good cooking is starting to make me a little pudgy. **adorable –** attractive, cute, good-looking *This is the most adorable baby I have ever seen. **to compliment –** to say something nice about someone *Men love it when you compliment them on how smart they are. **to go straight to your head –** to become arrogant, to start to think that you are better than everyone else *I hope that all of this success doesn’t go straight to your head. ##COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS 1. Nora looks like: a) her cousin b) her sister c) Gilles 2. Gilles thinks that Nora is good looking because: a) she has bushy eyebrows b) all of Nora’s guy friends like her c) he likes pudgy and heart-shaped faces ##WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN? fair The adjective *“fair”* in this podcast means a person who has light-colored hair or skin. Fair is also commonly used to mean that someone is being treated according to normal standards: “When I was young, I didn’t always think that my parents were fair when they punished me for doing something wrong.” Or, “The raises we got this year weren’t generous, but they were fair.” pretty In this podcast, the word *“pretty”* means to be good-looking but not beautiful: *“All of their daughters are pretty, but the oldest one is really beautiful.”* *“Pretty”* can also be used as an adverb and is also used to mean moderately high or fairly: *“I’m pretty happy with my job, although I wouldn’t mind a change.”* Or, *“That mountain is pretty high. I don’t think I want to try to climb it.”* compliment *“Compliment”* means to say something nice about someone. Do not confuse this with a similar sounding word, *“complement”* (with an *“e”* in the middle). A complement is something that completes or matches something else. It can also be a verb meaning to match well or to go well with something: “He’s good at math, I’m good at arts and literature. Our skills complement each other very well.” ##CULTURE NOTE Words that are used to describe people can sometimes cause problems. Some words, such as *“fat,”* *“pudgy”* (big, overweight) and *“skinny”* (thin) are considered by many people to have a negative meaning or are insults. You would never want to call a person *“fat”* if he or she were your friend, for example. Since the United States is a country mostly of immigrants, people are often described by their race (skin color) or ethnicity (what country or group they were originally from before coming to the United States). The words we use to describe someone’s race, for example, have changed over the past 25 years. Currently, we usually describe people who used to be called *“blacks”* as “African- American” (although you will still hear and see the word *“black”* used

#ESL Podcast 168 – The Home Improvement Store ##GLOSSARY **to need work –** has to be improved or made better *This house is big, but it is old and really needs work. **to put off –** to delay, to wait *I’ve been putting off washing the car and I think it’s time to do it. **garage –** where you park or keep a car. *Please move the boxes out of the garage so I can park the car in it. **home improvement store –** a store for buying things to fix or improve a home *The home improvement store is very crowded on Saturday morning. **supplies –** necessary materials; things that you use to do something *I’m ready to go on the road trip as soon as I buy our food supplies. **huge –** large, very big *Last year’s tomatoes were big but this year’s are huge! **paint department –** a place in a store where paint is sold *The clerk in the paint department recommended a lighter color paint. **garden center –** a place in a store where plants, trees, and flowers are sold *Go over to the garden center and get me some more plant food. **lumber department –** a place in a store where wood is sold *Most of the lumber in the United States comes from the Pacific Northwest. **no one in sight –** no one around, no one there *I was so late for my class that by the time I got to the classroom, there was no one in sight. **plumbing –** the pipes that bring water to and from a house or building *For us to get hot water in this building, we’ll need to replace the plumbing. **aisle –** the space you walk in between two other sections; a path between seats in an airplane, theater, or church *I walked up and down the aisle at the grocery store but I couldn’t find the bread I normally buy. **swatches –** a small color sample, usually for paint or fabric *The paint swatch I brought home matched my furniture perfectly. **to take/call a number –** used at places where there are many people waiting for help. You are given a small piece of paper with a number, and you wait until your number is announced or *“called.”* *I took a number in the meat department and my number was called after a few minutes. **in the meantime –** meanwhile; the time when you are waiting for something *I’m waiting for my mother to come home. In the meantime, I’ll watch some TV. **brush –** something you use to put paint on a house or picture *We need some new brushes to paint the house. **rags –** small pieces of cloth that are used to clean *Get me a rag so I can clean up the coffee I spilled on the table. **checkout line –** the line you wait in at a store to purchase something, such as at a grocery store *The checkout lines at these big food stores are always so long. **after all that –** used when someone takes a long time to say or do something, but very little is actually said or done; after waiting for a long time with no real results *You've been talking for 10 minutes. After all that, I thought you would have something important to say. **to be exhausted –** to be very tired *I’m exhausted after working two weeks without a day off. ##COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS 1. What does the man need to paint his house? a) garden supplies b) a paint swatch c) brushes and rags 2. The man plans to paint the garage: a) today. b) next weekend. c) when his wife tells him to, again. ##WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN? brush The word *“brush,”* used as a noun, can also mean the thing that you comb your hair with: *“This new brush makes my hair look shiny.”* *“To brush”* is also a verb with several different meanings. To brush your hair means to use a brush to straighten or fix your hair. (Note: The verb *“to comb”* is used more commonly with men, and *“to brush”* is used for both men and women.) To brush also means to touch lightly: *“He brushed by me as he was walking out the door.”* The use of brush here means that he touched me, but that it wasn't very hard. put off To *“put off”* can mean to delay, as it does in this podcast: “I put off going to the dentist.” There is another expression, *“to be put off,”* which means something very different. If you say, *“I am really put off by him,”* you mean that something that he does makes you dislike him. *“She puts me off”* means that the way she acts or the things she says makes me not like her. ##CULTURE NOTE The *“American dream”* is to own your own house. Because of this, many people choose to live many miles from where they work in order to find a house that they can afford, sometimes living outside of the main city where they work. Houses are often less expensive if they are several miles from the main area of the city. There is a tradition of home improvement in the U.S., where people spend a lot of time and money fixing their houses and keeping them in good condition. When there is a *“boom”* in real estate (that is, when the prices of houses are rising quickly), people often attempt to make improvements on their home to make them more valuable to sell. Whether you are going to sell your house or plan to stay in it, there are several large

#ESL Podcast 167 – A Marriage Proposal II ##GLOSSARY **to stress out –** to be worried or concerned about something *Stop stressing out about your driving test or you won’t pass. **fast food restaurant –** a place that gives you your food in a very short amount of time *He eats at a fast food restaurant for lunch everyday. **Tell me the truth –** *“Be honest with me;”* usually used when you think the other person may try to hide something because it will hurt your feelings *Tell me the truth. Do you think I have a good chance of getting the job? **What’s up with you lately? –** used to ask about what change has taken place in someone’s behavior; usually indicates the person has a problem *You seem tired all the time. What’s up with you lately? **haven’t been yourself –** have not been acting the same as you normally do *I’ve noticed that you haven’t been yourself the past month. You seem nervous all the time. **distant –** not very friendly *We have been good friends for years but she’s been distant ever since she got promoted. **to see someone else –** to date someone else *I’m convinced that he’s seeing someone else when I’m out of town. **to cheat on –** to date someone else secretly while you are already married or have a boy/girlfriend *He loves you too much to cheat on you with another woman. **to break up with –** to end a romantic relationship; to stop being boyfriend and girlfriend *I intend to break up with him before he breaks up with me. **No way! –** absolutely not *No way would I visit Minnesota again in the wintertime! **You’ve got it all wrong –** you have misunderstood the situation *I’m sure you’ll find out that you’ve got it all wrong and that they intended to give you the prize all along. **on your mind –** worried about something, thinking about something *I can see that you have something important on your mind. **can’t stand it –** am not able to tolerate or put up with something *My dogs can’t stand it when I don’t take them for a walk everyday. **silly –** to be foolish, like a child *People look very silly when they try to play children’s games. ##COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS 1. Doug wanted to: a) ask his girlfriend to marry him in a fast food restaurant. b) ask his girlfriend to marry him but to keep the ring for himself. c) ask his girlfriend to marry him but didn’t intend to do it at the fast food restaurant. 2. Before Doug asked her to marry him, Fiona thought that: a) Doug wanted to work at the fast food restaurant. b) Doug wanted to break up with her. c) Doug was very silly. ##WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN? distant The word *“distant,”* in this podcast, means not to be close to someone: “Ever since Dan found out that Emily got the promotion instead of him, he’s been very distant.” We can also use *“distant”* to refer to family relationships that are not close: “His grandmother is my grandfather’s sister so we are only distant cousins.” Or, “We have the same last name but I don’t think we are even distant relations.” to break up with In this podcast, the phrase *“to break up with”* someone means to no longer be someone’s boyfriend or girlfriend: *“They broke up after dating for years.”* But, the phrase *“something/someone is breaking up”* means that it is difficult to hear or see them, such as on the telephone: “I can’t hear you; you’re breaking up. Hang up and I’ll call you back.” Or, “I was watching the football game when the signal broke up and I didn’t get to watch the second half.” ##CULTURE NOTE More than half of all marriages in the United States today will end in a divorce; that is, the married couple will end their marriage and each person will become single again. That is one reason why some couples wait for a long time before getting married. Most U.S. states now have what are called *“no fault”* divorces. In a no fault divorce, both the man and the woman agree that they want to end their marriage, and that it isn’t just one person’s fault or responsibility. Married couples who want to get a divorce have to fill out legal forms and give them to the local government. Of course, not everyone who gets married in the U.S. will get divorced! There are many couples who stay married for many years. After 25 years of marriage, these couples usually have a special celebration or party for their *“silver”* anniversary. After 50 years, they have another party called a *“golden”* anniversary. Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – c; 2 – b ##COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT Welcome to number 167, “A Marriage Proposal (Part II).” This is episode number 167. I'm your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California. This is the second part of our two-part podcast on a man asking a woman to marry him. Let's get started. [start of story] I had been stressing out about it for a couple of weeks. How do I ask my girlfriend to marry me? We were getting some dinner at a fast food restaurant before going to the movies. Fiona: Tell me th

#ESL Podcast 167 – A Marriage Proposal II ##GLOSSARY **to stress out –** to be worried or concerned about something *Stop stressing out about your driving test or you won’t pass. **fast food restaurant –** a place that gives you your food in a very short amount of time *He eats at a fast food restaurant for lunch everyday. **Tell me the truth –** *“Be honest with me;”* usually used when you think the other person may try to hide something because it will hurt your feelings *Tell me the truth. Do you think I have a good chance of getting the job? **What’s up with you lately? –** used to ask about what change has taken place in someone’s behavior; usually indicates the person has a problem *You seem tired all the time. What’s up with you lately? **haven’t been yourself –** have not been acting the same as you normally do *I’ve noticed that you haven’t been yourself the past month. You seem nervous all the time. **distant –** not very friendly *We have been good friends for years but she’s been distant ever since she got promoted. **to see someone else –** to date someone else *I’m convinced that he’s seeing someone else when I’m out of town. **to cheat on –** to date someone else secretly while you are already married or have a boy/girlfriend *He loves you too much to cheat on you with another woman. **to break up with –** to end a romantic relationship; to stop being boyfriend and girlfriend *I intend to break up with him before he breaks up with me. **No way! –** absolutely not *No way would I visit Minnesota again in the wintertime! **You’ve got it all wrong –** you have misunderstood the situation *I’m sure you’ll find out that you’ve got it all wrong and that they intended to give you the prize all along. **on your mind –** worried about something, thinking about something *I can see that you have something important on your mind. **can’t stand it –** am not able to tolerate or put up with something *My dogs can’t stand it when I don’t take them for a walk everyday. **silly –** to be foolish, like a child *People look very silly when they try to play children’s games. ##COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS 1. Doug wanted to: a) ask his girlfriend to marry him in a fast food restaurant. b) ask his girlfriend to marry him but to keep the ring for himself. c) ask his girlfriend to marry him but didn’t intend to do it at the fast food restaurant. 2. Before Doug asked her to marry him, Fiona thought that: a) Doug wanted to work at the fast food restaurant. b) Doug wanted to break up with her. c) Doug was very silly. ##WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN? distant The word *“distant,”* in this podcast, means not to be close to someone: “Ever since Dan found out that Emily got the promotion instead of him, he’s been very distant.” We can also use *“distant”* to refer to family relationships that are not close: “His grandmother is my grandfather’s sister so we are only distant cousins.” Or, “We have the same last name but I don’t think we are even distant relations.” to break up with In this podcast, the phrase *“to break up with”* someone means to no longer be someone’s boyfriend or girlfriend: *“They broke up after dating for years.”* But, the phrase *“something/someone is breaking up”* means that it is difficult to hear or see them, such as on the telephone: “I can’t hear you; you’re breaking up. Hang up and I’ll call you back.” Or, “I was watching the football game when the signal broke up and I didn’t get to watch the second half.” ##CULTURE NOTE More than half of all marriages in the United States today will end in a divorce; that is, the married couple will end their marriage and each person will become single again. That is one reason why some couples wait for a long time before getting married. Most U.S. states now have what are called *“no fault”* divorces. In a no fault divorce, both the man and the woman agree that they want to end their marriage, and that it isn’t just one person’s fault or responsibility. Married couples who want to get a divorce have to fill out legal forms and give them to the local government. Of course, not everyone who gets married in the U.S. will get divorced! There are many couples who stay married for many years. After 25 years of marriage, these couples usually have a special celebration or party for their *“silver”* anniversary. After 50 years, they have another party called a *“golden”* anniversary. Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – c; 2 – b ##COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT Welcome to number 167, “A Marriage Proposal (Part II).” This is episode number 167. I'm your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California. This is the second part of our two-part podcast on a man asking a woman to marry him. Let's get started. [start of story] I had been stressing out about it for a couple of weeks. How do I ask my girlfriend to marry me? We were getting some dinner at a fast food restaurant before going to the movies. Fiona: Tell me th

#ESL Podcast 166 – A Marriage Proposal I ##GLOSSARY **to get up the nerve –** to have the courage to do something *I can’t get up the nerve to fly in an airplane for the first time. **to marry –** to make someone your husband or wife *Dae and Maria decided to marry after dating for three years. **the one –** the person you want to marry, or to have a serious relationship with *She dated a lot of people before deciding that Ben was the one. **engagement ring –** a ring, usually only for the woman, when two people get engaged (promise to marry) *He gave her the engagement ring and put it on her finger. How romantic! **saleswoman –** a female worker in a store *The saleswoman was helping someone else so I had to wait in line. **to find the right time –** to choose the right moment or opportunity to do something *The key to getting a raise at work is finding the right time to ask your boss. **to pop the question –** to ask someone to marry you *Instead of waiting for her boyfriend to pop the question, she asked him to marry her instead. **romantic –** something that makes someone think of love *The book had a lot of romantic parts that would never happen in real life. **to propose; proposal –** to ask someone to marry you; the act of asking someone to marry you *Should I propose in a letter? No, I think proposals should be done in person. **out of the question –** impossible *Spending that much money for a car is out of the question for me right now. **poem –** a form of literature which often has a rhythm or beat, like music *Walt Whitman wrote many poems about America. **to serenade –** when a man sings romantically to a woman, usually standing outside of her house *I like the part in the movie when the men are serenading the women at sunset. **to call the police –** to make a telephone call to the police department to report a problem *Our party was so noisy, the neighbors called the police! ##COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS 1. In the story, the man: a) doesn’t know how to propose to his girlfriend. b) plans to take her to Paris to propose to her. c) wants the police to help him propose to his girlfriend. 2. When the man shopped for the engagement ring: a) he saw the ring he wanted to buy right away. b) he couldn’t believe the prices. c) he took a long time to decide. ##WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN? get up the nerve To *“get up the nerve”* in this podcast means to have courage: “If he can get up the nerve to ask her out on a date, I’m sure she’ll say ‘yes.’” We also use a similar phrase—”to get on someone’s nerves”—to mean something very different. To get on someone’s nerves means to bother or irritate them: “He talks too much and gets on my nerves,” or “Doesn’t it get on your nerves when she ignores you?” romantic The adjective *“romantic”* means to show love: “Giving me a love letter was very romantic.” It is usually used in a positive way, but it can also be used in a negative one to mean someone who is not practical: “She has too many romantic ideas about life and has a hard time deciding on a career.” ##CULTURE NOTE Fifty years ago in the United States, it was common for young people to marry when they graduated from high school or soon after finishing college. In the past 20 years, however, both men and women have waited until they are older before getting married. One of the reasons for this change is that more women are now working in full-time jobs. These women are interested in waiting longer before getting married and having children. Many men and women do not marry until their late 20s and early 30s, especially those who go to college. Traditionally, it is the man who proposes to or asks a woman to marry him. This is still probably true for most people in United States. It was also common many years ago for a man to ask *“permission”* to marry a woman from her father or parents. This is not very common anymore, however. Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – a; 2 – c ##COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT Welcome to number 166, “A Marriage Proposal (Part I).” This is English as a Second Language podcast episode 166. I'm your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California. A Podcast Learning Guide for today's podcast, with a complete transcript, vocabulary definitions, cultural information, tips on learning English, and much more is available at our website. Go to eslpod.com and click on “Learning Guides” for more information. Today's podcast is called *“A Marriage Proposal (Part I).”* We're going to hear about a man who wants to marry a woman and how he is going to ask her. Let's get started! [start of story] I've 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

#ESL Podcast 165 – A Practical Joke at Work ##GLOSSARY **I’ve had it! –** to be tired of a situation, to be unwilling to tolerate something *I’ve had it with the poor service at this restaurant and I don’t plan to come back. **take it –** tolerate, to put up with *I can’t take it when the weather is so hot. **What’s the matter? –** What is the problem?, What is wrong with… *What’s the matter with Doug? He is normally so happy. **being the butt of –** to be the person or thing that people are making fun of or laughing at *Her bad singing is the butt of a lot of jokes among her friends. **practical jokes –** playing a trick on someone that usually involves some physical action *I am planning to play a practical joke on my friend when comes for a visit. **What has he done now? –** what mistake has this person done, what problem have they created; usually said of someone who has had problems in the past *Those kids are always getting into trouble. What have they done now? **giggling –** to laugh, but not too loudly *The movie was so funny, I couldn’t stop giggling the whole time. **sticker –** a piece of paper that has glue on one side to make it stick or adhere to something else *Some students like to decorate their school folders with stickers. **stuck –** difficult to remove; past tense of to stick *I got gum stuck to the bottom of my shoe and I couldn’t get it off. **red hot mama –** a sexually attractive woman; an expression common in the 1960s, but not as popular today *She must think she’s a red hot mama to dress like that. papa - informal for father; a word sometimes used by children instead of *“dad”* *She said, *“Papa, when will you be home from work?”* he’s going to get it - to get into trouble, to be punished *If he borrowed her car without asking, he’s going to get it when he comes home. revenge - to do something wrong to someone who has done something wrong to you *After her best friend stole her boyfriend, she wanted to get revenge. ##COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS 1. Joey thought the practical joke was: a) very funny and plans to play one on Chandler. b) the best practical joke in the world. c) not funny and plans to play one on Chandler. 2. When Phoebe saw Joey walk out of his office, she: a) told him he had a sticker on his pants. b) laughed. c) told him she wanted a sticker, too. ##WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN? stuck The word *“stuck,”* in this podcast, means to have something that’s difficult to remove. It can be something physical, like a sticker or a body part: “My foot got stuck in the hole and I couldn’t get it out.” We can also use stuck to mean having difficulty getting out of a situation: “Because I don’t have enough training, I’m stuck in a low-paying job,” or “I promised to help my friend and I got stuck helping move all weekend.” take it In this podcast, the phrase *“take it”* means to tolerate something: “My neighbor’s TV is on all day and I can’t take it anymore.” We can also use *“take it”* when we want to make clear something that’s uncertain: “I take it that we need to arrive by 7:45 if we want to see the 8:00 movie,” or “I take it you’ll read the instructions before trying put together the new desk, right?” It is similar to “I understand that…” ##CULTURE NOTE People often play practical jokes at work. They sometimes play jokes because they are bored or want to make fun of other people. In some companies, there is a *“culture”* of playing jokes on the other employees. Many people expect it and aren’t bothered by it. In other companies, playing these kind of practical jokes is considered inappropriate or wrong. Some common practical jokes in a business office include hiding something from someone, putting signs on someone’s back without the person knowing, taking off a part of someone's clothing, or using a squirt gun to shoot water at someone. (A squirt gun is a small plastic toy in the shape of a gun that shoots water.) Practical jokes can also include telling someone a false story in order to get them to do something. Perhaps the most famous type of practical joke is using a *“whoopee cushion.”* A whoopee cushion is a small pillow that makes a funny noise when you sit on it. One of the most common days to play a practical joke on someone is April Fools' Day. April Fools' Day is April 1, a day traditionally that people play practical jokes on each other. Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – c; 2 – b ##COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT Welcome to English As A Second Language Podcast Number 165, “Practical Jokes.” This is Episode 165. I'm your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, CA. Today's podcast is called *“Practical Jokes.”* Let's get started! [start of story] 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 bac

#ESL Podcast 164 – Seeing a Specialist ##GLOSSARY **nagging pain –** a pain that continues to hurt and that won’t go away *I can’t sleep at night because of the nagging pain in my back. **routine tests –** regular tests, not special ones *The doctor ordered some routine tests for my daughter. **specialist –** a doctor who specializes in an area of medicine *My doctor said that a specialist would be able to tell me what is wrong with my eye. **GP (general practitioner) –** a doctor trained to give general health care; not a specialist *If anyone in the family is sick, they go see our family GP. **to refer –** to be given a recommendation to see someone *My friend referred me to a good car mechanic. **to diagnose –** to find the problem *The gardener diagnosed the problem with my plant and now it’s healthy. **to order some tests –** to have medical tests done to a patient *My eye doctor ordered some tests to find out why I’m having difficulty seeing. **surgery –** when the doctor cuts open or performs some procedure on or in your body *The surgery on her hand went well and she should recover soon. **procedure –** a series of activities or steps *Does anyone know the procedure for installing this program? **to relieve –** to reduce or stop pain *I took the pills and it relieved my shoulder pain. **high risk operation –** dangerous surgery *She decided to have the high risk operation against her doctor’s advice. **not at all –** definitely not *I asked him if changing seats would cause a problem and he said, *“Not at all.”* **treatment options –** choices for medical care *After thinking about all of the treatment options, I decided to take the medication. **not that… –** short for *“not something that”* or *“not anyone that”* *I have nothing to wear in my closet, at least, not that I would wear to the party. **course of treatment –** a series of things the doctor does to cure you or make your better *We decided on this course of treatment for my father. **second opinion –** another opinion or diagnosis *It’s a good idea to get a second opinion just to be sure. **going under the knife –** to have surgery *I have a good surgeon so I’m not worried about going under the knife. ##COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS 1. Simon went to see the specialist because: a) he didn’t trust his GP b) he was referred to the specialist by his doctor c) he wanted to get a second opinion. 2. After seeing the specialist, Simon plans to: a) talk to another specialist b) get surgery c) never see another doctor ##WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN? relieve The verb *“relieve,”* in this podcast, means to stop the pain: “I took the medicine and it relieved my headache.” You can also use *“relieve”* to mean to make someone feel less worried or anxious: “She was relieved to hear that she would not be fired from her job.” The verb *“relieve”* can also mean to free someone from an unwanted responsibility: “He relieved me of the cooking when he tasted the first meal I cooked.” routine The adjective *“routine”* means to do what is regularly done, not something special: *“My car needs routine maintenance to run well.”* It can also be used as a noun to mean a sequence of actions: “My daily routine includes a workout at the gym.” ##CULTURE NOTE Most Americans have private health insurance; that is, they or their employers pay for a private company to take care of their doctor and hospital expenses. Unlike many other countries, the United States does not have a national, free health system. The national or *“federal”* government does pay for the medical care of certain people who are very poor or who are old, but there are many people in the U.S. with no health insurance at all. Most people are part of a *“group health”* plan called a Health Maintenance Organization, or HMO. These HMOs are private companies that organize and administer clinics and hospitals for their members. You become a member of an HMO by paying a certain amount of money, or by having your company pay for you. When you first get sick, you usually have to see a GP before being able to talk to a medical specialist. The GP will examine you and, if he or she thinks you need to see someone who is an expert, you will get a *“referral”* – permission to talk to another doctor who specializes in the problem you have. If you don’t agree with your doctor, you can also get a second opinion, usually without having to pay any extra money. Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – b; 2 – a ##COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT Welcome to Number 164, “Seeing a Specialist.” You are listening to Episode 164. I'm your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in the beautiful city of Los Angeles in the beautiful state of California here in the United States. On today's podcast, we are going to the doctor to see a specialist. Let's go! [start of story] I went to see my doctor because I had a nagging pain in my leg. After he examined me and did some routine tests, he suggested that I go see a