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Topics: Famous Authors: Raymond Chandler; the Pony Express; to be involved in versus to be involved with; to make sense; hard on its heels
Words:
genre
free time
hobby
to make ends meet
screenwriter
unsentimental
cynical
relay
wiry
orphan
can-do
trademark
to be involved in
to be involved with
to make sense
hard on (one’s/someone’s) heels
If you have a medical emergency, you may need to call an ambulance. Learn more in this episode.
Slow dialogue: 1:20
Explanations: 3:22
Fast dialogue: 14:11
Brad: Are you all right?
Lydia: What...what happened?
Brad: You lost consciousness and someone called 911. My name is Brad and I’m a paramedic. Can you answer a few questions for me?
Lydia: I’ll try.
Brad: Have you ever blacked out before?
Lydia: No, I don’t think so.
Brad: Do you have a history of medical problems? Do you have any allergies to medication?
Lydia: Not that I know of.
Brad: Okay. Where are you hurt? Are you in any pain?
Lydia: I think I hit my head when I fell down. Oh, it’s bleeding. Oh my God, I’m bleeding!
Brad: Stay calm and let me examine the wound.
Lydia: Oh my God, I’m going to bleed to death!
Brad: Try to stay still. The wound doesn’t look too serious, but we’ll get you to the hospital to get checked out. We’ll get a stretcher so we can get you into the ambulance and take you to the emergency room. Try to stay clam.
Lydia: Calm? How can I stay calm when I’m bleeding to death? I need a helicopter to take me to the hospital right away. Call medivac!
Brad: Ma’am, you don’t need a helicopter. I’m just going to give you a little injection to help you with the pain and to help you relax.
Lydia: I’m going to die...I’m going to...
Brad: Phew!
Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
Most people call or write before they visit their friends and family, but some like to go unannounced. Find out why that can be a bad idea in this episode.
Slow dialogue: 1:24
Explanations: 3:22
Fast dialogue: 15:46
Lorraine: Hi, this is a surprise. To what do I owe this pleasure?
Terrance: Can’t I just drop in on my little sister unannounced to see how she is? I was just in this neck of the woods and thought I would pay you a visit.
Lorraine: Sure you were. Of course, I’m glad to see you, but this is just a little out of the blue.
Terrance: What do you mean?
Lorraine: I haven’t seen you in over five months, and you just happened to be in the neighborhood?
Terrance: Well, I wasn’t exactly in the neighborhood, but I wanted to see my favorite sister.
Lorraine: Your only sister. Okay, out with it. What are you doing here?
Terrance: Uh, well, I was thinking of taking a year off from school to pursue my art. I really feel I need to devote some time to my painting to see if I can make it as an artist.
Lorraine: Mom and Dad are not going to like that.
Terrance: I know and that’s where you come in.
Lorraine: You want me to run interference for you with Mom and Dad.
Terrance: Yeah, they would take it a lot better coming from you, don’t you think?
Lorraine: No, I don’t.
Terrance: You’ve always been the responsible one...I’m just saying...
Lorraine: And I’m just saying that I’m not going to do your dirty work for you!
Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
Topics: Ask an American: Obsolete; regarding versus concerning versus as for; can't be bothered; How you doing?
Words:
block
soundtrack
to tote
ghetto blaster
forefinger
knob
cultural reference
next door
otherwise
to Tweet
terse
to water down
regarding
concerning
as for
can't be bothered
How you doing?
If you can’t read this, then put on your glasses and listen to this episode on having bad eyes.
Slow dialogue: 1:07
Explanations: 2:45
Fast dialogue: 15:19
Sue: This medication I’m taking is messing with my vision. Everything is blurry.
Hamed: That’s a good reason for you to stay home from work today.
Sue: I can’t. I have to give a presentation this afternoon and I can’t flake out on my coworkers.
Hamed: What good are you to them if you’re blind as a bat?
Sue: Everybody else will have crystal clear vision, so all I have to do is to put in an appearance. Things may not be as sharp as I’d like them to be, but I can still make out people and objects – as long as they’re really big.
Hamed: I don’t think your coworkers are going to want you to blindside them today with your strange behavior. You’re going to do more harm than good.
Sue: I can see well enough. I only see double if I move my head like this. Whoa…
Hamed: At this point, I don’t care if you have X-ray vision. That medication is affecting more than your vision. It’s impairing your better judgment!
Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
Learn to talk about summertime clothing in this episode.
Slow dialogue: 1:35
Explanations: 3:01
Fast dialogue: 13:14
Spencer: I would love to see you in this outfit: a tank top and a miniskirt.
Lauren: No way! I wouldn’t look anything like that mannequin. I’m too shy and I’d make a fool of myself wearing such revealing clothes.
Spencer: That’s where you’re wrong. You would look great on the beach in that outfit with a bikini underneath.
Lauren: I haven’t worn a bikini in years. I always wear a one-piece now. In fact, I’d feel more comfortable in a T-shirt, cut-offs, and flip-flops.
Spencer: Why would you want to hide that figure? If you want to do that, why don’t you just wear this Hawaiian shirt and these board-shorts. Then no one will know you’re a woman!
Lauren: Don’t get mad. Okay, you can pick out an outfit for me and I promise to wear it for you. Okay?
Spencer: Fine, but I’m warning you: I want to see some skin!
Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
Topics: Comic-Con; Famous Americans: Houdini; I just versus I have just; suit versus match versus fit; levity
Words:
convention
comic book
animation
autograph
fan
magician
escape artist
handcuffs
to debunk
supernatural
medium
séance
to suit
to match
to fit
levity
How do you end a date that isn’t going well? Find out what to do - and not to do - in this episode.
Slow dialogue: 1:15
Explanations: 3:15
Fast dialogue: 15:48
Brittany: [slurring her speech] I had a really nice time.
Tri: I’m glad to hear it. It was nice of Marie to set us up.
Brittany: Yeah, she told me that you would be my soul mate, and she was right! You’re dreamy...
Tri: Uh...well, thanks. It was really nice meeting you, but I’d better be going.
Brittany: What? Why are you leaving so soon? Don’t you want to come in for a nightcap? Let’s have a drink, or two, or three. I’ll make it worth your while...
Tri: I think we’ve both had enough to drink tonight, don’t you? I’ll just take a rain check.
Brittany: Don’t go yet. The night is young. Don’t you want to see my apartment?
Tri: Sure I do, but let’s make it another time. I really do have to go.
Brittany: Spoilsport!
...
Brittany seemed nice when I first met her, but that impression didn’t last long. It only took 15 minutes for me to realize that she and I had nothing in common, and then, I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. You might think I’m crazy because she really was drop-dead gorgeous, but I had no intention of taking advantage of a drunk woman!
Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
Have you ever wanted to describe the way something feels when you touch it? Learn how to do it in English in this episode.
Slow dialogue: 1:17
Explanations: 2:58
Fast dialogue: 14:31
Tommy: It’s just our luck that there’s a major power failure while we’re shopping in this outdoor bazaar.
Louisa: How are we going to find our way back to the hotel?
Tommy: Follow me and stay close. I’ll lead the way.
Louisa: This road is so rough. I keep tripping over the stones. Ah!
Tommy: What happened?
Louisa: I just fell into something wet and sticky. Gross! I don’t know what it is. It has a weird texture.
Tommy: Don’t think about it. If you’re not hurt, then try to get up and keep moving. Give me your hand. Ugh, it’s all slimy!
Louisa: Yeah, and my dress is all greasy, too. You know what? I think I did hurt myself. My foot feels all tingly, like it’s asleep.
Tommy: Try to walk the best you can and let’s try to make it back to the hotel. The road is smooth, not too bumpy, on this side. Let me help you.
Louisa: Thanks. I think I’ll be okay. Well, I guess if we don’t get to see very much more of the city, we’ll at least know what it feels like.
Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
