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  English Cafe #335

  Posted: February 29th, 2012, 9:00am EST by Center for Educational Development

  Enclosure: [download]

  pTopics: Spy trials of the 40s/50s: Alger Hiss Julius and Ethel Rosenberg; Johnny Appleseed; feeling versus emotion; expression versus term; drop dead/p pWords: br /spy br /espionage br /trial br /to denounce br /perjury br /statute of limitations br /execution br /cause célèbre br /orchard br /mosquito br /barefoot br /to say grace br /feeling br /emotion br /term br /expression br /to drop dead/pimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EnglishAsASecondLanguagePodcast/~4/7FQrLt8-4SA" height="1" width="1"/
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  768 - Negotiating Price

  Posted: February 27th, 2012, 9:00am EST by Center for Educational Development

  Enclosure: [download]

  pEveryone wants to buy low and sell high. Find out about negotiating prices in English in this episode./p pSlow dialogue: 1:11 br /Explanations: 3:14 br /Fast dialogue: 16:34/p pJustin: Hello./p pRachel: Hi, Justin. It’s Rachel from McQ Corp. /p pJustin: Oh hi, Rachel. Did you get our bid for the job?/p pRachel: Yes, we did. We like your proposal, but we still need to come to terms on the price. /p pJustin: We’ve already given you our rock-bottom price because we want to get this job, but we always try to be flexible./p pRachel: Good. Could you do better on what you’ve quoted us for labor? The price seemed a little high./p pJustin: We might be able to trim a little off of that. How about if we discount that by 10 percent?/p pRachel: That’s an attractive offer, but we were hoping for 20 percent. /p pJustin: You’re driving a hard bargain. We have certain fixed costs, you know./p pRachel: I do and that’s why I’m only asking about labor costs. Can you meet me halfway at 15 percent?/p pJustin: I think that might be doable, if that’s the only stumbling block to us getting the job./p pRachel: I can’t make any promises, but I’ll do my best./p pJustin: That’s all I can ask. I’ll send you over a revised bid. /p pRachel: Great. I hope to have good news for you next week./p pScript by Dr. Lucy Tse/pimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EnglishAsASecondLanguagePodcast/~4/oNGNDdAVdpU" height="1" width="1"/
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  767 - Taking Care of Your Teeth

  Posted: February 24th, 2012, 9:00am EST by Center for Educational Development

  Enclosure: [download]

  pIgnore your teeth, and they’ll go away. Find out how to keep your dental bills down by listening to this episode./p pSlow dialogue: 1:20 br /Explanations: 3:17 br /Fast dialogue: 16:10/p pMartha: Oh, I have a toothache! /p pGeorge: It sounds like you’re in for a visit to the dentist./p pMartha: That would be the last resort. I hate going to the dentist. I don’t like needles and the sound of the drill scares me to death. I’m hoping the toothache will just go away. /p pGeorge: You really should get that checked out. Do you want me to make an appointment for you with my dentist?/p pMartha: No, thanks. I haven’t seen a dentist in years and I don’t plan to now unless I have no choice./p pGeorge: Years?! You haven’t been to a dentist in years? Haven’t you ever heard of preventive care? You’re supposed to get a dental cleaning twice a year./p pMartha: I don’t follow doctor and dentist guidelines like that. I brush my teeth every day. That’s good enough./p pGeorge: No, it’s not. You should be flossing every day and rinsing your mouth with mouthwash to keep your teeth and gums healthy. If you haven’t been to the dentist in years, I’m not surprised you didn’t know that./p pMartha: Stop preaching! I’ll go to the dentist when I need to./p pGeorge: Like now./p pMartha: Maybe. It doesn’t hurt that much anymore.../p pGeorge: I never knew you were such a chicken./p pMartha: [makes a chicken noise] Bwauk, bwauk...!/p pScript by Dr. Lucy Tse/pimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EnglishAsASecondLanguagePodcast/~4/eVVsyraVMKo" height="1" width="1"/
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  English Cafe #334

  Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 9:00am EST by Center for Educational Development

  Enclosure: [download]

  pTopics: Grand Teton National Park; Famous Songs: "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain"; congratulations versus thanks versus kudos; literally; to take the time/p pWords: br /range br /intact br /stunning br /glacier br /lodge br /snowshoeing br /to come around br /spiritual br /second coming br /chariot br /howdy br /rooster br /congratulations br /thanks br /kudos br /literally br /to take (the) time/pimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EnglishAsASecondLanguagePodcast/~4/U12blo4A5kw" height="1" width="1"/
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  766 - Describing Shapes and Sizes

  Posted: February 20th, 2012, 9:00am EST by Center for Educational Development

  Enclosure: [download]

  pLooking to change the look of your living room? Find out what not to do in this episode./p pSlow dialogue: 1:14 br /Explanations: 3:16 br /Fast dialogue: 16:19/p pCarson: Your apartment is going to look fabulous once I’m finished decorating it!/p pBrooke: I really appreciate you taking the time to help me choose some furniture, but I’d really like to keep the look conservative and traditional./p pCarson: Nonsense! You have a fabulous new apartment and I’m going to help you make the most of it. Look at that oval mirror. It’ll look fantastic in your hall./p pBrooke: That mirror is gigantic! I don’t think I want anything that size. How about this rectangular one?/p pCarson: That’s too puny for that space. Oh, look at this triangular bookcase. It would really complement the fireplace in the den./p pBrooke: I don’t think that bookcase is very functional. The shelves are so narrow and it’s an odd shape. It really looks nice, but I need furniture that I can actually use. I like this one better. /p pCarson: How boring! You need something that makes a statement. How about this chair? It’s fabulous!/p pBrooke: It’s a humongous circle on the floor with a cushion on top of it. I don’t think anyone would ever sit on it. /p pCarson: Yes, but in design, you have to consider form before function./p pBrooke: That’s where we differ. I actually have to live in this apartment, remember?/p pScript by Dr. Lucy Tse/pimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EnglishAsASecondLanguagePodcast/~4/98Hs4sYWB1c" height="1" width="1"/
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  765 - Annulling a Marriage

  Posted: February 17th, 2012, 9:00am EST by Center for Educational Development

  Enclosure: [download]

  pMarriage is forever, except when it isn’t a marriage at all. Learn how to get unmarried in this episode. br / br /Slow dialogue: 1:05 br /Explanations: 2:51 br /Fast dialogue: 16:41/p pCourtney: Did you hear? Kate and Christopher are trying to annul their marriage./p pRay: What?! They’ve only been married for two months! What brought this on?/p pCourtney: I have no idea. Neither of them is underage or bigamists and they married of their own free will, so I don’t know how they can ask for an annulment. /p pRay: I’ve heard that you can get an annulment if there’s some kind of fraud. Maybe they’re asking for the annulment on those grounds./p pCourtney: Maybe. I wish I knew more. Ooh, could they be related by blood and didn’t know it? It’s sounding more and more like a soap opera./p pRay: I suppose we shouldn’t speculate. It’s sad when any marriage ends, even if it only lasted two months. Something must be really, really wrong./p pCourtney: Or else.../p pRay: Or else, what?/p pCourtney: Or else, Christopher finally figured out what a witch Kate is. /p pRay: Oh, somebody’s a little catty today. Do I detect some jealousy here?/p pCourtney: Me? Jealous of Kate? Forget it! I’ve known her for years and I just wouldn’t wish her on my worst enemy!/p pScript by Dr. Lucy Tse/pimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EnglishAsASecondLanguagePodcast/~4/DPcc9BhD93s" height="1" width="1"/
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  English Cafe #333

  Posted: February 15th, 2012, 9:00am EST by Center for Educational Development

  Enclosure: [download]

  pTopics: Movie: uStar Wars/u; the Security and Exchange Commission; shame versus pity; reading numbers aloud; to be left cold/p pWords: br /trilogy br /prequel br /outer space br /extraterrestrial br /droid br /to harness br /box office br /security br /commission br /broker br /scope br /disclosure br /shame br /pity br /to be left cold/pimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EnglishAsASecondLanguagePodcast/~4/dxsUhnvDZug" height="1" width="1"/
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  764 - Being Unsure and Unready

  Posted: February 13th, 2012, 9:00am EST by Center for Educational Development

  Enclosure: [download]

  pAre you always prepared? If not, listen to this episode to learn how to explain to your boss why you haven’t finished your work yet./p pSlow dialogue: 1:11 br /Explanations: 2:57 br /Fast dialogue: 14:35/p pAida: When our bigwigs from the Cleveland office arrive next week, I think we’ll have a lot to show them./p pDale: I wouldn’t be so sure about that. Giselle told me yesterday that it’s a toss up whether she’ll finish the program she’s working on by next week, but don’t quote me on that./p pAida: I thought she was already done with it. /p pDale: I think that she’s still tinkering with it because she isn’t 100 percent sure she’s worked out all of the bugs./p pAida: All right. I hope she gets a move on and fast. I’ll still have Joe’s prototype to show them, right?/p pDale: Well, the last time I spoke with Joe, he said that the prototype is still a work in progress. Whether it’ll actually work is iffy, at best. /p pAida: Are you trying to tell me that we’re not ready for this visit at all?/p pDale: I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I wouldn’t count on having much to show them, sorry./p pAida: Then, what am I supposed to do when they want to see the progress on our work?/p pDale: I suggest some fast-talking and fancy tap dancing!/p pScript by Dr. Lucy Tse/pimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EnglishAsASecondLanguagePodcast/~4/AcMYRmsEXro" height="1" width="1"/
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  763 - Dealing with an Apartment Super

  Posted: February 10th, 2012, 9:00am EST by Center for Educational Development

  Enclosure: [download]

  pRenting an apartment can be so much fun when something stops working! Learn how to talk about getting things fixed in this episode./p pSlow dialogue: 1:14 br /Explanations: 3:12 br /Fast dialogue: 15:17/p pGeorge: Did you call the super about fixing the leaky faucet?/p pLouise: I called him on Monday, but I haven’t heard back yet. /p pGeorge: Well, call him again. This window is stuck and it won’t close./p pLouise: I’ll call him, but I think he’s avoiding our calls./p pGeorge: He’s the worst super we’ve ever had. He’s in charge of the maintenance around this place, but instead, he hides out in his apartment. Whenever there’s a problem, he tells us he’s too busy to get to it right away. Too busy doing what, I’d like to know./p pLouise: Maybe he is overworked. There are 25 units in this building, so it’s conceivable that he’s busy making repairs – somewhere./p pGeorge: That’s what he’s counting on, people like you who give him the benefit of the doubt. All the while he’s drinking coffee and reading the newspaper somewhere. Mark my words./p pLouise: I’ll call him again. Maybe we’ll catch him in his apartment./p pGeorge: Save your energies. /p pLouise: Where are you going and what are you doing with that baseball bat?/p pGeorge: I’m going to track down that super and bring him back here. Come hell or high water, he’s making those repairs – today! /p pScript by Dr. Lucy Tse/pimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EnglishAsASecondLanguagePodcast/~4/1mwst7ZInjU" height="1" width="1"/
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  English Cafe #332

  Posted: February 8th, 2012, 9:00am EST by Center for Educational Development

  Enclosure: [download]

  pTopics: Famous Americans: Michael Jordan; the Quakers; tag questions; the derivation of “okay”; to learn versus to study/p pWords: br /draft br /fan br /slam dunk br /to leap br /MVP br /to be inducted br /to endorse br /to be traced back to br /to persecute br /to swear br /to generalize br /worship br /okay / ok br /to learn br /to study/pimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EnglishAsASecondLanguagePodcast/~4/ulSq_pXfmNg" height="1" width="1"/
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  762 - Eating a Family Dinner

  Posted: February 6th, 2012, 9:00am EST by Center for Educational Development

  Enclosure: [download]

  pJoin the fun at a big family dinner in this episode./p pSlow dialogue: 1:04 br /Explanations: 3:16 br /Fast dialogue: 16:24/p pMy roommate, Jim, invited me over to his house for a family meal. I’m an only child, so I’m not used to a big family dinner. I felt like a fish out of water. br /.../p pJim’s mother: Sit down, everybody. Dinner’s ready./p pPhil: Thank you for having me over, Mrs. Moreno. /p pJim’s mother: Don’t mention it. Just sit down and eat. Jim, pass the potatoes, and Dana, don’t hog the peas. Hand them both to Phil./p pPhil: Thank you, Mrs. Moreno, but I’ve already taken a helping of each dish./p pJim’s mother: Then you need to have seconds. You’re too skinny. Eat up!/p pPhil: This food is really good, but I don’t think I have the appetite for more. My plate is already overloaded./p pJim’s mother: All right, no more potatoes or peas, but you need more ham. Laura, serve Phil some more ham, and Jason, round up some more rolls./p pPhil: No, no, please. I really couldn’t eat more than what’s already on my plate./p pJim’s mother: Don’t be ridiculous. I know you’re saving room for dessert. There’s an apple pie, a strawberry shortcake, a cheesecake, and some ice cream. br /.../p pI now know why Jim only comes home for meals every once in a while. Eating like this more than once a week would give anybody a coronary!/p pScript by Dr. Lucy Tse/pimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EnglishAsASecondLanguagePodcast/~4/vHSQgjZLM5E" height="1" width="1"/
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  761 - Animals in a Zoo

  Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 9:00am EST by Center for Educational Development

  Enclosure: [download]

  pAre zoos are a good idea or a bad one? Don’t feed the animals while you listen to this episode trying to answer that question./p pSlow dialogue: 0:59 br /Explanations: 2:39 br /Fast dialogue: 16:18/p pDeborah: I can’t wait to see the elephants at the zoo. I wish I could see them in their natural habitat, but a zoo is the next best thing./p pZach: I don’t want to go to a place where animals are kept in captivity. How would you like it if you were locked in a cage and gawked at all day?/p pDeborah: The animals in zoos are lucky. They have a nice, safe place to live away from predators, and their handlers make sure they never go hungry. Zoos preserve endangered species./p pZach: If you think it’s so nice living in zoos, I’d like to see you switch places with a lion or a monkey for a month and see how you like it./p pDeborah: Animals aren’t people. They don’t have the same wants and needs./p pZach: That’s what you think. One day, the animals aren’t going to take it anymore. They’ll rise up and break their shackles./p pDeborah: And will you be their ringleader?/p pZach: No, I’ll be their cheering section. It’s about time animals get some respect./p pDeborah: Have you seen uPlanet of the Apes/u?! I’ll reserve a cage for you!/p pScript by Dr. Lucy Tse/pimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EnglishAsASecondLanguagePodcast/~4/ImM0q3ay3eY" height="1" width="1"/
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  English Cafe #331

  Posted: February 1st, 2012, 9:00am EST by Center for Educational Development

  Enclosure: [download]

  pTopics: Ask an American: Online money management; don’t worry versus don’t bother; not only; to move/get past a feeling; pronouncing wool versus wall/p pWords: br /to calculate br /to allocate br /to withdraw br /to accrue interest br /infographic br /personal finances br /to pay off br /to partner br /legitimate br /savvy br /connected br /don’t worry br /don’t bother br /not only br /to move/get past a feeling/pimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EnglishAsASecondLanguagePodcast/~4/f1mwLOmT_gw" height="1" width="1"/