Topics: Movie: Bonnie and Clyde; Community Supported Agriculture (CSA); to cut (someone) loose versus to set (someone) free versus unrestrained; adjectives versus “who” phrases; words used to describe computer touch screens

Words:
to take liberties
taboo
partner in crime
small-time
holdup
trap
mixed reviews
produce
seasonal
industrial farm
free-range
farmers market
u-pick farm
to cut (someone) loose
to set (someone) free
unrestrained
sensible
intuitive

Topics: Ask an American: National Jukebox; using "to" with to give and to send; a dime a dozen; complimenting doctors and nurses

Words:
catalogue
to trace the roots
recording
to look back on
to depict
taboo
firsthand
vehicle
imperative
to applaud
dynamic
archive
evolving
to give
to send
a dime a dozen

If you like cowboys and Westerns, you’ll love this episode about going to a ranch.

Slow dialogue: 1:24
Explanations: 3:18
Fast dialogue: 16:18

Piero: What’s all this?

Annie: I’m visiting my sister and brother-in-law’s new ranch next month and I’m getting ready for it. I know I’m a city girl, but I plan to fit right in on that ranch and work alongside all of the other cowboys.

Piero: Well, you look the part. You’ve got your cowboy hat, a lasso, and are those chaps?

Annie: Yes, of course. How else could I ride with them on the cattle drive?

Piero: Cattle drive? Are you sure it’s a working ranch?

Annie: I think so. Why would they buy a ranch if they don’t plan to have horses and livestock?

Piero: Don’t ask me. What’s all that stuff in the bags?

Annie: That’s all equipment I’ll need to ride a horse: a bridle, a bit, and ta-da – my own saddle!

Piero: This is all stuff that they should have at the ranch already, don’t you think?

Annie: Yes, but I’ll need to go horseback riding this weekend to practice.

Piero: That’s a good idea. Have you been riding horses long?

Annie: This weekend will be my first time.

Piero: You’re riding a horse for the first time this weekend and you plan to work at your sister’s ranch next month?

Annie: Sure, how hard could it be? It’s just like riding a bike, right?

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Famous Americans: Lucille Ball; The Great Depression; hermit versus loner versus introvert; other than versus rather than; Et tu, Brute?

Words:
to have no future as
B-movie
stardom
rerun
pioneering
fondly
look-alike
depression
crash
to stimulate
drought
manual labor
hermit
loner
introvert
other than
rather than
Et tu, Brute?

Some guys will do anything for a date with a beautiful woman. Find out how to do it in this episode.

Slow dialogue: 1:07
Explanations: 3:18
Fast dialogue: 15:29

Perry: Look at her! What I wouldn’t give to get a date with her.

Lynn: You should go talk to her and ask her for her number.

Perry: No way! She’s completely out of my league. See that guy she’s talking to? He’s the kind of guy who’ll get her number.

Lynn: That guy has nothing on you. The only thing that guy has that you don’t is confidence.

Perry: See? She’s giving him her number. I don’t have a chance.

Lynn: But look what he’s doing with it. He’s throwing it away. What a jerk! Wait here.

Perry: Hey, where are you going?

Lynn: I’ve got it. Here it is. Here’s her number. Call her.

Perry: Call her?! Out of the blue? You’re crazy. She’ll think I’m some kind of creep.

Lynn: No, she’ll think you’re being bold. She’ll love that.

Perry: What am I supposed to say to her? “Hi, I stole your phone number and I’d like a date.”

Lynn: No, tell her the truth. Tell her you saw her, admired her from afar, and wanted to ask her out.

Perry: What if she asks me how I got her number?

Lynn: Tell her you’ll tell her when you see her on your first date. You'll come off as mysterious. She’ll eat it up.

Perry: I can’t do it. There’s no way I could do that, could I?

Lynn: Yes you can. After all, no guts, no glory!

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

People have different likes and dislikes when it comes to music. Learn how to talk about them in English in this episode.

Slow dialogue: 1:31
Explanations: 3:15
Fast dialogue: 16:38

Arturo: What are you listening to?

Ling: Some new music. You want to hear it?

Arturo: All right. That’s pretty mellow, kinda bluesy, isn’t it? It’s got an interesting indie feel.

Ling: Do you like it?

Arturo: It’s all right. I like more funky, dance music myself, but this is okay. It’s not too depressing.

Ling: That’s faint praise.

Arturo: No, no, I do like it. I guess I’m usually in the mood for more up-tempo music, something with a driving beat. I’m a hard-core MC-Quillan fan, if that’s any indication.

Ling: Oh, I see, so you don’t really like acoustic music much.

Arturo: It’s just not my thing, you know?

Ling: Yeah, that’s too bad.

Arturo: Why?

Ling: That was a track I recorded last week.

Arturo: This is your music? In that case, I love it.

Ling: You’re just saying that.

Arturo: No, really, it’s growing on me. In fact, I want to hear more. How about if I bring over some dinner on Saturday and you can play me a few more tracks?

Ling: You don’t mind?

Arturo: Believe me, I’ll be all ears.

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: American Presidents: John Adams; the Boy/Girl Scouts; What time is it? versus What is the time?; to rock; for all intents and purposes

Words:
Puritan
colonies
to have any say
to deport
to correspond
miniseries
scout
motto
uniform
community service
badge
old-fashioned
to rock
for all intents and purposes

Addiction to anything can cause problems in your life. Learn how to help someone in this situation in this episode.

Slow dialogue: 1:15
Explanations: 3:26
Fast dialogue: 16:38

Petra: Hey, what’s going on here? Why are all of you here in my apartment?

Johann: Your family and close friends are here to perform an intervention. We feel that you have a problem that is negatively affecting your life and the lives of the people around you.

Petra: An intervention?! I don’t need an intervention. What am I supposed to be addicted to?

Johann: I think you know. Each of us can attest to your obsession and the consequences of that addiction. It is interfering with your work and your personal relationships.

Petra: No, it’s not. I can’t believe this. I feel cornered!

Johann: We just want to help you. We all agree that you need to see a therapist and maybe go into treatment.

Petra: You guys are all crazy. Is that an ultimatum?

Johann: Yes, I’m afraid it is. If you don’t stop your obsessive behavior, we’ll take that away.

Petra: What?! Take away my MP3 player? If you take away my MP3 player, how am I supposed to listen to ESL Podcast?

Johann: That’s the idea. Listening to ESL Podcast 14 hours a day is not healthy.

Petra: Okay, I know I’ve gone overboard, but I’ll stop. I promise.

Johann: You’ll stop cold turkey?

Petra: Well...I need to be weaned off, I think. How about if I cut back to 10 hours a day to start?

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Traveling to another country sometimes requires getting a visa. Find out more in this episode.

Slow dialogue: 1:17
Explanations: 3:52
Fast dialogue: 18:06

Yesenia: I have a great idea. Let’s plan a big party for your mother’s 70th birthday. We’ll invite all of your relatives from all over the world.

Julian: I don’t think very many of them can afford to travel half way around the world for a party.

Yesenia: I’ve already spoken with your rich brother and he’s already offered to pay for your family’s airfare and hotel. If we plan it, he’ll pay for it.

Julian: Julio offered to do that? Well, if he’s on board than we can give it a shot. But here’s another hitch. My extended family lives in a lot of different countries and I’m not sure they’ll get visas to visit the U.S., especially on short notice.

Yesenia: Let’s try, anyway. Your cousins in Canada don’t need a visa because most Canadian citizens don’t need one to cross the border. What about your uncle in Korea?

Julian: He’s already in the U.S. on an exchange visitor visa until June. He should be able to come.

Yesenia: What about your aunt in Greece?

Julian: She won’t need a visa because Greece is one of the countries in the Visa Waiver Program.

Yesenia: Do you think your nephews in South Africa will want to come?

Julian: I’m not sure what the visa situation is there. We’ll have to check with the State Department.

Yesenia: I’ll get on the horn first thing in the morning to see what I can find out. I might email them and ask them to check with the embassy or consulate there to be sure. This party is really shaping up.

Julian: You seem to have it all under control.

Yesenia: Haven’t you always said that party planning is my middle name?

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Do you believe in ghosts? Listen to this episodes and find out if there is something scary waiting for you today.

Slow dialogue: 1:23
Explanations: 3:05
Fast dialogue: 16:08

Ella: No matter what you say, I am not going out tonight. It’s Halloween and evil things are lurking everywhere.

Jimmy: Come on, it’s Halloween! It’s the holiday when kids get dressed up and ask for candy. There is nothing evil or creepy about this day. If you’re scared stiff, it’s your own doing.

Ella: Don’t kid yourself. This is the day when ghosts, witches, zombies, and vampires come out and have a field day. I’ve got goosebumps just thinking about it.

Jimmy: Do you mean you actually believe in all of that stuff? You are too old to be so gullible. I’m going out.

Ella: Look! Hurry up and close that door! There’s a black cat. Oh my God. If you walk out that door, the next time I see you, it might be in a graveyard.

Jimmy: You’re crazy and I’m leaving.

Ella: If you have to go, take these with you.

Jimmy: What are they?

Ella: It’s a cross and some garlic. You’ll thank me later.

Jimmy: Ugh!

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Movie: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington; Detroit and the Rust Belt; to knead versus to mash; the infinitive versus gerund form of a verb (to look for versus looking for); bona fide

Words:
to name a replacement
naive
to manipulate
to propose a bill
dam
corrupt
to turn against
to faint
Rust Belt
rust
racial tension
labor
to knead
to mash
to look for/looking for
bona fide

Christmas is over. Let’s go buy some more presents in this episode!

Slow dialogue: 1:19
Explanations: 2:47
Fast dialogue: 16:12

Roxana: Get up! We’re going to miss out on the best deals if we don’t get to the stores when they open.

Kurt: What? I’m sleeping. Leave me alone.

Roxana: You need to get up now and come with me to the store for the after Christmas sales. You know that they slash prices and everything is on sale.

Kurt: We just spent the past few weeks shopping for Christmas presents and now you want to shop some more?

Roxana: We can stock up for next year. There’ll be deep discounts on all of the Christmas decorations and supplies, not to mention all of the winter clothing and seasonal toys. Let’s go!

Kurt: You go. What do you need me for?

Roxana: I need you to run interference while I go for the best bargains and to hold all of the bags and packages while I shop. What else?

Kurt: When I agreed to “for better or for worse,” I didn’t anticipate this!

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Don’t get caught in a flood, but if you do, learn how to talk about it in English in this episode.

Slow dialogue: 1:07
Explanations: 2:34
Fast dialogue: 14:48

Cherise: Well, that was a rude awakening at 2:00 in the morning!

Don: At least we got out of our room before it flooded. It serves us right for planning a vacation here during the rainy season. Our luggage is probably soaked.

Cherise: Oh, no, I’d forgotten about our clothes. If the water doesn’t recede soon, everything will have mold and mildew on it.

Don: The sump pumps are working as we speak. Hopefully, we can retrieve our stuff soon.

Cherise: Maybe I should go downstairs and try to salvage what I can, before things get washed away.

Don: What?! You could drown in all that water. Forget it!

Cherise: Drown in three feet of water? Don’t be silly.

Don: I’ve seen you swim. Come on, let’s just wait until we get the go-ahead.

Cherise: I still think I should try.

Don: I have one word for you: snakes.

Cherise: Enough said!

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Getting your car fixed is one of the necessary evils in life. Learn how to talk to a mechanic in English in this episode.

Slow dialogue: 1:03
Explanations: 3:13
Fast dialogue: 15:32

Mechanic: Hi, I’m the mechanic. What can I do for you?

Amy: My car is making a very weird noise. It sounds like this: gulug, gulug, gulug...

Mechanic: Hm, that doesn’t sound good. Where is it coming from?

Amy: I’m not sure. When I’m in the car, it sounds like it’s coming from the engine, but when I get out of the car, it sounds like it’s coming from directly under the trunk, maybe the muffler?

Mechanic: That’s not a noise a muffler would make. Let me take a look. Can you start the car and pop the hood?

Amy: Sure.

Mechanic: Well, I don’t hear the sound right now, but your battery needs replacing, you have a coolant leak, your carburetor needs adjusting, and your spark plugs are shot. I need to look under the car.

Amy: Okay, go ahead.

Mechanic: Your brake pads need replacing and your tires need balancing.

Amy: But are any of those problems causing that horrible noise?

Mechanic: I don’t know. I don’t hear the noise right now, so it’s hard to tell. But that’s all work you need to have done on this car anyway for it to run right. It’s only a matter of time before your car stops working if you don’t take care of those problems.

Amy: I come in with one problem and you find 10 others. I guess you should go ahead. What else can I do?

Mechanic: Um, buy a bus pass?

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Traveling for the holidays? Get ready by listening to this episode.

Slow dialogue: 1:22
Explanations: 3:12
Fast dialogue: 17:11

Sabrina: You look like you’re getting ready for battle.

Ying: In a way, I am. I’m flying home next week to be with my family over the holidays and you know what holiday travel is like.

Sabrina: I’ve flown during peak travel season before, and now, I try to avoid it at all costs.

Ying: Well, I can’t this year, so I’m arming myself for the experience. I booked my flights back in September and I have my seat assignment. I’ll print out my boarding passes before I head for the airport, and I’ll keep checking the flight status to make sure the flight is on time.

Sabrina: I hope you don’t have any tight connections.

Ying: I change planes in Chicago, but I have two hours in between flights. I’m hoping that’ll be enough.

Sabrina: What’s in that huge bag?

Ying: Those are my supplies. If I get snowed in or if my flight gets cancelled, I’m ready to spend the night in the airport.

Sabrina: Wow, you really thought this out. You’re ready for the worst-case scenario.

Ying: Forewarned and forearmed. You won’t catch me napping!

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

I love eating chocolate. Did you know that Christmas is coming up soon? Yeah, I LOVE chocolate. If you don’t get the hint, listen to this episode. (Did I mention Christmas will soon be here?)

Slow dialogue: 1:09
Explanations: 3:07
Fast dialogue: 15:12

Roberta: You know, my birthday is coming up.

John: Yeah, I know. What are you getting at?

Roberta: Nothing. I was just thinking that it’s kind of an important birthday, a major birthday.

John: Yes, I know. Spit it out. What are you driving at?

Roberta: I was just thinking that some people might not know what to get me for such an important birthday, since some people don’t like to put a lot of thought into presents.

John: What are you implying? Are you insinuating that I don’t get you good presents for your birthdays?

Roberta: No, of course not. I just don’t want you to have to rack your brain to think of the perfect gift, that’s all.

John: Just tell me. What should I get you for your very important birthday?

Roberta: What? Just blurt it out? I can’t do that. I can give you a hint, but since you love me so much, I’m sure you can read my mind.

John: That’s where you’re wrong. If I had a nickel for every time a woman thought I should be able to read her mind, I’d be the richest man in the world! I don’t have an inkling of what you have on your mind.

Roberta: All right, I’ll make it more than a hint. I’ll give you three clues.

John: Great. That’ll make things crystal clear.

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: T.S. Eliot; log and log in/log on; explanation versus interpretation; pronouncing consonant clusters

Words:
distinguished
disillusionment
New England
to break from
pedantic
vulgar
erudite
to breed
essay
critic
a product of (something)
insane
log
to log in / to log on
explanation
interpretation

Are you waiting to hear if you passed an exam or test? Find out how to describe your misery in this episode.

Slow dialogue: 1:21
Explanations: 3:46
Fast dialogue: 18:30

Joel: Did it come?

Susanne: No, it’s not in today’s mail. Why do I bother, anyway? I know it’s a foregone conclusion. I’ve failed.

Joel: That’s bull! I know you passed. You’re just on tenterhooks waiting around for the results to arrive and you’re psyching yourself out.

Susanne: No, I’m not.

Joel: Don’t you remember that when you came home after taking the exam, you thought you had aced it?

Susanne: I did, but that was before I started thinking about all of the questions I got wrong. Then, I thought it was a toss up whether I passed or not. Now that I’ve had even more time to think about it, I’m sure I biffed it.

Joel: See what I mean? You’ve been psyching yourself out for weeks. You studied really hard and I have no doubt that you passed with flying colors. All right, you’re not going to hear today, so let’s get your mind off of the exam, okay?

Susanne: All right. How?

Joel: You can help me study for the exam. I’m taking it at the next administration. I have no intention of bombing it or even squeaking by by the skin of my teeth – like some people.

Susanne: Very funny. Okay, so maybe I'm psyching myself out – a little bit. Okay, I’m game. Where do we begin?

Joel: With all of the ones you thought you got wrong.

Susanne: What?!

Joel: There’s no sense wasting all that worrying. And if you did fail it, you’ll need to get ready to take it again.

Susanne: Gee, thanks!

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Ready to write your first novel? Find out what not to do in this episode.

Slow dialogue: 1:08
Explanations: 2:50
Fast dialogue: 15:09

Xavier: How’s your novel coming along?

Sara: It’s not. I abandoned it for now. I think I bit off more than I can chew. Now, I’m working on a short story.

Xavier: That sounds interesting. Who are the main characters?

Sara: I’m not sure yet. Character development is really important so I need to give the characters themselves some serious thought.

Xavier: Okay, tell me about the general plot. Is it an adventure, romance, horror story – what?

Sara: I haven’t decided that either.

Xavier: All right. What about the setting? Is it going to be set in the U.S.?

Sara: Hmm, that’s still up in the air, too. I’m thinking of writing a period story, but I’m not sure what time period to choose. That’ll help decide the actual setting.

Xavier: I’m guessing you haven’t decided the point of view of the story either, whether it’ll be told in the first person or third person, am I right?

Sara: You are. I know. I have a lot to think about.

Xavier: You’ve definitely got your work cut out for you.

Sara: I know. I’m just waiting for some inspiration.

Xavier: Good luck with that.

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse