Effortless Acquisition Videos
newest 100 effortless acquisition videos / effortless acquisition widgets / media rss:

Topics: Route 66, playground games for children, on time versus in time, counting seconds using Mississippi, to knock yourself out Words allergies a frog in your throat route interstate prosperous to get your kicks to celebrate to be “it” playground to freeze chalk footwork in time on time to knock yourself out

Slow dialog: 1:28 Explanations: 3:39 Fast dialog: 14:36 Clerk: Can I help you? Sandy: I’m looking for an MP3 player, but I don’t know a lot about them. Clerk: We have a large selection, as you can see. Sandy: Wow, I really don’t know where to begin. Clerk: What do you want to be able to do? Sandy: I just want something small and portable that I can use to listen to music that I rip from CDs. I also want to be able to download songs off the Internet. Clerk: Most of the players you see here can do that. One thing you have to watch out for is that some music websites are proprietary. That means that you can only listen using certain types of players. Sandy: That’s what I’m worried about. Clerk: Well, this one plays music in a lot of different file formats and is compatible with most of the major music download sites, both proprietary and open-source. It comes with an FM tuner, a built-in battery charger, and good quality headphones. Sandy: What about it’s storage capacity and charge time? Clerk: It has 30 gigabytes of memory and can hold about 7,500 songs. You get about 15 hours of music playback on one charge and it charges up in about four hours. It has a nice screen, too, that’s backlit. Sandy: It looks like what I’ve been looking for. I’ll take it. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialog: 1:14 Explanations: 3:26 Fast dialog: 15:21 Patricia: What do you think of our new neighbor? Ray: I don’t know. I haven’t met him yet. Patricia: Me neither, but I think he’s a shady character. Ray: Why do you think that? Patricia: Well, when he was moving in, I tried to shoot the breeze with him and he was shifty. When I asked him what line of work he was in, he was very evasive. Ray: Maybe he just didn’t want to talk to a busybody when he was busy moving boxes. Have you thought of that? Patricia: I wasn’t being a busybody. I was just being neighborly. When I offered to help him, he practically kicked me out of his apartment. Ray: Okay, you must be right. He’s probably a serial killer. Patricia: I wouldn’t put it past him. Ray: Come on. My guess is that he just wants some peace and quiet. Patricia: He wants peace and quiet to do what? That’s what I want to know. Ray: I think we should just mind our own business. Patricia: You can do what you like, but I’m going over there and I’m getting some answers. If I have live next to him, I’m entitled to know something about him. Ray: Why don’t you leave the man alone? He’s entitled to some privacy. And plus, he probably won’t let you in. Patricia: That’s what you think. I’m not taking no for an answer. Ray: That poor man! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Ask an American: Socially Responsible Companies case study, to be at sea, to knock someone’s socks off, to take one’s time Words: bottom line impact sustainable shareholder stakeholder to inch up behind the scenes pension investors commonplace to engage array case study to be at sea to knock someone’s socks off to take one’s time

Slow dialogue: 1:42 Explanations: 4:36 Fast dialogue: 17:05 Before I started my new job, I didn’t know that I would be working so closely with another employee of the company. I was used to a lot of autonomy in my last job, and I have always been self-directed. I didn’t need close supervision and the boss never had to worry about me slacking off. To tell the truth, I was a little apprehensive about working in a team after having had so much independence. To my surprise, though, I liked the collaborative environment and I think I actually do better work because of it. Of the two of us, Delilah is the creative one. While I’m a little adverse to risk, Delilah is always challenging the status quo. She often has good ideas, and because I’m pretty resourceful, we often find a way to put those ideas to work. Delilah has great follow-through, too, and I never need to worry that things will fall through the cracks. I think the key to our success in working together is that neither one of us tries to exercise authority over the other. We respect each other’s abilities and we know when to take charge and when to back off. If you had told me a year ago that I would be working in a team environment and enjoying it, I would have told you that you were crazy. But I guess the old saying isn’t true: You can teach an old dog new tricks. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

ESL Podcast 311 – A Mid-life Crisis Slow dialog: 1:21 Explanations: 3:38 Fast dialog: 14:08 Bella: I think my husband is going through a mid-life crisis. Russell: What makes you think that? Bella: He just traded in his car for a very expensive sports car, and he’s filling the house with gym equipment. Russell: Uh oh, that’s a bad sign. Do you know what may have triggered this? Bella: I’m not sure, but he was passed over for a promotion at work a couple of months ago, and his new boss is 15 years younger than he is. Russell: That would do it. Bella: What really worries me is that he’s been talking about quitting his job altogether and becoming a full-time writer. He always wanted to become a successful writer. Russell: That’s sounds familiar. When my brother went through a mid-life crisis, he spent a lot of time reflecting on his life and regretting giving up music to get a full-time job. He saw himself as being washed up and he was fed up with everything. Bella: What did he do? Russell: Well, he’s probably not a good example of what your husband would do. Bella: Don’t beat around the bush. Just tell me. Russell: Well, if you must know, he got a divorce, married a woman half his age, and tried to start a rock band. Bella: Oh, no! That’s just what I was afraid of. Russell: I’m sure that won’t happen with your husband. You two have a great marriage. Bella: I thought so, too, but you never know. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: American folklore: Bigfoot Who’s on First?, to tear apart, Cliff Notes, to fall out of love Words: UFO folklore Pacific Northwest hoax sighting creature comedy routine duo nickname play on words to tear apart (someone) Cliff Notes to fall out of love love at first sight

Slow dialog: 1:20 Explanations: 3:34 Fast dialog: 14:10 Tobias: I really don’t understand why we need new furniture. After we’re married, we’ll just take the things from each of our two apartments and that should do the trick. Renee: We each have some things we can keep and use, but it would be nice to have pieces that match. Right now, we have six dining chairs, each in a different style, and none of them are in the same style as the dining table your uncle is giving us as a wedding present. Tobias: Yeah, that’s true. At least, we won’t have to shop for bedroom furniture. We’re lucky that your parents are giving us some hand-me-down things, including a dresser, two nightstands, a headboard, and a wardrobe. All we need is a bed. Renee: Yeah, we got lucky when they decided to get new furniture and to give us their old pieces. That just leaves the living room. Tobias: But we already have a couch and a love seat. Renee: That’s true, but we still need a coffee table, two side tables, and at least two table lamps and a floor lamp. Tobias: Do we really need all of that? Renee: If we plan to entertain, we do. Tobias: All right. I was just hoping to get home in time for the game this afternoon. Renee: No problem. We only have six more stores to visit after this one. Tobias: Six?! Renee: Yes, now come on. How are you going to get home in time for the game if you don’t hurry up? Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialog: 1:26 Explanations: 3:28 Fast dialog: 15:00 Daniella: Could you tell where I can find a drugstore? Hotel clerk: Sure. There’s one up the street near the corner of Selma and Main. If you get to Abreu Avenue, you’ve gone too far. It’s set back from the street so it’s a little hard to find. Daniella: Oh, that’s okay. I’ll keep an eye out for it. Hotel clerk: You know, I just remembered that there’s a bigger and better drugstore around the block. It’s no more than a three-minute walk. Go out the main doors of the hotel, hang a left, go straight for about a quarter of a mile, and then make another left at the first street. Daniella: Okay. I think I’ve got that. Thanks. Hotel clerk: Now, if you want a drugstore with a pharmacy, you’ll need to walk a little farther. Go out these doors, walk roughly three blocks until you get to a dead end, turn right, cross the street, and you’ll see a bank. It’s kitty-corner from the bank. You should be able to walk there in five minutes, give or take. Daniella: Thanks. Thanks a lot. I think I’m all set. See you later. Hotel clerk: You know, I just remembered that there’s another drugstore... Daniella: Thanks, but I’ve really got to get going. Bye. Hotel clerk: Well, some people just don’t appreciate other people’s help! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Why Americans don’t use the metric system, how to dress in Los Angeles versus New York, yutz, to go back to square one, what to call your cousin’s son, I’m done with you Words: signatory to establish commission competitive dress code to crack the code underdressed to try too hard to look smart the Industry financial sector flyover country first cousin distant relative

Slow dialog: 1:20 Explanations: 3:56 Fast dialog: 15:11 Franz: I’ve just switched over to this program and I can’t figure out how to format my document. Can you help me? Helen: I can try. Let’s take a look. What do you want to do? Franz: I want to change the margins so that I can fit more on a page. I don’t know how to change the default settings. I also want to put this section on a separate page. Helen: Okay, you can adjust the margins by moving this up and down, or from side to side. If you want this section on a separate page, just add a page break. Franz: Oh, I see. What if I want to add a header or a footer? Helen: You go to this pull-down menu and select the header and footer option. Then, you can type in the text you want. If you want to add a page number, just insert one by selecting it from this menu. Franz: That seems easy. What if I want to change the font? Helen: You can change the font style or size by selecting the text and then making the change on the toolbar. See? Franz: Yeah, that seems simple enough. I also want to change the orientation of the page. How do I do that? Helen: Right now your document is portrait. To make it landscape, you just go to “Page Setup” and change it. Franz: That all seems pretty easy. I think I’ve got it. Helen: Good. Give it a try. If you get stuck, I can try to help. Franz: Okay, great! Now, can you go over again how to change the margins, insert a page number, change the page orientation, and add a footer? Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Special Announcement Hello, this is Jeff McQuillan from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California, with a special announcement about ESL Podcast. First, I want to thank all of you for listening and supporting our podcast. We have three new features we want to tell you about. First, ESL Podcast now has a blog. This blog allows us to post messages for our listeners about topics that we don’t have time for in our regular podcasts or English Cafes. It also gives you information that helps you better use our podcasts and also what we might call “insider information” about what is happening at ESL Podcast and with us—Jeff and Lucy. Go to our website today to take a look, at ESLPod.com. Click on the Blog item in the menu to see our new blog. Another exciting change is in our ESL Podcast Memberships. We now have two memberships you can choose from: a Basic Membership and a Premium Membership. The Basic Membership gives you 12 new Learning Guides each month, and you have two weeks to download each Learning Guide. The Premium Membership gives you access to all of our Learning Guides, over 250! And, you can download, with our Premium Membership, the Learning Guides anytime, as long as you remain a member. The Basic Membership is $10 each month; the Premium Membership is $60 for the first month and $10 for each month after that. So, the first month the Premium Membership is $60, the second month is $10, and the third month is $10, and so on, until you cancel. We are very excited to be able to give listeners these two options. To find out more, go to ESLPod.com and click on “Learning Guides” in the menu for more information. Finally, we have a new course in our ESL Podcast Store. As many of you already know, we have very special Premium Courses on different topics in the ESL Podcast Store for both business and daily English. Our new course is called “English for Business Meetings.” This course teaches you both formal and informal business English needed to participate in business meetings. The course follows two meetings from start to finish, and you’ll hear different speakers giving information, asking questions, discussing topics, and running the meetings. The formal business English is appropriate for important meetings, such as for presentations at conferences or annual company meetings. The informal business English used is useful for smaller meetings, such as daily office meetings or for talking with or interacting with your co-workers. We’re very excited about these new features. Lucy and I hope that you will visit our website today to check out our new blog, our new memberships, and our new Premium Course, English for Business Meetings. From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. Thanks for listening.

Slow dialog: 1:33 Explanations: 4:11 Fast dialog: 14:14 Marion: I’m trying to decide whether to get cable or satellite TV. Which one do you have at your apartment? Cesar: I have satellite, but I used to have cable. Marion: What’s the difference? Cesar: Not a lot. With satellite, you have to have a satellite dish installed on the roof and you don’t with cable. Otherwise, you get similar options. You can get basic channels and choose from a lot of different premium channels. I have a package that includes the basic channels and some premium movie channels, and I also have a sports package so I can watch all of the soccer matches I want. Marion: How much is the monthly fee? Cesar: I think I pay $59.99 a month, excluding the taxes and fees, but the basic service is probably cheaper. When I had cable, I had to pay a deposit for the cable box, but with satellite, I had to buy the dish outright, but it wasn’t too expensive. Marion: What I want are pay-per-view channels, so I don’t need to run to the video rental store every time I want to watch a movie. Cesar: That’s not a problem. There’s video on demand on both cable and satellite, and there are a lot of movies to choose from. Marion: That’s great. I’ll check out whether my local cable company or satellite service has better packages and make a decision this weekend. Cesar: You could always start with the basic channels and then add services as you go along. Marion: That’s a good idea, especially since I know someone who has premium channels and round-the-clock soccer. Cesar: You bet. Drop by anytime, but don’t forget the beer and popcorn! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: American cities: Nashville Grand Ole Opry, school fund-raisers, to hold on to your hat, to be put inside, a blow-by-blow account Words Hall of Fame to be inducted into dialect fund-raiser funds raffle to grow weary to do away with to get rid of burdensome to hold on to your hat to be put inside blow-by-blow account to punch

Slow dialog: 1:29 Explanations: 3:17 Fast dialog: 17:45 Jeng: What did you do this summer? Cynthia: I worked at a summer camp as a nurse’s aide. I thought we would be giving simple first aid, but you wouldn’t believe the kinds of injuries the kids came in with. Jeng: You mean like poison ivy, bee stings, bug bites, and scraped knees? Cynthia: Yeah, we had those, but we also had some pretty serious cases. For instance, the second day of the camp, one of the boys who didn’t know how to swim fell into the lake. He must have hit his head because he was unconscious when they brought him in. We couldn’t find his pulse and the nurse did CPR. Luckily, we got him breathing again right away, but that little boy had a concussion. Jeng: Wow! You’re kidding. That’s serious. Cynthia: That wasn’t all. It’s true that most of the kids came in with superficial scrapes, but some of them had some major wounds. We had to stop the bleeding and bandage them up. We had one girl who needed 12 stitches after she fell out of a tree. Jeng: Geez, I never knew going to camp could be so hazardous to your health! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialog: 1:38 Explanations: 3:54 Fast dialog: 15:19 Remi: We need to get these costumes sorted out. I’m not sure we have ones that will fit each person in this play. Bryan: Let’s see. We need a shirt for Hector. He’s broad-shouldered, so this one would be too small. Any luck finding one over there? Remi: No, but I think I found a dress for Lee Ann. She’s petite and thin, and I hadn’t been able to find anything that would fit someone that slender. All of the other dresses are for women with either pear-shaped or hourglass figures. Bryan: Okay, at least that’s some progress. What about Malcolm? Unlike his brother who is tall and skinny, he’s big and fat. How are we going to find one to fit him? Remi: He’s not fat! He’s stocky. He is really muscular and not at all flabby. Oh, here’s a pair of pants that would fit Pierre. These are perfect, since he’s not long-legged like all of the other men. Bryan: We’re actually doing pretty well, I think. Remi: We just need a costume for you. Bryan: Me?! What do you mean? I’m not in this play. Remi: Oh yes, you are. Ike dropped out, so they need a replacement and you’re the only one who isn’t already in the play. Bryan: Oh, no. I thought I could avoid being in the play by volunteering to help with the costumes! Remi: Sorry, but I don’t think you can get out of it this time. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Ask an American: Raising children one of those, reply versus answer, customer versus purchaser Words: to be in competition stressed out to get someone into something to pause to build self-esteem competent capable it’s all about the (x) spoiled narcissistic one of those reply answer customer purchaser

Slow dialog: 1:27 Explanations: 3:40 Fast dialog: 15:08 Flavio: Thanks for meeting with me. Marcia: It’s my pleasure. We’re eager to hear your ideas about our companies doing business together in the future. Flavio: Well, I wanted us to meet because I think our two companies can create great synergy. Marcia: I agree. What do you have in mind? Flavio: We seem to have core capabilities that complement each other, and I want to see how we can create a partnership that would be to our mutual benefit. Marcia: Yes, that’s why I’m here. I think we’re thinking along the same lines. Flavio: Good. I’m glad to hear that. If we can pull off a partnership, we could really dominate the market. Marcia: Yes, I think that’s true, too, but let’s get beyond the preliminaries. What kind of business model do you have in mind? Flavio: Well, that’s why I wanted to meet with you. I’d like to get your perspective on that. Marcia: I see. When your company approached us about working together, we were under the impression that you had some concrete ideas to present. Flavio: Oh, we do. I just wanted to get your suggestions before we present a formal proposal. Marcia: Let’s do this. Why don’t you send me a proposal in writing and I’ll make sure that we give it our full consideration. Flavio: We’ll do that. Thanks for your time. Marcia: Don’t mention it. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialog: 1:15 Explanations: 3:54 Fast dialog: 17:33 I arrived at my friend Karin’s wedding a little late and the ceremony had already begun. I’ve been to a lot of civil ceremonies, but it had been a while since I’d attended a religious one. They had asked a minister to officiate. When I arrived, Karin and her fiancé, Jan, were standing in front of the church. Minister: We are gathered here today to join Jan and Karin in holy matrimony. If there is anyone here who knows of a reason why these two should not be joined in marriage, speak now or forever hold your peace. Fortunately, no one said anything. Minister: Jan and Karin, please face each other and join hands. Minister: [To Jan] Do you, Jan Casanova, take Karin Valentine, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, for better and for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, ‘till death do you part. Jan said, “I do,” and the minister asked Karin the same question, and she said, “I do,” as well. Minister: May I have the rings? [To Jan] Please place this ring, a symbol of your love, on Karin’s hand and say, “With this ring, I thee wed”. Jan put the ring on the fourth finger of Karin’s left hand. Karin said the same thing and put a ring on Jan’s finger. Minister: I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride. Jan and Karin kissed and we all applauded. Minister: Ladies and gentleman, it is my great honor to present to you for the very first time the happy couple, Jan and Karin. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: the Pledge of Allegiance, tomato as fruit versus vegetable, to be raised versus to grow up, buy versus purchase, to take the bull by the horns, can versus may versus could when asking for permission Words: pledge allegiance unison to stand for indivisible tariff duty to rule on unanimously to be raised in to grow up in buy purchase to take the bull by the horns

Slow dialog: 1:29 Explanations: 3:08 Fast dialog: 12:55 I waved my hand to get the waiter’s attention. Waiter: Yes? Leslie: The check, please. Waiter: Would you like any dessert, or some tea or coffee? Leslie: No, just the check. Thanks. Waiter: Here you are. I’ll ring that up for you when you’re ready. Leslie: Thank you. Oh, there seems to be a mistake on our bill. We didn’t order this appetizer. Waiter: Let me check this and I’ll be right back...Here you are. I’ve adjusted the check. I took off the appetizer. Leslie: Thanks, but there still seems to be a problem. We had a two-for-one coupon, but we’ve been charged for both meals. Waiter: I’m sorry, but you needed to present the coupon to me when you placed your order, not when you’ve finished your meal. Leslie: That isn’t stated on the coupon. I don’t want to be a pain, but could I see the manager, please? Waiter: I’ll see if she’s available...I talked to the manager and she said to make an exception in this case and to give you the discount. Leslie: Okay, thanks. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialog: 1:23 Explanations: 3:41 Fast dialog: 16:23 Sales clerk: Good afternoon. What can I help you find? Bo: I’m looking for a suit for work. Sales clerk: I’m sure we have something for you. Are you looking for a traditional or contemporary suit? Bo: I’m not sure. I’d like to try on some different ones. Sales clerk: That’s no problem. Let me show you a few over here. This is a two-button pinstripe suit that’s made of 100% wool and has a flat front. What do you think? Bo: It looks nice. How about this one? Sales clerk: Oh, this is a very fine suit. As you can see, it’s double-breasted and is fully lined. The pants are pleated. Would you like to try it on? Bo: Sure. Sales clerk: Just follow me to the dressing rooms in the back. Here you are. My name is Caroline. Just let me know if you need anything. Bo [comes out of the dressing room wearing one of the suits]: I like this single-breasted one. I like the side vents. All of these suits need to be dry cleaned, is that right? I travel a lot in my job and I worry about my suits getting dirty on the road. Sales clerk: Yes, they all need to be dry cleaned, but since both of these suits are a dark color, that shouldn’t be too big of a problem. How does that feel? Bo: It’s a good fit and it’s very comfortable. Okay. I’ll take this one. Sales clerk: Certainly. I’ll ring you up. Do you need anything else? A vest, suspenders, or a garment bag to store the suit? Bo: No, thanks. I’ll just take the suit. Sales clerk: No problem. Just follow me. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: American cities: Honolulu fantasy sports camps, to freeze a bra, coupon versus voucher, illicit versus illegal Words: monarchy to annex to overthrow territory palace harbor fantasy to coach all-star autograph bra slumber party coupon voucher illicit illegal

Slow dialog: 1:31 Explanations: 3:46 Fast dialog: 15:29 I arrived a little early for my sales appointment with the office manager of Lyon Industries, and spoke to the receptionist. Juri: Hello. I’m here for my 11:30 appointment with Sue Gibbons. Receptionist: What is your name? Juri: It’s Juri Lakoff. Receptionist: I’ll let her know that you’re here. [Speaking into the telephone] Sue, this is Rhonda. Your 11:30 appointment is here. Should I send him up? Okay, I’ll do that. [Hangs up the telephone] Ms. Gibbons says that she’s running a little late and is tied up in another meeting right now. She should be wrapping things up very quickly and will be free in a few minutes. Would you like to wait in the reception area right over there? Juri: Sure. No problem. Receptionist: Can I get you something? Coffee or tea? Juri: No, I’m fine. I was just wondering how many employees you have in this office. Receptionist: I don’t know precisely, but I think we have about 80. Juri: Oh, that’s a lot. Is the company planning on expanding? Receptionist: I’m sorry, but I really don’t know. I’m sure Ms. Gibbons can answer those questions for you. Juri: Right, right. I didn’t mean to pump you for information. I was just trying to get the inside scoop on the company before my meeting. Receptionist: I understand. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to answer this call. Ms. Gibbons should be finished with her other meeting in no time. Juri: Oh, sure. I didn’t mean to keep you. Sorry. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialog: 1:17 Explanations: 3:11 Fast dialog: 14:12 Juan: You’ll never guess who I got an email from yesterday. Naomi: Who? Juan: Diana Shultz. Naomi: Weren’t you two an item back in high school? So, you got an email from an old flame. Very interesting. Juan: Well, that’s ancient history. We lost touch after we went off to college. Naomi: What did she say in her email? Juan: She said she was going to be in town next month and wanted to know if I wanted to get together for dinner. Naomi: Are you going to go? Juan: I don’t know. Her email came out of the blue. Naomi: Aren’t you dying of curiosity? I know I would be. Maybe she still has feelings for you. Juan: Stop it! It’s just dinner, and I’m sure she just wants to catch up on old times, nothing more. Naomi: I wouldn’t be so sure. You’ll go, right? Juan: I might as well. If I make an excuse, she might think I’m trying to avoid her. Naomi: Good. Go and then tell me all about it afterwards. You know I have no social life, so I live vicariously through you. Juan: Stop making things up. You date more than anyone I know. Okay, I’m going, so stop pestering me. Naomi: All right, but I can’t wait to hear all about it! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Traveling in the US, gimmick versus trick, to call ‘em like you see ‘em, spite versus respite, in demand versus on demand Words: the open road spats KOA hitch GPS pop-up AAA bicentennial gimmick trick to call ‘em like you see ‘em in demand on demand

Slow dialog: 1:24 Explanations: 3:51 Fast dialog: 16:53 I wanted to visit the National Museum, but when I arrived, it was closed. Rudy: Can you tell me the hours of operation for the Museum? Guard: It’s open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. It’s closed on Sunday. Rudy: Thanks. I’ll be back tomorrow. ---------- The next day, I arrived at the Museum at 10 a.m. and the same guard was there. Rudy: Hello, again. Can you tell me if the Museum has any tours? Guard: The Museum has a self-guided tour. You can get information at the ticket window. Rudy: Oh, thanks. Do you know if I can use my flash to take photos in the Museum? Guard: You can take pictures, but flash photography is prohibited. Food and drinks are prohibited, too. Rudy: Oh, I guess I need to get rid of this bottle of juice before I go in. Do you know if all of the exhibits are open to the public today? Guard: The east wing is under construction, but the rest of the galleries are open. The sculpture and painting galleries are to your left, and the artifacts are to your right. Rudy: Thanks a lot. How much is the admission charge? Guard: It’s $10.00 for adults, $3.00 for children, and $5.00 for seniors and students with picture ID. The people at the ticket window can help you with that. Rudy: Thanks. Just one more question. Guard: Yes? Rudy: If I leave after I pay, can I come back in? Guard: Yes. You just have to show your stub. Anything else? Rudy: Oh, no. Thanks a lot. Sorry to have bothered you. Guard: No trouble at all. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialog: 1:15 Explanations: 3:27 Fast dialog: 14:44 Lynn: I’ve been trying to help Monica find an apartment, but it’s impossible to find anything affordable on this side of town and near her work. The only thing that’s within her budget would require a 50-minute commute each way! Santiago: I know. It’s become really ridiculous. I’m reading an article about how the income gap between the rich and the poor in this country is getting wider and wider. Poverty is the worst it’s ever been in cities like L.A., while you see affluence everywhere. Lynn: I know I poor-mouth sometimes, but at least I can afford the basic necessities. Santiago: Yeah, I do the same thing. I feel like such a hypocrite sometimes. The other day, I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn’t afford the fancy new car I wanted. My old car isn’t that old! I’ve only had it for five years and it still works, most of the time. I forget about people who don’t have a car and are living on food stamps. Lynn: Me, too. Looking for an apartment with Monica has really put things into perspective for me. The next time I complain about not having enough money for a pair of new shoes or to take a vacation, remind me of the great inequities of this world, will you? Santiago: Sure, only if you’ll do the same for me when I try to tell you that I really need that flat-screen TV. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Ask an American: Losing weight in America 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall, to be someone’s man through and through, doggone, to see one’s share of something, to say something ten times fast Words: to pass something around scale to last recipe a little bit calories Let’s say shortening applesauce to check in with someone to keep track of something or someone to be someone’s man through and through doggone to see one’s share of something to hit rock bottom

Slow dialog: 1:44 Explanations: 4:03 Fast dialog: 16:35 Yolanda: I will never invite George to another business lunch with clients again! Sunan: Why, what happened? Yolanda: George has the worst manners of anyone I know. First of all, he was 10 minutes late. And as soon as he sat down, his cell phone rang and he answered it! Sunan: Maybe it was an important call? Yolanda: From his girlfriend? It was completely unprofessional. Sunan: I know George is a little rough around the edges, but he’s not that bad. Yolanda: You don’t think so? After I introduced him to the clients, he told them that he had been up late the previous night, because one of our other account representatives didn’t finish her proposal and he had to complete it. Everyone knows not to air their company’s dirty laundry in public, especially in front of clients. Sunan: Okay, that was a blunder. Normally, George isn’t so clueless. I wonder if he was distracted. Yolanda: I don’t buy that as an excuse. And here’s the kicker: He ordered two drinks during lunch! If that weren’t bad enough, when he ordered his second one, he jokingly thanked the clients for paying for lunch. Of course our company was picking up the tab since we invited them! I was mortified. Sunan: I’ll admit that that was bad, very bad. Are you going to have a talk with George? Yolanda: I will as soon as I calm down a little. I’m seeing red right now. Sunan: Then waiting a little while is a good idea. I’d better go warn George... Script by Dr. Lucy Tse