ESL Podcast 471 - Trying to Get Off the Phone

ESL Podcast 471 - Trying to Get Off the Phone


Erin: So I told Joey that I had no intention of letting him use my car again. Can you believe the nerve of that guy, after what he did?

Curran: That’s terrible, but I’m going to have to let you go. I have an appointment...

Erin: But I didn’t tell you what else he said. He said that running over my cat was just an accident. That’s bull. He said I should be thankful that he took Fifi to a veterinarian!

Curran: Yeah, I can see why you’re mad. I think I have a call on the other line...

Erin: Well, I’m glad you agree with me. I said to him that Fifi may be as good as new now, but that is no thanks to him! He’s never liked Fifi and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was gunning for her when he ran her over. He should count himself lucky he’s getting off scot-free for trying to kill my cat. I said...

Curran: Sorry to have to cut this short, but I really have to get going.

Erin: Oh, sure, but just let me tell you what I plan to do if he asks me again.

Curran: I really want to hear all about it, but...but... nature calls!

Erin: Oh, okay, call me back. I haven’t even told you what Sam told me about Ben yesterday. It’s a real shocker!

Curran: Uh...right. I can’t wait to hear all about it.

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse


Listening notes:

1. intention --- it is a plan to do something/what you plane on doing.

2. the nerve --- your willingness or ability to do something impropriate or disrespectful or something that will make someone else angry.

3. to let you go --- it means, in this case, end a phone call or a personal conversation

4. Bull --- something that is not true/ short form for another expression which is vulgar, a bad expression that begin with a letter “S” and end with a letter “T.”

5. Veterinarian --- is a doctor who takes care of animals.

6. a call on the other line --- you have an another call, phone call you receive while you are talking to someone else.

7. as good as new --- something has been damaged or injured, but now it is just like it were new, just as if nothing had happened to it.

8. no thanks to him --- is informal expression used to emphasize that that person did not do anything to help

9. gunning for her --- to go faster to increase your speed so you can hit someone.

10. count himself lucky ---to realize or recognize that you are lucky, fortunate

11. getting off scot-free --- not to be punished for something you have done wrong.

12. cut this short --- to end something before it is finished.

13. to get going --- have to leave, go away, depart

14. nature calls --- informal one used to meaning that you have to go to bathroom

Comments:

Compared to News English, the podcasts the ESL provides is more suitable for English beginner. Based on that, the ESL takes into consideration the speed, intonation, explanation, pronunciation.

Upon listening to the podcast, the first thing came into my mind is its speed of talking. It is so slow that I almsot fall into sleep. No one really talks like that in real life. However, it did help to make each word understood.

The next thing I noticed is its explicit explanation. Not only is the whole context interpreted in detail, but the key words are also picked up to elaborate on. Most impressively, all the explanation are described in very simple words.

In light of helping learners imitate the way a native speaker talks, the speaker emphysizes the location of intonation on purpose in the hope of letting us to get used to the intonation of English.

Boiled down to this, it is a suitable and ideal websitefor beginners, while for advanced learners it might be a little bit too easy and boring.

The Refleciton of the Seminar

I thought it would be easy to be in the registration, only to find out I was totally wrong.

On the day of seminar,we arrived at school at 7:30 as scheduled. Strange to say that we were informed of what we should do that day. Anyway, about 8:15 a couple of participants started coming. That is the beginging of our nightmare. As we all know, full preparation and continuing rehearsal is a fundamental stone of a successful activity. However, neither of them is in the possession of us. You can image how choatic it was when we tried to check their names on the list, and at the same time, fumble for their name tags, grab complimentary files for them. We didn't even have time to sit down for a rest becasuse a continuous stream of guests and presenters were flowing in with no sign of stop. Before ten, the regirestarion were already packed with horedes of people reaching out for their name tags or files just like hunger wolves voraciously scramble for mauled cadever. Not until the time is almost noon does the crowd show signs of dispersing. Since we hadn't eaten anything, we took the chance to have some snack for our breakfast. While relishing the ambrosial snack, we fixed our eyes upon the entrance in case someone came in and found no one for their registration. We thought we would have time for speech, but the guests came minuties after we left .