Slow dialogue: 1:35
Explanations: 3:42
Fast dialogue: 14:04

Becky: I want to thank all of you for coming today. I think we all agree that we need to organize a protest...

Pedro: Hold on, Becky. We all want to voice our opinion that we oppose what is going on here, but I?m not sure a protest is the answer.

Becky: With all due respect, Pedro, I think a rally is the best way to do that.

Pedro: That may be, but I think we need to consider a few things first. Taking to the streets means coordinating a lot of people. That means getting them to show up, to march, and to hold up signs. I?m not sure we have enough time to pull it all off.

Becky: Don?t get me wrong. I?m not in favor of doing anything half-assed. If we decide to protest, we want to do it right so that we get a lot of media coverage. I?m confident that we have enough people and time to get it all done.

Pedro: Okay, but another thing we should be ready for is a counter protest. The other side isn?t going to take things lying down.

Becky: You?re right, and we?ll take that into consideration. Is there any more discussion before we start on the planning? No? Okay, let?s get down to business.

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Naming Rights; Famous Americans: Cesar Chavez; Why Americans have middle names; future perfect tense; American versus U.S. as an adjective

Words:
naming rights
donation
connotations
deal
civil rights leaders
migrant farm worker
charismatic
to protest
pesticide
boycott
to fast
legacy
middle name

Slow dialogue: 1:17
Explanations: 2:53
Fast dialogue: 13:54

Brenda: It?s fun shopping for a new cell phone, don?t you think?

Yoji: Sure, but I just need one with the bare basics.

Brenda: Not me. I want one that?s top-of-the-line. My old phone was cheap and flimsy, and it started acting up after only a few months.

Yoji: I want something that?s good quality, but I don?t think I should have to pay top dollar for it, especially since I don?t need the bells and whistles.

Brenda: The bells and whistles are the best part!

Yoji: I like this one. It seems sturdy and it should last me for years.

Brenda: That is one ugly phone!

Yoji: I don?t care about its looks. I just want something functional and that won?t fall apart.

Brenda: I?m not arguing for style over substance, but that phone is hideous.

Yoji: I?ll get over it.

Brenda: Yes, but I?m not sure I will!

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialogue: 1:19
Explanations: 3:32
Fast dialogue: 14:27

Spencer: I?m practicing making drinks for the party tonight. Do you want to try one?

Heidi: You?re the bartender? I didn?t know you knew how to mix drinks.

Spencer: I can hold my own. Okay, name it and I?ll make it ? any mixed drink or cocktail.

Heidi: Okay, I?ll have a Screwdriver.

Spencer: A Screwdriver? Hmm...what?s in that?

Heidi: Aren?t you supposed to know, Mr. Bartender?

Spencer: I?ve never made one of those before, that?s all. Try something else.

Heidi: How about a Bloody Mary?

Spencer: A Bloody Mary, a Bloody Mary...do you want that on the rocks?

Heidi: Sure, that?ll be great.

Spencer: Here you are ? a Bloody Mary in a highball. Enjoy!

Heidi: [Makes a gagging sound] This doesn?t taste like a Bloody Mary. It tastes like you poured an entire bottle of alcohol into this.

Spencer: Oh, come on. It?s not that bad. Here, I?ll add a little soda, and oh, I forgot the garnish.

Heidi: I don?t think that?s going to help. Can I give you some advice? Stick to shots and drinks served straight up.

Spencer: Ah, don?t lose faith in me. Let me make you one more drink.

Heidi: Okay, but make it virgin. My mouth is still on fire from the last one.

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Make-a-Wish Foundation; American Cities: Key West and the Florida Keys; must versus ought to versus need to; nuts and bolts; to buy

Words:
foundation
wish
to come true
to grant
to be (something) when one grows up
honorary
archipelago
hurricane
ecotourism
scuba diving
cruise ships
seashell
southernmost point
must
have to
ought to
need to
nuts and bolts
to buy

Slow dialogue: 1:25
Explanations: 4:18
Fast dialogue: 15:50

Chang: I don?t mean to be nosey, but all of those bills are red or pink. Are you behind on all of those bills?

Ilya: I am, but it?s no big deal. I can catch up on them next month.

Chang: You know that being late on bills is bad for your credit score, right? You also have to pay exorbitant interest if you have credit card debt.

Ilya: Don?t worry about it. Everything will be fine.

Chang: I?m only speaking from experience. When I first started working, I had a loan that I defaulted on and I ran up my credit cards. I had to borrow money from my family and friends to pay my bills. I was so desperate at one point, I even went to see a loan shark.

Ilya: Did he lend you money?

Chang: I decided against borrowing money from him after talking to my brother about it. With his help, I found a good credit counselor and got my finances under control. My two main creditors agreed to defer payment for a couple of months, but not before I sold my car and most of what I owned to raise money.

Ilya: Maybe I can do that.

Chang: Do what?

Ilya: Work with a credit counselor so I don?t have to pay my bills.

Chang: You?ve got it all wrong. It took me years to pay off those bills. I just didn?t have debt collectors calling me at all hours of the day, that?s all. A little advice: A little restraint now will save you a lot of pain.

Ilya: Okay, okay. I got the message. Remind me never to pay my bills in front of you again!

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialogue: 1:36
Explanations: 3:40
Fast dialogue: 15:02

I never read food labels until I started going out with Wendy. She?s studying to be a nutritionist. When we go grocery shopping, she reads every label.
_____________

Wendy: You?re not buying that, are you?

Ichirou: Well, I was thinking about it. Why?

Wendy: Each serving size has 30 grams of fat, and 10 of those are trans fat. The sodium level is through the roof, and it?s full of carbohydrates. Do you really want to put that in your body?

Ichirou: Um, I guess not.

Wendy: What are these cookies doing in the basket?

Ichirou: Those are my favorite. I always get them. I got the low-fat kind, see?

Wendy: Even so, they?re full of calories. They may be reduced fat, but they?re not low fat. You don?t eat this kind of cereal do you?

Ichirou: Yeah, I do.

Wendy: Look at the percent daily values. You get nearly no nutrients and no dietary fiber, and it?s full of sugar.
_____________

I really like Wendy, but I?m not sure how long I can take this. She has the best of intentions, but will my stomach ever forgive me if I keep going out with her? That?s the question.

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Ask an American: cults; can versus could; will versus would; freedom versus liberty

Words:
cult
imaginary
satanic
to spread
to brainwash
megalomaniacal
deluded
to impose
connotation
sect
at a crossroads
structure
unpaid bill
mainstream
predominant
wide open
constraint
innovation
freedom
liberty

Slow dialogue: 1:35
Explanations: 3:53
Fast dialogue: 19:19

Kerry: We?re almost done with the shopping. We just need some underwear for you and some unmentionables for me.

Russell: It?s perfectly acceptable for women to buy men?s underwear, but do I have to go into the lingerie store? All of the women in the store laugh at me.

Kerry: No, they don?t. I just need a few things. Here we are. Okay, I need a new bra with underwire, and I need a strapless one, too. Do you see any in a B cup?

Russell: I?m not helping you look. I?m standing over here where nobody can see me.

Kerry: Fine. Let?s see, I need some panties and a slip, too. Oh, these pantyhose are on sale.

Russell: Can you please hurry up? That woman over there is snickering.

Kerry: She?s only laughing because you look so uncomfortable. Okay, I?m done. Let?s go get your underwear.

Russell: Thank God! I just need some new boxers with a comfortable waistband and a button fly.

Kerry: I thought you liked the boxer briefs I bought before, you know, the seamless ones.

Russell: I tried them, but they were too small. I think I?d actually like to try some regular briefs. Here are some over here.

Kerry: You?d better look again. Those are g-strings. If you insist on buying those, it?ll be my turn to hide.

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialogue: 1:24
Explanations: 3:33
Fast dialogue: 16:59

Kevin: I know a lot of people are doing it, but I?m not so sure about trying an Internet dating service.

Eun: What do you have to lose? This website says that it screens all of its members. Let?s look at some of the profiles.

Kevin: All right. We have to select the criteria for a search. Let?s see...gender ? ?female?; location ? ?Los Angeles?; age range ? ?26 to 35.?

Eun: Wow, you got 243 hits. I think you?d better narrow down the search criteria.

Kevin: Okay, I?ll search for people who live within a 50-mile radius. That gives us 72 hits.

Eun: Click on that one. Let?s see. This woman is 29 and she?s an accountant. She?s very pretty.

Kevin: Do you think people would upload any photos that weren?t flattering?

Eun: Still, I think she?s promising, don?t you? Anyway, who doesn?t tell a few white lies in their dating profile? It?s not like you?re misrepresenting yourself. If you sign up for a trial membership, you?ll have to do the same thing.

Kevin: Will I? What will I need to lie about?

Eun: Nothing, nothing. You?re perfect just the way you are.

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Registering to vote and efforts to get out the vote; the G.I. Bill; growl, groan, and mutter; personnel and other collective nouns; to be fond of

Words:
election
mandatory
to register to vote
to fill out
democracy
to get out the vote
voter drives
soldier
veteran
benefits
economy
social legislation
growl
groan
mutter
personnel
to be fond of

Slow dialogue: 1:27
Explanations: 3:25
Fast dialogue: 14:20

Lon: What?s this?

Abigail: It?s a memo about a safety inspection scheduled for next week.

Lon: A safety inspection? How are we ever going to pass a safety inspection?

Abigail: What do you mean? This isn?t an unsafe workplace. We?ve had a good record. None of our employees have had on-the-job injuries this year and we?ve never had a fatality. I don?t understand why you?re so worried.

Lon: From what I?ve heard, the inspectors don?t just look at injury rates. They look for the smallest hazard that may be remotely dangerous. If we get cited, we may be shut down.

Abigail: With all due respect, I don?t think that?s how it works. Yes, the inspector will look at our work environment and our gear and machinery to make sure there are no hazards or toxic substances.

Lon: That?s what I?m worried about.

Abigail: But, if they find a violation, we?ll get a chance to fix the problem. They won?t shut us down without giving us a chance to comply with their safety standards.

Lon: I sure hope you?re right.

Abigail: Me, too. We?ll know after next week?s inspection.

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialogue: 1:14
Explanations: 3:03
Fast dialogue : 12:52

Joni: Smell that!

Giuseppe: Smell what?

Joni: Smell that fresh air. Aren?t you glad I got you to help me plant this garden? We?re going to have so much fun today.

Giuseppe: Uh huh. I?m glad to help, but I don?t exactly have a green thumb.

Joni: That?s okay. As long as you can tell a shovel from a lawn mower, you?ll be fine. Let?s start by moving these pots next to the bushes.

Giuseppe: Okay, your wish is my command.

Joni: Oh, this bag of fertilizer is so heavy.

Giuseppe: Let me get that.

Joni: Thanks. I didn?t know we had so many large bags of seeds, too.

Giuseppe: Do you want me to help you with those?

Joni: Thanks a lot. I?ll also need someone to help me hoe this soil.

Giuseppe: I guess I could do that.

Joni: And how am I going to pull all of these weeds?

Giuseppe: Honestly, I think we need reinforcements.

Joni: Good idea. You start working and I?ll go see if I can round up more help. [She leaves.]

Giuseppe: I start working while she leaves? Hmm...I think she just pulled a fast one on me.

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Cook-offs and bake-offs; public health codes; a software evangelist; to look forward to; sandwich versus hamburger

Words:
to grill
competition
judge
chili
recipe
to sample
sponsor
code
sanitary
inspection
grade
to revoke
evangelist
to look forward to
sandwich
hamburger

Slow dialogue: 1:23
Explanations: 4:20
Fast dialogue: 16:33

Buck: I?m never going to that coffee house again!

Star: Why? What happened?

Buck: It?s the third time in a week that I?ve had lousy service. I don?t expect five-star treatment, but I do expect service industry employees to be at least civil.

Star: What happened this time?

Buck: I walked in and went up to the counter to place my order. The woman working there was talking to her friend, another customer. I stood there, clearly needing to be waited on and she couldn?t have cared less.

Star: You mean she didn?t even acknowledge you?

Buck: Are you kidding? She didn?t stop talking for one second. When she finally took a breath, I told her my order. She gave me a dirty look and finally turned around to get my coffee. She practically threw it at me!

Star: Well, maybe she was having a bad day. At least you got your coffee.

Buck: I got a cup of coffee, but not the kind I ordered. When I realized it, I went back to the counter and she was still talking to her friend. I interrupted her and told her that I got the wrong order. She had the chutzpah to try to tell me that I had made a mistake in telling her my order. Not only did she not take responsibility for her mistake, she tried to tell me that it was my fault!

Star: That?s really infuriating. What are you going to do?

Buck: One good thing about her talking with her friend for so long is that I got her name. I?ll be calling the manager to complain.

Star: Aren?t you overreacting?

Buck: No, I?m not. She?s lucky I didn?t pour the coffee over her head!

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialogue: 1:29
Explanations: 3:27
Fast dialogue: 16:18

Joyce: We need to apply for our passports now if we want to have them in time for our trip to McQuillanland.

Steven: I have a passport.

Joyce: Yes, but it expired last year. You need to renew it before you can get a visa. McQuillanland requires a visa and vaccinations before they?ll allow entry into the country.

Steven: Okay, okay, where is the application? I thought U.S. citizens could travel freely in McQuillanland.

Joyce: That used to be true, but their policies have changed. We also need to bring our applications to their consulate in person, with all of the supporting documents.

Steven: Fine. The application asks which visa classification we?re applying for. Should I check student or tourist?

Joyce: Even though we?re taking a language course while we?re there, we?re asking for a tourist visa. We can stay for three months on a tourist visa.

Steven: What are they going to do if we overstay our visa, deport us?

Joyce: Yes they will, and you don?t want to deal with the McQuillanland authorities. They?re not known for being kind to lawbreakers.

Steven: Those McQuillanlanders are my kind of people.

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Famous Americans: William Randolph Hearst; what to call people from the top five cities/states in the U.S.; please as the magic word; using an apostrophe (?) for possessive cases, remember versus remind

Words:
magnate
publisher
to put a lot of something into something
municipal
corruption
circulation
yellow journalism
influence
population
to drop
to learn by heart
to leave it at that
please
to remind
to remember

Slow dialogue: 1:18
Explanations: 3:25
Fast dialogue: 14:20

Hello, business students. I?m here today at your professor?s request to talk to you about the importance of finding your own niche in business. Conventional wisdom says that people in business need to diversify their skill sets so that they can be the most flexible in whatever field they decide to enter. While there is some truth to this, that?s only half of the picture.

Those who diversify too much run the risk of being a jack of all trades and master of none. Not having a focused set of skills may also be seen as indecisive from the standpoint of a potential employer, and your application may fall by the wayside as a result. Having a niche will help you stand out in the crowd.

In business, it?s a balancing act between having the general skills that any company will want, and also possessing specialized skills that will make you the go-to person in your organization. Keep this in mind and you?ll go far.

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Slow dialogue: 1:26
Explanations: 2:58
Fast dialogue: 15:09

Ray: My mother is coming for a visit, which means we need to do some spring cleaning this weekend.

Debra: I?ll get the duster, if you?ll get the broom.

Ray: I?m serious. You know how nit-picky my mother is and I want our house to be neat and tidy.

Debra: Fine, fine, I understand. You don?t want her to know we live in a pigsty.

Ray: I?m not saying we live in a pigsty, but the house is a little messy and dusty. It wouldn?t hurt to straighten up a little bit, that?s all.

Debra: I?m willing to pitch in, but I?m not going to spend the entire weekend slaving away to get this house spotless. Your mother won?t love you any less if you?re not a neat freak.

Ray: You don?t know my mother very well.

Debra: I know her well enough. I don?t want to spoil her fun. If she can?t complain about our dirty house, what will she complain about?

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse