Everyday English Listening and Speaking Practice English by Topics for Everyday Life Conversation
[Music]
50 topics for everyday life
conversations
17
time and date
dialog 1.
have you seen the latest news
the schedule has been changed
i don’t know
what is the new class schedule
we changed the morning class schedule to
the afternoon class
so we have math with mr anderson at 2pm
great i hate going to school in the
morning in this cold weather
i will spend the morning sleeping
whatever
because every morning i wake up early to
exercise and cook breakfast
well
i know you have a healthy lifestyle
dialogue too
do you know what time it is
it’s a quarter past six what’s up
the movie stranger things starts the new
season at 7 30. i want to get ready to
see
i thought you said this movie wasn’t
good
it’s about season two
you know this new season has a great
cast of guests
that sounds interesting
now i’m going to go make coffee to enjoy
the movie do you want mom
i don’t drink coffee at night
are you going to watch all the episodes
of course i’ve been waiting for this
movie for a month
well enjoy it
dialogue three
[Music]
hello
where are you going
i’m on my way to the library
wow do you often go to the library
about three times a week
why do you ask
oh nothing i’m just curious
how long can the books in the library be
borrowed
you will be borrowed for about two to
three weeks
can you assist me with my studies
of course
what time
at six o’clock tonight
my family is having dinner at that time
around 8 pm okay
that’s okay
see you later
see you
[Music]
18
shopping
dialogue one
good afternoon has anyone helped you yet
no not yet
what could i do for you
yes i’m looking for a silk tie
well you’re in luck because we have some
ties that are on sale today
what color would you prefer oh i prefer
solid colors and checkered patterns
here it is
okay how much is it
the initial price is thirty five dollars
and a ten percent discount
now it’s 31.50
all right i’ll take it
okay i will repackage it for you
dialog 2.
hello can i help you with something
yes please i’m looking for a pair of
sports shoes
which size do you want
i need size 42.
which particular branch do you prefer
i like adidas ones
how about this one
it looks fine can i try it on
go ahead
um
they’re too tight maybe i should try a
bigger size
yes sir here it is
how much
forty dollars
all right i’ll get it
dialog three
excuse me do you work in this store
yes may i help you
my basement is being repainted i need a
new brush better than an old brush to
work with
try using a spray gun
spray gun that sounds weird is it easy
to use
it’s very easy to use i’ll get it for
you
that’s incredible
it resembles a gun from a science
fiction film
yes but it’s a fantastic tool
it’s not messy because you may change
the tip or spray a smaller amount
well that’s probably better for little
details in corners
that’s correct
and it’s on sale this week
sounds really tempting
right
when the product is defective you can
return it within one week
however
it should not be necessary
oh i
a five-year guarantee has been offered
by the manufacturer it’s a guaranteed
thing
nice i will take one
well please give the money to the
cashier
okay
[Music]
19
offers and invitations
dialogue one
[Music]
well what are you doing tomorrow evening
i will go to a live show with my friends
it’s the live show of the group maroon
maroon 5
it’s my favorite band
i’ve become their loyal fan since
listening to pay phone
so
do you want to go with us
am i invited
why not we can buy an extra ticket for
you
many thanks
what time shall i meet you
a live show is going to start at 8 pm
tomorrow we will meet at six o’clock at
the entrance
yes see you tomorrow then bye
dialogue two
[Applause]
what are your plans for thanksgiving
eric
i’m staying at my university what’s up
are you staying on campus
don’t you go home with your family
my parents are traveling to switzerland
so what are you going to do
i don’t know maybe study or dinner with
my friends
that’s really boring
um what options do i have why don’t you
come to my house and have dinner with my
family
do you think that’s a good idea
definitely yes it will be so much fun
but
your
parents don’t worry my parents enjoy
having dinner with my friends
um
okay
so when are you going to leave
tomorrow afternoon i’ll be waiting for
you at the parking lot
you can help pay for gas
okay i can
alright you’ll have a wonderful
thanksgiving
20
congratulations and
celebrations
dialogue one
[Music]
wow you look different today what’s
going on
today is our 30th wedding anniversary
our family is going to the hotel to
celebrate
that’s why you have those gorgeous
flowers
oh what bag are you holding
that’s the present i prepared for my
wife a necklace studded with diamonds
fantastic
your wife will surely be very happy
i also hope my wife will like it my wife
always complains about why i don’t give
her diamonds
hope you both have a good time
thanks
dialogue too
[Music]
morning tom
oh morning anna
you look happy how’s it going
great have you heard any news
no what’s wrong
i received my law college admission
letter oh really when
just this morning they sent me an email
well done
thank you very much
now i’m too excited to go to class
forget about classes and lessons let’s
go have some fun
no
i’d want to celebrate but not this
morning i will celebrate in the
afternoon
when no one has class
of course the more the merrier
true
what time do we meet
let’s all meet here at four o’clock
congratulations once again you’ve done a
great job
thank you i was fortunate
now we have to rush to class
okay then see you later
miss future lawyer i’ll see you this
afternoon
[Music]
21
telephone calls
dialogue one
[Music]
hello
hello
may i speak to alice please
sorry about that there’s nobody here by
that name
is this the number eight six three three
one two one two one
no you got the wrong number
please accept my apologies
i must have phoned the incorrect
number dialogue two
hello is alice available
sorry she’s not here
i inquire as to who is phoning
i’m anna
can i take a message
don’t mind i’ll call her cell phone
all right
thank you anyway
it was nothing
dialogue three
good morning how can i help you
good morning could i speak to brian owen
please
who’s calling please
mary haston
hold for one moment please
i’ll hold
okay ma’am
i’m sorry his line is busy mr owen is on
the other line ma’am
can i take a message
can you please put me in touch with
human resources
they may have already left let me check
okay
ma’am
yes
someone is in the office i’m going to
transfer your call right now
okay thank you
- food and dining
dialogue one
[Music]
wow this is delicious food
do you enjoy it
yes it is particularly very delicious
what is it
it’s my family’s heirloom recipe the
main ingredients are chicken clams and a
few seasonings
well i think it’s fantastic
oh no i dropped my spoon
use this it’s clean
thank you
can you give me the salt shaker
isn’t it salty enough
no it’s it’s fine i love salt
hmm
salty food is not good for health
i know but i find it better when it’s
salty
all right
this is just the first course
what comes next
your preferred dish
chicken baked in lemon sauce
oh my goodness i’m going to eat till i’m
full
just keep in mind that if i cook you
must wash the dishes
sure take that out
dialogue 2.
can i take your order please
you see it’s the first time we’ve been
to this restaurant
what do you recommend
we are famous for our meatloaf
all right then we’ll have salad for
starters
okay then and would you want it with
mashed potatoes or macaroni and cheese
[Music]
i guess i’d rather have macaroni and
cheese
would you like some drinks
we’ll go for water today
okay that’s the meatloaf with macaroni
and cheese thanks
[Music]
23 culture and art
dialogue one
what exactly are you looking at
cubist art
it is a book about that
that sounds strange
it consists solely of blocks in various
forms
without a doubt
the artists are attempting to represent
reality in this manner
what do you mean
through the fundamental shapes that we
ordinarily take for granted
why are you suddenly interested in this
the city museum is having an exhibition
about the cubist painting display
did you go see it
no i didn’t i will go this weekend
before i went i wanted to do some
research on it
good idea are you learning much
just a bit my interest is to stir it a
little
didn’t picasso create that trend
no but he developed it and popularized
it
are there any picasso artworks on
display in the city museum
there are a few paintings
it was borrowed from a museum in spain
nonetheless a picasso is a picasso maybe
i’ll accompany you
that’s great with me
dialogue 2.
i’m overjoyed my painting was recently
accepted by a gallery
do you mean the national museum of art
yes great congratulations
thanks
they want me to exhibit my painting next
month
how many
approximately 10.
there are three landscapes two still
lifes a seascape and four impressionist
cityscapes in my collection
are they the ones you did at the
coliseum
that’s correct next year i’ll also have
a display at the art museum
you’re really gifted i wish i could
sketch and paint like you
i tried a lot took many years of hard
work and countless rejections to get
where i am today
- literature
dialogue one
what is a class about today
literature class we began reading war
and peace
isn’t that book almost a thousand pages
long
that sort of thing i can’t remember the
precise number
when you must you finish this book
our professor wants it to be read before
the end of next month
you have a lot of reading to do
what are your thoughts
there are several characters to recall
why does your class read this book
because this is a class on russian
literature
is tolstoy one of your favorite authors
i also like him
however i like some of russia’s later
writers
who for
example dastavesky gorky and a few
others are among them
this is beyond my understanding
best wishes in class
dialogue two
[Music]
what are you reading now
i’m reading jk rowling
jk rowling
what
rowling wrote the world famous book
harry potter
the novels chronicle the lives of young
wizard harry potter and his friends
hermione granger and ron weasley
all of whom are students at hogwarts
school of witchcraft and wizardry
it’s fiction isn’t it
definitely
this book is very famous
let me have a look
here you are
isn’t the book in english
ah it’s been translated into many
languages around the world
i’m reading in french
25
sports and games
dialogue one
who is that
the tallest guy on the team
yaming is his name he is chinese
is he good at playing
of course he scored 20 points for the
chinese team
well that’s really good
he’s also the captain of the team
dialogue too
would you like to go out for a drink
sorry i can’t i’m going to bed early
tonight i have a match tomorrow
oh yes are you worried
just a little bit
i will play the first turn tomorrow
is that true
are you no longer a substitute
yeah
coach made the decision to give me a
chance
congrats bro what makes you believe you
did that
most likely because i hit a home run in
our last game
what position do you play
i’ll be at third base
it’s a difficult position a lot of
places come your way
that’s correct but i believe i can
handle it
what time does the game begin
the game is scheduled to begin at 1pm
i’ll come to cheer you on
great
so
are you not coming with us just one
drink
i’m afraid not i’m in desperate need of
a decent night’s sleep
i get what you mean
okay we’ll see you tomorrow
i’ll see you later
entertainment
dialogue one
do you have plans for today
no i don’t what did you have in mind
i was thinking of going to the
entertainment center with you
entertainment center
what do you want to play there
how about going bowling
i’m not in the mood to go bowling
do you have any other suggestions
so
what about watching movies
that’s a good idea we can go watch
stranger things i’ve read an excellent
review of it
okay let’s get started
dialogue 2
[Music]
what did we do tonight how about
watching a chinese movie have you
watched uh sun wukong the monkey king
come on you know i don’t like watching
chinese movies and i don’t get it
it’s a pity this movie is very popular
so
what do you want to do tonight
why not remain at home and watch
wrestling on television
the rock is going to face steve austin
in an all all-out bra to the death
you’ve got to be kidding right
don’t you realize professional wrestling
is all a sham
so why don’t you do it
let’s see if you can get in there and
take on those men
don’t be so childish you can drive me
insane at times
okay calm down
come over here and we’ll watch the movie
you just suggested
i thought you stated that you don’t like
chinese movies
didn’t you say it’s very famous
i also want to try it once
okay you are weird
dialogue three
are you free tonight
i’m going to a concert with steve what’s
wrong
i want to invite you to my house
anyway what kind of concert
classical
really you managed to persuade steve to
listen to classical music
yes indeed
last week
i went to a baseball game with him
i get what you mean you bore him because
he bores you
perhaps we’re just broadening our
horizons
when i see it i’ll believe it
so
what kind of music will they be playing
a selection of pieces by beethoven and
mozart it’s the washington symphony
orchestra
these tickets are hard to get
how did you buy it
my dad’s friend works at the theater
that’s fantastic
i wish you a pleasant time
i’m sure i will
i hope your lover is sober enough after
the concert
me too
i’m out i’ll call you later
okay i’ll talk to you later goodbye
[Music]
27
hobbies and past
times dialogue one
tell me what do you enjoy doing in your
spare time
i know you enjoy going to bars
yeah how about you do you go to bars for
fun
no i’m not i’ll go to karaoke then i
have free time for entertainment
yes i know you have a talent for singing
songs you have a beautiful voice
thank you
that has now become my hobby
we can go to karaoke next time okay
okay
[Music]
dialog
- i’ve noticed that you have a lot of
fun how do you do it
on the weekends if the weather is nice i
will go camping with my girlfriend it’s
very fun
i wish i had a girlfriend too that i
could go camping with
we always want to have more trips
together
and we’re keen on going camping because
we can enjoy the beautiful nature and
peace
and this winter i’m going to take a
skiing class
i’m so excited to see the results after
you join the skiing class
yes wait a month and see what happens
dialog 3
what are your hobbies
ids are collecting coins
whoa how long have you maintained this
hobby
i’ve been collecting since i was a kid
oh i used to collect coins
so you’re not doing it anymore
28 likes and dislikes
dialogue one
oh i’m starving
why don’t we try some indian food
i don’t want indian food because it is
too hot and spicy for me
so i’m guessing you don’t enjoy thai
food either
not really but i prefer thai food to
indian food
so what do you recommend
what about chinese cuisine do you like
chinese food
sure i absolutely love chinese food
dialogue too
[Music]
i can’t stand this heat i want to go
swimming
no i don’t like to go to the swimming
pool
i’ll be quite uncomfortable with the
boys always gazing at me
but it’s too hot
come to a quiet lake that i know there
will only be you and me
i promise no one will stare at you
okay it’s hot and it’d be wonderful to
get away from it all
let’s go
dialogue three
[Music]
so frank do you like my hair
well it looks great i love it
come on i’d like to know the truth
you’re just trying to make me feel happy
i tell the truth i find your hair very
trendy
why are you not satisfied with it
my hair looks so short i’ve never
experienced anything like this before
it’s strange
i guess you’re an old-fashioned girl and
you’d like long hair
but now the trend is the hairstyle like
yours
yeah whatever
i’ll have to alter it back to something
more normal
now you can only wait for your hair to
grow out
29
cause and effect
dialogue one
what is the matter with bob
why are you asking like that
what transpired
he seemed sad today and he doesn’t say
anything even after school
oh i believe i know why
tell me the reason
last night i think he was arguing with
his girlfriend that might be why he’s
upset today
that’s true that’s bad
it’s difficult to conceive what else
might be making him so furious
i understand he’s very easy going and
always gets along with people
i don’t know what makes him like that
a disagreement with his girlfriend for
example
is a possible cause
i suppose so
i’ll attempt to contact him later
i hope he will be better tomorrow
i hope that too
dialogue 2
am i not mistaken
are you
smiling
i haven’t seen you smile like that in a
very long time
it’s really nothing
well something funny must have happened
right
that’s one of the biggest smiles i’ve
ever seen
oh no you’re embarrassing me
all right your face is turning red what
exactly is happening
i have an appointment with my new
girlfriend i’m leaving goodbye
i see that’s why you’re grinning
dialogue three
look what time it is
you are late again
why are you so late
i’m sorry
that’s at our professor
unreasonable reason
the professor tried to say something
more after the bell rang so my class got
out late
what subject did you just study is it
professor williams
exactly do you also know the professor
i got it
this professor always lets the class out
late let’s go now or we’ll miss the bus
thirty
doubting and believing
dialogue one
[Music]
do you remember what you promised me
you promised me you’ll save money but i
don’t see it
you can’t save money if you don’t make
it
i know you just got your salary this
month and now you’re telling me you’ve
spent all of it
you know how hard it is to save money
is it for you how much money is not
enough to spend
yeah
but you made a commitment to me
i apologize in the future i shall do
better
dialogue 2.
hello steve i require your assistance
sure what do you need
yeah about rick tell me is something
wrong
no we’re throwing him a surprise
birthday party
oh fantastic how are you going to do it
yes and since you’re his best friend
swear not to tell him
alright i guarantee it
are you certain when was the last time
you made a promise to yourself
don’t believe me
because last time you also promised to
keep laura’s story a secret
please accept my apologies but this time
is different
do you swear
i vow to you not a word
okay now you and i will talk about
planning a birthday party
talk about your ideas first
31
difficulty
dialogue one
do you know how to swim
i can swim but i’m not very good at it
so how about you
i never learned to swim therefore i
don’t know how
you should try it haven’t tried how do
you know
but i’m afraid of water
don’t worry this fear is curable i can
teach you to swim if you want to try
is this difficult
i am afraid i will drown
we’re not going to stay too deep
drowning is impossible
but i’m sure i’ll be swallowed a lot of
water
sure
anyone who has just learned to swim does
the same
i wonder when i’m in the water i will be
unable to breathe
before you begin take a deep breath
okay
i will try once
dialogue 2.
fine i’m sick of it
i assumed you wanted to learn with me
right because i need help but it’s just
too difficult
i admit this exercise is too difficult
to solve but we shouldn’t give up either
what other option do i have
i’m too stupid
no you simply need to unwind
i’m probably overly stressed
that’s correct
don’t ruin your efforts by the stress
okay i’ll attempt to relax but that
won’t help me solve this exercise
it’s better than giving up
i’m confused too
so
how can you help me if you are also
confused
you and i will think of a way to solve
it
okay but if i get mad you’ll be held
accountable
okay make a deal take a few minutes now
to relax
good idea
32 suggestions and complaints
dialog one
you won’t believe what i’m about to tell
you
the firm required both myself and the
other colleagues to attend a biology
seminar and study it
what’s the problem with that
well if i go to the biology seminar i
will take all day
and i’m sick of companies asking me to
come while not paying me
so
what are you going to do about it
i’m just talking with you i can’t tell
my superiors
because
it’s no use complaining afterward
dialogue 2
hello tom what are you up to
i’m attempting to repair this chair
how about a screwdriver
yeah
i know it won’t help because
because the screws were removed
they’re difficult to put back in
is it okay if i offer a suggestion
oh so good you say
find arie and take his automated drill
it is a lot faster
i guess it will be faster than this
little screwdriver
and here’s another suggestion
okay tell me what you’re thinking
buy a new chair
but this chair is still usable except
for the screws
i’ve no complaints about it
okay but don’t come to me with your
complaints if you injure yourself
33
praising and comforting
dialogue one
[Music]
anna wait for me
i’m not in the mood to talk right now
i know you’re angry about the writing
contest
sure i am i worked so hard on my story
yet i only came in third place
it’s not fair at all
even so you wrote an excellent story you
should feel pleased with yourself
do you think my story is great
without a doubt
that story was far superior to the
others
but the judges don’t think so
trust me your story is really good
the judges made the wrong decision
just wait till you’re a well-known
author
that’s really kind of you to say but
don’t say but i recognized your ability
when i read it
thank you i was about to give up writing
stories because of today’s results
don’t do that you are a real talent
it’s great to hear words of
encouragement from you
not at all
will you always be by my side and
encourage me
of course
if you become famous credit me
incidenteo
thank you very much you’re a true pal
dialogue too
i’m sad and i’m powerless
i’ll never be able to go to the united
states
don’t be so downcast keep your chin up i
believe you will be able to come to
america
i’m so fed up with waiting for my visa i
can’t do anything with my life while i’m
just waiting
you can take advantage of the
opportunity here
there are several activities available
to you and there is no reason why you
cannot have a wonderful time
you’re probably correct
of course i’m always right
let’s go swimming shall we
okay let’s go
34
comparison differences and similarities
dialogue one
good morning is there anything i can
help with
i’m trying to decide which brand to
purchase
about paint
right
but i don’t know anything about painting
tell me what are you going to paint
my window
yes i see
so these are our outside paints all are
good quality
i just want to buy the best one
i recommend you these two paint brands
these two in my opinion are the best
what’s the distinction
this type is the most popular it’s a
best seller
this one is a bit thicker it doesn’t
make as much of a mess
great i also don’t have much skill in
painting
both of these paints have very good
weather resistance
does this mean it will stay longer
essentially yes
approximately two or three years longer
i get what you mean what is the price of
each type
the prices of the two types are similar
so i’ll take the best-selling product
show me
okay here you are
please let me know if you have any more
inquiries
that should be enough thank you very
much
dialog 2
do you feel today
much better thank you very much doctor
have you been eating more recently as i
advised
yes doctor i’ve been eating a lot but i
don’t want to put on weight
you are not overweight
you are in fact dangerously underweight
no way doctor i’m already overweight and
i don’t want to become much fatter
as previously stated you are underweight
and if you become any more underweight
you will have to return to the hospital
i get it doctor
dialogue three
between me and linda who do you like
more
i prefer you babe
linda has a fantastic physique
don’t you think linda has a better body
than i do
your figure is great babe nobody has a
more beautiful physique than you
would you still love me if i was fatter
sure babe i’d still love you the same
way
but you’ll think in your head that i’m
too fat
that will never happen i love you not
because of your looks
thanks babe
[Music]
35 agreement and disagreement
dialogue one
[Music]
you don’t wash dishes
i’m sorry i’ll do it later
no you will do it right now
why are you being so difficult to me it
is only the dishes
you said the same thing yesterday but in
the end you didn’t wash the
dishes i know but my favorite movie is
on television right now
so what who cares
if you make a promise you have to do it
come on isn’t it worse than simply the
dishes you absolutely know that this
isn’t about the dishes
so it’s about what
it’s about your attitude even you never
help other people unless you are asked
to what you say is not correct
but it is for the most part you always
just lie there and watch tv
calm down i think you need to relax
i need to relax no it’s about you you
need to start doing your part
that’s fine i’ll do it
now just leave me alone
this isn’t over yet mister you need to
change your attitude
what
i assumed it was only the dishes
okay forget about it
now wash those dishes we’ll talk about
your attitude afterward
okay i can’t wait for that
[Music]
dialogue too
what are your thoughts on this dress
is it suitable for me
wow
it’s fantastic
oh come on i want to hear the truth
please be honest
i i tell the truth you look so beautiful
wearing it
do you really think so
yeah it’s so great
no i do not believe
you don’t really mean that
okay okay
this dress is a bit
short
i know
you’ve never liked my clothes
dialogue three
do you enjoy kfc
no i don’t like it
instead i enjoy chinese cuisine
but kfc is great and you can drink as
much coke as you want
i know but fast food is not good for our
health chinese food is very delicious
not very greasy very nutritious
but it’s very spicy especially the
sichuan food
yes it’s quite
spicy but in addition china also has
many delicious dishes such as dim sum
beijing roast duck
sounds so tempting i’ve never tried
these
so let’s go i know a very good chinese
restaurant
36
importance and value
possession
dialogue one
[Music]
be careful with the watch
i know but isn’t that simply an old time
piece
that’s right that was my grandfather’s
watch
is it still functional
it still works though it needs some
repair
is it worthwhile
it is my grandfather’s favorite item and
for my grandfather it was priceless
no i’m talking about market value
i think it has the manufacturer is a
well-known london watch firm
oh that means its value is very high
sure but it’s a family heirloom i’m not
going to be able to sell it
no i don’t think so so what are you
going to do with it
it should only be worn on rare occasions
that’s great i finished looking at it
here you are
thank you i’m going to put it back in
the drawer
do you have any other vintage items like
that
my mother has a few antiques but i have
one which is a watch
i see i think it’s a very valuable item
yes i’m happy to own it
dialogue too
what exactly is this
it’s extremely funny
be careful don’t mess it up
put it back where it was
it’s just an old photo what made you so
uncomfortable with me
this is a photo of my sister it’s the
only one i’ve got
that explains why you were so unhappy
when i touched it
it’s very important to you
yes
dialog 3
when will i receive my money
we’ll pay our salary once we’ve made
some money you should pay me immediately
because i completed the assignment
but we don’t have any money you’ll have
to wait
you said you don’t have any money do you
yes indeed we don’t have any cash
if you don’t pay i’ll take this computer
away
no no
don’t get the computer we just have it
we can pay you i promise how much money
do we owe you 37
transportation
dialogue one
hey i need your help
tell me if i can help i will
my automobile is having mechanical
issues and i need to take it to a repair
and
what exactly do you want me to do
the automobile must remain there
overnight could you take me home
tomorrow
yes of course what’s the matter with
your car
something must be wrong with the engine
and it makes a strange noise all the
time
how long ago did you buy a car
it was my father’s car it’s nearly 10
years old
when was the last time you got your car
serviced
i don’t remember exactly maybe four or
five months ago
i think it’s time to change to a new car
i hope it’s not serious because right
now i really can’t afford it
anyway i’ll be able to pick you up
tomorrow what time is it
arrive at my company at six o’clock p.m
and follow me to the mechanics okay
okay i will go from my company to your
company see you tomorrow
many thanks see you
dialogue two
have you ever been on a camel ride
yes but it was dreadful
this camel was constantly attempting to
bite me and smelled horrible
really
i tried riding a camel once the feeling
was very interesting
it didn’t have an unpleasant smell
lucky you for me it was a horrifying
experience
what about an elephant have you ever
been on an elephant ride
never and
you yes i frequently ride elephants in
reality my elephant has arrived do you
want to ride
thanks for your suggestion but i’m
afraid i can’t
dialogue 3 do you own a car
no i do not have
why i assume all foreigners have their
own cars
true many westerners own cars
but i don’t have it because i enjoy
walking and furthermore i need exercise
to keep from getting too fat
[Laughter]
you mean you’d gain weight if you had a
car
38 health and illness
dialogue one
you were absent all week last week where
were you last week
i was recuperating at home
what are you recovering from
remember how i injured my back while
playing basketball
yeah i remember but that happened two
months ago
i thought it was okay but no
it became painful last week and i went
to see the doctor
what did the doctor say
the doctor said that i had a herniated
disc in my lower back
oh my god so serious
yes he was shocked that i could walk
anyway i had surgery
surgery
why you do not talk to me
oh it was a simple treatment and i had
to relax for a few days afterward
and you’re okay
now not at all sometimes the pain still
comes and i must continue to attend
physical therapy
is it still hurting
yes it would hurt so i’m on pain
relievers
i’m sorry to hear that best wishes for a
speedy recovery
thank you
dialogue too
god my head
what’s the problem did you have an
accident
no i’m suffering from a hangover
hangover what do you mean
we had a party last night
a hangover is the feeling you
experienced the next day after drinking
too much the night before
you should not consume excessive amounts
of alcohol
perhaps you should take pain relievers
i already took painkillers it doesn’t
seem to work for me
i may need to take a hair of the dog
that bit me the night before
what does that even mean
that’s something i’ve never heard before
that is
you will drink what you drink the night
before which gives you a hangover
it’s not a good idea
i’m just kidding
i’m going to take a break
[Music]
dialogue three
your face looks so pale are you sick
i’m not sure i’m feeling hot and i’m
suffering from a headache
i guess you have a fever have you taken
the temperature yet
have you been to the doctor perhaps you
should go to the hospital you might have
sars
oh no
here comes my bus bye
wait wait wait i’d want to speak with
you
this isn’t your bus you’ve boarded the
incorrect bus
sorry please excuse me let me through
let me down
thank god i got down in time
you’re so lucky
that bus goes in the opposite direction
from your house
oh
the bus has arrived i gotta go see you
later
wait that’s not your
39 education
dialogue one
i’m concerned about the local education
system quality
where what area do you mean
i mean
the area where we’re moving to
i’ve heard a lot of awful stuff
as
low test scores high dropout rates and
issues with discipline
the school doesn’t seem to care about
the students
hmm that sounds bad
i find the issue of education there very
alarming jack’s school here was
excellent but what about his new one
we should pay more attention to this
issue
well i think so
there is a good private school nearby
a catholic school
is it pricey
not too expensive i know some of my
co-workers send their children there as
well
at the very least that is a better
option
on monday i’ll phone them and inquire
about registering jack for next semester
okay but think carefully about your
decision
sure
dialogue too
is your ielts test okay
how do you think you fared on the iel at
ts
not so good maybe i only got a 6.5
if i want to get into manchester
university i have to get a 7.5
is it that difficult
almost no one ever gets a 7.5
yes it’s a really high score that is
really difficult to attain
so which university do you plan to
attend
i’m not certain perhaps i’ll attend
guangzhong university of foreign studies
in guangxo
that’s a good choice too
at least you’ll be able to eat chinese
food every
day dialogue three
last night our chinese buddy yuki lon
phoned me
oh how is she doing is she still
enrolled in college
of course she’s a good student
her subjects all scored a
and i complimented her on her
intelligence
well i think that schools train students
very well particularly in terms of
memorization
that is why they excel in mathematics
and science
yeah she is really fortunate because
california citizens are entitled to free
tuition
i’m not sure how she’d finance college
with her part-time work at mcdonald’s
of course we know she’s tenacious and
resourceful
she owes you a great deal for assisting
her in obtaining a visa to the united
states
i think she deserves it she tried a lot
- work
dialogue one
you look a bit tired what’s up
nothing i’m at work right now
are you really okay
actually i’m not very well
work makes me very stressed
why is that
you know i’ve lost all respect since the
firm declared their aim of sales
i don’t quite get it
my sales last month did not meet the
target so this month must meet the
target
oh i see
i’ve been contacting everyone i can
think of saying anything to get a sale
that’s great that is what our company
wants
i know but i’m really exhausted
i’m virtually begging for selling goods
i’m not sure what to say to you
i’m going to be all right i simply need
to have a cup of coffee and
unwind for a few moments
i know you are under a lot of stress
right now
relax and before you make any decisions
tell me
i guarantee it you’ll be the first to
know if i do something insane
everything will be fine don’t worry
dialogue too
are you okay
oh i’m simply exhausted
today
i worked a total of 10 hours
why do you have to work so many hours
i want a little extra income
money is vital but your health is far
more so you know you can’t purchase
health
thanks for your advice
dialogue three
is the teaching in the new school okay
it’s fantastic we have a terrific time
together my students are very obedient
and hard working
great
do you enjoy teaching
well i like it my students always make
me laugh all day
that’s great
so you decided to teach at this school
right i will try more
41
economy
dialogue one
what’s the source of your excellent mood
there are many things that make me happy
for one thing work is doing quite well
wow congratulations
what is the reason behind this
this quarter our sales are amazingly
taking off
that makes sense that the economy as a
whole is improving
there’s something i’ve observed people
are spending a lot at this moment
i believe this is because the government
has reduced interest rates
right my father recently purchased a new
home due to cheap interest rates
perhaps you should do the same at this
moment
considering purchasing a new home
i can’t afford that right now
you certainly can i believe you can buy
a new apartment
perhaps you are correct
yet a solid economy may lead property
values to climb
especially the rising house prices
believe me it will increase but not
right now
you should quickly buy a new apartment
why you know you’re a real estate agent
oh no but my husband is here’s his
business card
i think he has to thank you for helping
me with the sale
if you tell him you know me he could
offer you a good bargain
i’ll contact him thanks
dialogue 2
have you gotten any job offers yet
i’ve applied to several companies
already
sars isn’t as awful as it used to be and
the economy is beginning to improve
it’s possible that there won’t be a
recession
i hope not i’ve already lost too much
money
oh you’re wealthy i’m sure you still
have a lot of money in your swiss bank
accounts
dialogue three
exports are falling
gdp is falling but imports are rising
what should we do
start an import business
what are your thoughts
what kind of products are you aiming for
i was considering japanese and american
electronic devices
you know that sony is the best selling
brand in various nations
it’s a good idea
sony is a good product quality assurance
okay but we’ll need to perform some
market research to figure out
who our target market is
who our rivals are and who will handle
distribution
and so on
yeah it’s a lot of work to do but i’ve
done it before i’ll make some market
research
great
market research is also extremely
important and i will do a survey
first look at wholesale prices
it makes no sense to begin market
research if we cannot earn a profit
after deducting all transportation costs
that’ll do
is there anything else
attempt to obtain statistics on the
people aged 25 to 40.
i believe they will be viable market for
us
also look at this age group’s disposable
income
okay i got it
i’m getting excited already
42
food
dialogue one
oh are you going to the supermarket
right i’m going right now what’s up
could you choose a few items for me
sure what do you want to buy
i’m in need of some chicken breasts that
have been sliced
oh what are you going to cook
i intend to make chicken alfredo later
this week
that’s great is there anything else
maybe we’ve run out of milk
that’s right we’ve run out of milk
thanks for reminding me
as well as some dog food
sure
wait i’ll jot this down is that all
you should also buy some fruits and
vegetables for breakfast
which kind
up to you you can choose the fruit you
like
okay
i think i’ll leave now
thank you very much
not a big deal
dialogue too
[Music]
there are frozen peas frozen beans and
frozen carrots at the supermarket
so what
i normally buy frozen vegetables and
store them in the freezer until needed
what about fresh vegetables
they don’t sell fresh vegetables here
yep but in the summer
during the summer farmers may set up
vegetable stalls alongside the road or
have a farmer’s market in town
don’t you think fresh produce is better
because the growing season in the
northern united states is shorter
we must rely on frozen veggies
throughout the winter
oh
okay
dialogue three
what shall we have for dinner
bitter melon have you ever tried it
yeah i gave it a go but i’m not a big
fan of it
if you like it you may order it
what about a sweet and sour combination
do you enjoy sweet and sour flavors
could we have sweet and sour fish or
sweet and sour pork
what about some sweet and sour beef
come on we’re in china here they don’t
eat sweet and sour beef
it’s sad why is that
they exclusively serve chinese cuisine
not western cuisine
plans and intentions
dialogue one
hey jake what are you busy with
i’m working on a master social plan
wow that sounds really macroscopic
yeah i wish to contribute to a better
society
and how do you intend to do this
by establishing equality for all there
is no such thing as private property
is everyone work
yes for the benefit of everybody not
just individuals
what if some individuals work harder and
more efficient than others
they will not be permitted to exert
influence over
others do you mean it’s just as nice to
be lazy as it is to be hard-working
workers and peasants will rule society
they are not as lazy as industrial
owners
by moving a plow a man may control a
factory or an economy
you can learn
so what was he doing before that driving
a plow
what about the arts culture and higher
education
what are peasants supposed to know about
it
a former can also draw pictures
but i am sure that you will never hang
it on your wall
my plan will one day change the world
perhaps but i wouldn’t want to live in
such a world
dialogue 2
i plan to return to university in the
fall for my master’s degree
what major are you planning to study
what plan do you have
i’d like to change careers i’d want to
work in the advertising industry
i understand there isn’t much money in
that profession but i believe it would
be really innovative
you know this job requires creativity
that’s what i want
which university or institute will you
attend
to get my master’s degree i have to go
to texas they are the only ones to offer
this dual specialist and master’s degree
program
is it rather pricey
no i intend to do some internship work
while i’m there
i’d want to gain some hands-on
experience they offer a public relations
program in which i may participate
you planned everything
what will you do if your plans are
thwarted
then i punt
[Music]
what exactly is it
it means i will try something new
dialogue 3
when i grow up become extremely
beautiful i will be pursued by prince
charlie
he’ll bring me into his castle and we
will be playing the greatest computer
games
and watching tv throughout the day and i
never have any schoolwork to complete
[Music]
keep dreaming princess because tomorrow
you’ll go to school early and finish all
your schoolwork again when you return
home
all my dreams are continuously being
ruined by you
44 talents and abilities
dialogue one
do you fond of jazz music
actually yeah i used to play a bit when
i was in college
really i couldn’t play an instrument
what instrument do you play
i played the trumpet during college
wow you are very talented now then
i haven’t played the trumpet in a while
maybe my skills are much worse than
before
i got it
i wish i could play an instrument
have you any talents haha i can roll my
tongue
this isn’t a gift
seriously
i could draw
really can i see your drawings
come to my house i’ll show you i drew a
few landscape pictures
do you still draw pictures now
drawing no that doesn’t help much and i
don’t have a lot of time
same story with my music yet i miss it
me too
dialogue 2
that’s fantastic work
really do you enjoy it
yes i love it it’s fantastic
i’m not completed yet
do not modify it it’s already perfect
you could spoil it if you modify it just
leave it alone
do you truly enjoy it so much
yeah it’s great you have a lot of talent
you are a real painter
i can tell you’re pulling my leg now
pulling your leg what does this imply
it means you’re joking
no i’m not kidding your painting is
undeniably beautiful
dialogue three
have you any special abilities
i wouldn’t say i have any special
capabilities
but when i was younger i used to write a
lot and people were always surprised by
my poems
why don’t you do it anymore
it was an obsession in the past for me
i’d rather live a regular life now
sorry to hear that
but do you think you could have achieved
fame if you had persisted i think
possibly
my friend barry is an example
he and i used to fantasize about taking
over the literary world
he persisted and ultimately he was
successful very famous in the literary
world
i don’t believe he was any more gifted
than i was
why did you quit up when he was
successful
i prefer to eat than right
- making appointments
dialogue one
can we change the time from today to
tomorrow at 10 o’clock
sure no problem
are you sure you can make it
if you can’t make it just call me and we
can make another date
no don’t change it 10 is perfect for me
okay see you then
bye
goodbye
dialogue two
i thought we had a meeting at 10 am
why didn’t you show up
i was told to let me know if the time
wasn’t right for you
why are you upset with me look at the
clock
it’s not time it’s only nine o’clock now
our appointment was scheduled for 10 am
not 10 pm
why don’t you tell me the appointment in
the morning or in the evening so i
assumed you meant 10 pm
you are insane people do not schedule
appointments for 10 pm
yes i do that’s all you’re incredibly
narrow-minded
dialogue three
i have a meeting with mr harris at three
o’clock
for what
to discuss a new business venture
project
is that mr david harris or mr robert
harris
i’m not certain he just addressed
himself as mr harris
well it’s most likely david i’ll inquire
no it isn’t him so it’s got to be robert
he is in room 306 on the third level
you may now get up there
thank you very much
[Music]
46 feelings and emotions
dialogue one
what’s the problem
what
i never said anything was wrong
he seemed to be agitated
really
i have a lot of thoughts going through
my head right now
is everything okay
yeah
there aren’t any major issues it’s just
a small problem
tell me what is it
well i’m a little worried about work
because i recently applied for a
transfer to another office
that is enough to make anyone scared
when will you learn the outcome
about three or four days
um
relax you seem exhausted
that’s because the job is really hard
and i also have to study for a class at
night
wow you’re undoubtedly feeling a lot of
pressure
yes i think so
i’m going to take a vacation shortly
good idea you should take a break after
a period of hard work
dialogue too
i’m feeling very sad because i couldn’t
make it to wade’s wedding
he will sympathize with you he knows
that you are unable to return from china
at that time
about wade’s wife i don’t like her very
much
i understand that
it may take time for you to get along
with kate your new sister-in-law
i’m not going to speak with her she’s
arrogant and rude
anyway she’s your sister-in-law
if you do like that you’ll make wade
awkward
i know
when are you going to be able to return
home
on or around july 11th i’m homesick for
home and miss everyone
it won’t be long
47 clothing
dialogue one
what can i do for you
yes please i want to find a jacket
what kind of jacket are you looking for
[Music]
this black wool coat appeals to me
here it is i’ll get it for you to see
yes however i loved a navy blue hue more
show me the one over there
what about this do you want to try it on
i feel this shoulder is a bit tight for
me
so let me get you a bigger size
okay except for the arms this fits well
the sleeves of this jacket are a bit
long
i see we can fix it to make it fit for
you
is it possible to cut a jacket here
yeah our tailor will fix it for you i
will take your measurements now
our tailor will arrive at work in the
afternoon today
what time is it
at 2 pm
i’ll return at that time to ensure he
obtains the correct measurements
okay is there anything else i can do for
you
no not just now maybe when i return
okay thank you for visiting
have a wonderful day
you as well goodbye
dialogue too
i want to have a traditional chinese
dress like this design can you do it
do you mean a kipao
right i want it to look like this design
i like a black background with red
jackets
looks good this is a very traditional
design
what is its price
depending on the fabric you choose
silk is more expensive but it has more
appealing appearance
of course polyester is less expensive
how many meters of fabric do i need for
this dress
this also depends on your height the
length of the sleeves and the neckline
i want the sleeve length to be 3 4 with
slits along the sides
i got it it will probably take about two
meters and you also need to buy a lining
for it
what about those beautiful tiny
fasteners on the dress
oh in china those are referred to as
buttons
they are known as frogs in the united
states
dialogue three
i really want to buy you the plaid skirt
no this design will make me appear
overly chubby
no way
why you think that you’re thin as a rail
you’d blow away in the breeze if you
were thinner
in fact i believe a dark hue would be
preferable it is the basic color and
also easy to coordinate with other
colors
the whole wardrobe is dark it looks
boring i think you should lighten up
okay
perhaps you’re correct
i could wear a lighter hue but not that
plaid
it appears to be overly childish
it’s the new trend in autumn do you not
read any fashion magazines
oh so do you often read fashion
magazines yeah i’m interested in seeing
how they match the new season’s colors
and keep up to date with new trends
are you certain that is all you do
maybe you enjoy looking at fashion
models
48 household objects and tools
dialog one
hey chris
what exactly are you looking for
i’m looking for remote control i don’t
see it anywhere
tv remote
no i’m referring to the dvd player
is it absolutely necessary
yeah if i need to pause the movie or
change to a different scene
have you looked for it everywhere
is it trapped in the couch
i looked for it there how long has it
been since you last saw it
i was watching the news this morning i
was using it to switch channels
hmm so where could it be
i also wonder where it is oh here
in the midst of a heap of newspapers
oh well i’m curious how it got there
i don’t know
anyway thanks for finding it
what would you do if you didn’t have me
dialogue two
fortunately my roommate moved to another
apartment
why did you say that
she was always utilizing my items
without my permission
she arbitrarily used my ruler paper
stapler tape and other supplies
did you remind her
no i have not
you know it might be tough to mention
these topics with friends or roommates
at times
you should have probably stated the
ground rules first
you wouldn’t have been so irritated if
she hadn’t utilized your belongings
yes i will notify my roommate not to use
my belongings without my consent the
next time
or even better i won’t have a roommate
that would save a lot of time and effort
live and learn as they say maybe you’re
right
49 politics
dialogue one
who are you going to vote for
that is a secret i don’t think i need to
tell you
really but i can tell you i voted for
hollins
allen’s why he’s such an idiot
oh so you must have voted for roberts
sure i did he has very serious plans for
actual transformation
and how do you suppose he’ll perform all
that he’s told
there’s a budget surplus the government
has extra money
it’s not enough for all his schemes he
attends to boost taxes
i’m willing to spend a bit more if it
means a better quality of life for all
of us
pay more taxes i don’t want to
why although holland stated that he
would not raise taxes
this does not make him a good president
as a result he is a low-cost president
he’d let me spend my money as i wanted
instead of paying more taxes
why don’t you agree to pile more taxes
obviously not
they didn’t earn it i did so i want to
spend on what i want
what about those less fortunate than us
are you going to take care of them
i suppose so if individuals like you
aren’t willing to do it
do you believe you have all the answers
at the very least i’m considering the
questions
dialogue 2
[Music]
i’m sure you’re relieved your time on
the city council is done
yeah
it’s really a lot of pressure and
sometimes it was a headache
why do you say that
you can satisfy some of the people all
the time and all of the people some of
the time
abraham lincoln observed but he can’t
satisfy all the people all the time
that quote i believe is incorrect
i believe it was fool the people rather
than pleasing the people
you know there was no way you could
please everyone all the time
that’s quite typical someone will always
object to something no matter what you
say or do
i’m not sure why people like politics so
much it always makes them stressed
it’s worth getting into politics
and i was just elected to the city
council
consider working in state or federal
government
well i must say that i appreciate your
behavior
if only more people were like you it
would be worthwhile
50
media
dialogue one
[Applause]
what are you now reading
oh i see there’s a topic in the paper
i’m not sure whether i agree with the
author
what is the article about
i believe his political viewpoints are
skewed
everyone has their own opinion
i think the journalist should not put
his personal opinion in the article
except for an editorial story
oh my each newspaper has its own style
some papers are liberal while others are
conservative
i know but this author appears to be
prejudiced toward the president
and you don’t agree
honestly his point is very convincing
simply consider what he says will you
remember it
i’m still trying to do that
it is beneficial to read stuff with
which you disagree
it helps to keep your mind sharp
yeah this newspaper makes me unable to
refute because my theoretical point is
too sketchy
see
that is true for everyone and it is
wonderful to recognize that
just wait till i read another tale in
favor of the president
dialogue two
[Music]
[Applause]
i don’t believe the station does a good
job of covering the news
i don’t agree being a news director must
be a demanding job
so what is its difficulty
they must pick which news is the most
significant or what to start with
this is what draws viewers in
that shouldn’t be that difficult it is
just what is happening around the globe
no not always perhaps they want to start
with a less important story that hasn’t
yet been reported
then they must select whether to do a
live interview a short video or a long
video
it shouldn’t be an issue because there
is so much news
however everything must be timed to the
second
the newscasters must practice
pronouncing the names of overseas cities
and leaders
furthermore they cannot be a second too
short or a second too long
how did you know all this
i have a master’s degree in journalism
and have taken some broadcasting classes
i also did a radio program or a public
service announcement
you have a lot of talent
no not at all
oh and did i mention that i also did
community news for a radio station
dialogue 3
which newspaper do you like to read
the star tribune is my go-to source for
breaking news however for local events i
like the post review
what about the cambridge
oh their news is not about what i’m
interested in
i enjoy the editorials in the star
tribune particularly those by the guest
editor realism
i’m thinking of sending an editorial to
them
really what subject will it be about
my thoughts on zoning rules and
restrictions
i believe the city is not doing enough
to curb urban sprawl
i concur
that’s a terrific idea for a topic on
that point i believe everyone would
agree with you
um
have you forgotten about the developers
of real estate
if i fired some bullets at them they’d
be as enraged as hornets
however it is ultimately up to the city
council to enact zoning rules and
boundaries
all right i’ll do it then
thanks for watching
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goodbye