每日学英语

jiayi

January 11, 2010

http://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=2126690#

ESL Podcast 171 - Buying a Used Car


Samantha: Hello.

Terry: Hey, Samantha. It's Terry.

Samantha: Oh, hi Terry. How's it going?

Terry: Not bad. Hey, the reason I'm calling is that I heard from Veronica that you're looking for a used car.

Samantha: Yeah, I'm hoping to find something reliable but cheap.

Terry: Well, I have just the thing for you. My brother has a 2001 Ford he's trying to sell. It has low miles, it's in good condition, and he's in a hurry to sell it.

Samantha: Your brother, huh? That's not the same brother who tried to sell me a stereo system that fell off the back of a truck, is it?

Terry: No, no, no. That's a different brother. Listen, this is a really nice car. It has a leather interior, power windows and doors, gets great gas mileage, and the tires are practically new. And, it's a steal at $7,000.

Samantha: How do I know it's not a lemon ? I don't want to end up with a piece of junk.

Terry: Come on. Would I steer you wrong?

Samantha: Well, it won't hurt to go see it and to give it a test drive.

Terry: Trust me. You won't be sorry.

Samantha: We'll see about that.


Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

*********************************************************


fell off the back of a truck --- informal expression to mean that was stolen, that someone stole it and try to sale it again to make money.


interior --- inside of the car


gas mileage --- have a good/great gas mileage means that the car runs many miles on one gallon gas
mileage: how many miles you get per galon


practically new --- almost new


a steal  --- a very very good price. It's one of the lowest prices you'll find.  That's a steal that means it's almost like you are stealing it, it's such a low price



a lemon  --- a car that doesn't work. the car has lots of serious problems.


steer you wrong --- to influence them in a way that they would make a bad/wrong decision.



just the thing , power windows and doors, it won't hurt to , You won't be sorry, We'll see about that

jiayi

in a nut shell, I like English very much...
非娜 发表于 2010-1-11 20:58

                               
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Good for you. I just think I have to learn it, I must...

那时枫叶

Good for you. I just think I have to learn it, I must...
jiayi 发表于 2010-1-12 10:13

                               
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Yes, I am trying to make sentence to memorise the new expressions more easily as you can see...

那时枫叶

嘿嘿，便宜得跟偷来的一样。。。

a good deal can be a steal...

Ps. I felt that Terry is a liar...

jiayi

January 12, 2010

http://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=2136533

ESL Podcast 172 - Legal Problems


I was reading the newspaper this morning and saw a story about a university student arrested and charged with burglary and assault. Last Monday, this student hit a security guard over the head, broke into his professor’s office, and stole the professor’s computer. He wasn’t doing well in the class and thought that he could steal the exam.

When he was arraigned in court , the prosecutor said that the charges were very serious felonies and not simple misdemeanors. He also said that because the student was a flight risk , the bail should be set at $2 million. The judge agreed.

If the student was found guilty of all of the charges, he could be sentenced to up to 15 years in jail.

When I read this story, I thought, wouldn’t it have been easier for him to just study?


Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
*********************************************************************
burglary --- when you steal sth from someone else, usually it's a case when you go into someone's house /office and you take sth that is not yours. That's the same as 'theft'


assault --- when you hit someone that you hurt or injury someone else


pick th lock --- open the door without key


prosecute --- the goverment tries to convience the judge that you are guilt. So the first step the goverment does is they arraign you in court.


arraigned in court --- go from the judge and you have to say whether you are guilt or not guilt


prosecutor --- the person who prosecutes the case, the goverment lawer who is responsible for proving in the court that you are guilt


felony --- a serious crime


misdemeanors --- you didn't commit a serious crime , small crime


flight risk --- the person may try to leave the city if they are not put in prison right away or if they don't pay a lot of money as part of their bail.


bail --- the money you give the goverment,it's certain of the insurance money that says that you'll not try to leave the city/courtry before the goverment put you on trial


security guard , broke into , be found guilty,

jiayi

嘿嘿，便宜得跟偷来的一样。。。

a good deal can be a steal...

Ps. I felt that Terry is a liar...
非娜 发表于 2010-1-12 23:56

                               
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Hehe, both my husband and I laughed when we heard 'another brother'

那时枫叶

又学会了检方prosecuter、保释金bail怎么说。。。

jiayi

又学会了检方prosecuter、保释金bail怎么说。。。
非娜 发表于 2010-1-13 10:12

                               
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It's my pleasure.

These days I have to pay more attention to start a project which is new in my weekend training course. So I'll pause the process of 'Study English every day' for about two weeks. After I am familiar with the new project, I'll be back.

Enjoy your learning English, I'll keep up with you later. It's better if you can take down it in the forum,then I can read it.

那时枫叶

Maybe I can...I've got some materials in hand and am pleased to share with you...

But it's really hard to insist on everyday. Anyway, I'll try...

那时枫叶

Wish you complete your project successfully!

jiayi

I am back.

February 1, 2010
http://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=2146376
ESL Podcast 173 - Buying Souvenirs
I was vacationing in Miami, Florida, and I went into a souvenir store to get some gifts for friends back home.

Lydia: Could you show me where the T-shirts are?

Clerk: Sure, they’re on the left, along the wall. Can I help you find something?

Lydia: I’d like to get a T-shirt, but I’m not sure about the size. It’s for a friend who is about your size.

Clerk: Well, in that case, you'll need a large . I only have these in medium or small, but I have these two in size large.

Lydia: Do you have anything in another color or another style?

Clerk: How about this one?

Lydia: That’s great. Could you also recommend a gift for a young woman?

Clerk: We have a lot of locally-made items. I don’t think you want a mug, a key chain, or a snow globe. But, how about some jewelry?

Lydia: Oh, this bracelet is nice. How much is it?

Clerk: It’s on sale for $36.

Lydia: Okay. I’ll take the T-shirt and the bracelet. Do you have a box for the bracelet?

Clerk: Sure, no problem. That will be $59.60 with tax.

Lydia: There you go.

Clerk: Here’s your change. Thanks for coming in!


Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
souvenir ---- sth that you buy when you go on vacation, you take a trip to somewhere else and you want sth to remember that place that you visited, sth you can take back home with you ,it maybe a picture, lots of different things that have the name of the place you visited, all of these could be souvenirs.

T-shirts --- a piece of casual clothing. Casual --- opposite to formal

Mug ---  cup, usually like a coffee cup.  A mug of hot tea.

Bracelet --- sth that goes around your wrist

about your size,  Could you also recommend , locally-made, There you go.

zhangyl

welcome back!

jiayi

732# zhangyl

Thank you!

jiayi

February 2, 2010
http://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=2156219
ESL Podcast 174 - A Potluck
Mike: Thanks a lot for agreeing to help me plan the block party.

Susan: Oh, I’m happy to help. I’m surprised you didn’t ask Bree. She’s so good at planning parties.

Mike: I thought about it, but I was afraid she would turn it into a cocktail party or something.

Susan: Yeah, I see what you mean. Well, I made a guest list to see how many people may be attending. We can put the invitations in their mailboxes this weekend. It will be a potluck so I’m asking people to RSVP and to let me know what they plan to bring.

Mike: What kind of things do we need?

Susan: Well, I’m asking people to bring a main dish, chip and dip, or dessert. It won’t be a BYOB like last year, so Lynette and Edie are bringing some soda. I can supply the paper plates and cups, and the plastic utensils.

Mike: That’s great. It sounds like you have everything under control.

Susan: I really can’t believe it. There’s a first time for everything!


Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
block party  --- a party where people who live in same area and same block have a picnic or a dinner, we would say they had get-together. get-together --- n. A meeting when people come together for a party informally.

Cocktail party --- a party that is more formal

RSVP --- v. French phrase, ask them to call or email to know if they’ll go or not

BYOB --- bring your own bottle (of alcohol/wine)

utensils --- [ju:ˈtensl] knives, spoons,etc.

jiayi

February 3, 2010
http://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=2166062
ESL Podcast 175 - Places to Live
Finding a new place to live isn’t always easy. I have been living in the same apartment for nine years and I thought it was time for a change. I have always wanted to buy a condo or a townhouse, but I didn’t have the money for a down payment. But now, I have a little money saved up and I want to buy a place of my own.

I didn’t want to go through a real estate agent yet so I started looking around the city on my own. I wasn’t sure if I wanted a townhouse or a single-family home. I didn’t want to live in a multi-story building anymore, not even if I had a penthouse unit. It was too noisy and I wanted a backyard for my dog, Shiloh.

I looked at a duplex as well as some traditional houses. One of the last houses I saw was a two-bedroom, one-bath bungalow. It was small enough for one person, but big enough for me and my dog. When Shiloh saw the backyard, I think it was love at first sight. I’d like to say that I pick the house, but really, it was Shiloh’s choice. I don’t think he would ever forgive me if I didn’t buy that house.


Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
down payment --- put money down ---  give someone part of money for what you are buying can use for a house or car

go through a real estate agent --- use the person who helps you buy or sale your house/condo
real estate: anything that has to do with property, a house, a building,etc

single-family home --- a house ,usually a house that not connected to any other houses

multi-story building --- building with many stories

penthouse --- [ˈpentˌhaʊs] the apartment on the top of the building. The penthouse unit/suite [swi:t]

duplex --- a building that has only two apartments or two units

bungalow --- a small house, usually has one floor

jiayi

In canada, use different expression:
single-family home --- detached
duplex --- semi-detached

jiayi

February 4,2010
http://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=2215277
ESL Podcast 176 - Time Off from Work
My buddy from college, Jack, was getting married and our friend Rob was planning a bachelor party for him in Vegas. It was going to be the last weekend of the month and I wanted to go. The trouble was, I was scheduled to work that weekend. I needed to get the time off from work or I was going to miss out on all the fun.

I have some vacation leave, but company policy requires that my boss sign off on any leave we take. I’ve heard of companies doing that for longer periods of leave —like maternity leave or a leave of absence—but our company does that even for vacation leave. I thought about just calling in sick that weekend—I do have a lot of accumulated sick leave—but I didn’t think my boss would appreciate me leaving him hanging.

In the end, I just asked him straight out and, to my surprise, he said, “okay.” Now, I just need to get ready for a wild weekend with the guys. I can’t wait!


Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
buddy --- informal term for friend

bachelor party --- a party for a bachelor who is going to get married. The man who is unmarried is called bachelor

time off from work --- when you don’t have to work, take a vocation or have a break from work

miss out on --- means that you’ll not be part of

leave --- break. Vacation leave, maternity leave(for a woman who have a bb), paternity leave(for father…)

a leave of absence --- that’s when you take time off from work but you normally don’t get paid

leaving him hanging --- abandon someone, you leave someone without any help

vacation leave, company policy , sign off on sth , calling in sick, accumulated sick leave, straight out, wild weekend

zhangyl

In canada, use different expression:
single-family home --- detached
duplex --- semi-detached
jiayi 发表于 2010-2-4 00:40

                               
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The styles of the houses in different cities have different nominal name.
Such as in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.

jiayi

February 5, 2010
http://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=2225120
ESL Podcast 177 – A Wild Driver
Yasmine and I were going to a show at the Staples Center and Yasmine was driving. My friends warned me about her driving, but they didn’t prepare me for this ride.

Pedro: Whoa, slow down! You almost rear- ended that SUV.

Yasmine: No I didn’t. Take it easy. I have everything under control. I’m not even speeding, that much. You’re the one who doesn’t want to be late for the show.

Pedro: Yeah, but I want to get there in one piece. Hey, what are you doing? You’re not going to make an illegal U-turn across four lanes of traffic, are you?

Yasmine: I have to.

Pedro: Why?

Yasmine: I was going the wrong way on a one- way street.

Pedro: Oh, geez. I think you just took 10 years off my life.

Yasmine: Don’t be such a wuss. Buckle up and enjoy the ride. We’re just getting started…


Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
rear- ended --- v. for a car hit another car
wuss  --- informal expression, that you would only use it on a good friend of  yours, sb who is weak, coward.
Buckle up --- put on your seatbelt in your car.
Wild driver, You’re the one who …, in one piece , one- way street,  took 10 years off my life ---

那时枫叶

thxs to Jiayi...finally I have time to read through these 4 posts...

have to say, the first one seems to be scripts quoted from the series: desperated housewives...'cause the characters name: mike,susan,bree,eddie,etc....