LOS CURSOS DE INGLES
GRATIS PREFERIDOS POR LOS HISPANOHABLANTES
Two
Students
STEP
3
Listening
and Checking with transcription
In
this last step, listen to the conversation again while you read
the transcription. Finally, read the glossary information and notes at
the bottom. This step also means good practice for your reading
comprehension skills.
Two
students -a girl and a boy- are engaged in making plans for a party to be given by an
organization they belong to at their university. The
boy, who is in charge, has
recently met with a faculty member to have the plans approved. Let's
listen to their conversation...
STUDENT
1
What
did he say when you told him about our plans?
STUDENT
2
Well,
it wasn't as bad as I expected. I thought he'd just give us a flat-out
"No."
STUDENT
1
It's
OK, then?
STUDENT
2
Well,
maybe. But he put a lot of conditions on what we could do.
STUDENT
1
Like
what?
STUDENT
2
Well,
we can't spend as much money as we'd hoped, so I'll have to cut back on the decorations.
STUDENT
1
But
that was such a neat idea. I don't see how we can do it
any cheaper.
STUDENT
2
I
know. I felt the same way. But, you know, I've thought of another way
we can handle it that might be even better.
STUDENT
1
Oh?
You mean really better, or are you just trying to find an excuse for givingin to the
old man?
STUDENT
2
No,
I really think it'll work. It seems sort of complicated to describe,
but if everybody
does their part...
STUDENT
1
Well,
what is this great new plan?
STUDENT
2
O.K.
Let's stop in here and have a cup of coffee, and I'll tell you all
about it.
STUDENT
1
I'm
all ears.
GLOSSARY
& NOTES
they
belong to
= to which they have incorporated
in
charge
= in control; responsible
met
with
= had a meeting with
flat-out
= absolute; unconditional
Like what? = Give me an
example. (informal)
cut back on = decrease;
reduce; curtail.
neat = good; excellent;
wonderful. (slang)
cheaper:Cheap (comparative: cheaper) is sometimes used as an
adverb; but standard usage requires cheaply (comparative: more
cheaply).
giving in = yielding;
surrendering.
the old man: a term used
to designate any man in a position of authority (informal).
everybody
does their part = everybody does his part. Traditionally,
everybody and everyone have required a singular verb and a singular
pronoun: Everybody does his part.
However, the plural pronoun their is increasingly used with these words in informal speech. This
increased use and acceptability of the plural pronoun in recent years
is probably due in large part to the felt inadequacy of the masculine
pronoun his to include both
sexes, together with the cumbersomeness of the possible alternative
phrase his or her.
I'm all ears = I'm eager
to hear about it (slang).
Source:
English Teaching Forum - Authors: Kathleen Seley & Lewis Barnett
