#0624 – Advantages and Disadvantages in Life, - Ang, mater, ESL Podcast McQuillan Jeff mp3+PDF
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//-->English as a Second Language Podcastwww.eslpod.comESL Podcast 624 – Advantages and Disadvantages in LifeGLOSSARYto make (someone) sick– to make someone very angry or jealous; to causestrong negative emotions* It makes me sick to know that he has been lying to us for so long.to bust (one’s) butt– to work very hard; to do a lot of work* Heather busts her butt at the office all day long and expects the house to beclean and dinner to be ready when she gets home.to be born with a silver spoon in (one’s) mouth– to be born into a rich family;to grow up in a family with a lot of money and privileges* Shannon was born with a silver spoon in her mouth and didn’t have to get a jobuntil she was in her late 20s.to pull (oneself) up by (one’s) bootstraps– to work very hard to improve one’ssituation in life, without receiving help from other people* When Hans came to this country, he had only $20, but he pulled himself up byhis bootstraps and became a successful businessman and homeowner.pleasantly surprised– having received information that one was not expecting,but that is good and positive* We were pleasantly surprised when the store’s owner apologized for themistake by giving us a $100 gift card.blue blood– a person who belongs to the richest, most powerful, and mosthighly respected part of society; a person who is part of the elite upper class* They spent the weekend with other blue bloods, going to horse races andsailing on yachts, spending thousands of dollars without even thinking about it.privilege– advantage; something that one has or does when most other peopledo not* These days, a good education is often a privilege, but many people believe thateveryone should have access to a good education, no matter where they live orhow much money they have.old money– wealth that has been in a family for a long time; money that hasbeen passed from one generation to another* The Rockefeller family has old money from the oil business.1These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2010). Posting ofthese materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.English as a Second Language Podcastwww.eslpod.comESL Podcast 624 – Advantages and Disadvantages in Lifeto do no wrong– to be unable to make a mistake or error; for one’s mistakesand errors to be forgiven, ignored, or overlooked by other people* Most parents think their children can do no wrong and get angry if anyonecriticizes them.to hold (someone) accountable– to make someone be responsible for his orher actions and accept the consequences; to punish or reward someone for whathe or she has done* If we break the law, we’ll be held accountable and forced to pay a fine and/orspend time in jail.to get a break– to have an unusual opportunity to do something, often becausethe situation changed; to have good luck and be able to do something* Pierre is working so hard to sell his artwork. If he could just get a break, I’msure he’d become famous.wrong side of the tracks– in an undesirable part of town, where people arepoorer and the houses aren’t as nice, often where there is a lot of crime* As a teenager, Maggie wasn’t allowed to date anyone from the wrong side ofthe tracks.white trash– an informal, rude phrase used to refer to Caucasian (light-skinned)people who are poor, have little education, and have bad jobs or are unemployed* Hugo’s family is white trash and none of his relatives have finished high school.So what?– a phrase used to show that something isn’t important or relevant* She has a degree from a good university, but so what? If she doesn’t have anyprofessional experience, she isn’t qualified for the job.to pay (one’s) dues– to spend a long period of time working in unimportant,low-paying jobs before one can get a better job in a business or organization* John paid his dues for six years in the mailroom before he was finally promotedwithin the company.to get used to (something)– to become accustomed to something; forsomething to begin to seem normal, common, or ordinary* When Edna moved to Malaysia, it took her a long time to get used to the food.not on your life– an informal phrase used to mean that something is impossibleand will not happen under any circumstances2These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2010). Posting ofthese materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.English as a Second Language Podcastwww.eslpod.comESL Podcast 624 – Advantages and Disadvantages in Life* - Are you going to Yuki’s party tonight?*- Not on your life! I don’t like spending time with her friends.______________COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS1.a)b)c)2.a)b)c)What does Andy mean when he says, “We bust our butts around here”?They work really hard at the office.Their jobs include a lot of physical exercise.The employees were keeping a secret.What is a “blue blood”?A person who is very cold-hearted.A person who is not generous.A person from a wealthy family.______________WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?to make (someone) sickThe phrase “to make (someone) sick,” in this podcast, means to make someonevery angry or jealous, or to cause someone to feel strong negative emotions: “Itmakes me sick to hear you say such mean things about your own parents.” Thephrase “to make (someone) sick (to one’s stomach)” means to make someonenauseous and maybe to make someone vomit or throw up: “When Becca waspregnant, the smell of meat made her sick to her stomach.” The phrase “to besick and tired of (something)” means to be very bored with something that onehas had or done many times: “I’m sick and tired of going to work each day. Ineed a vacation!” The phrase “sick to death” has the same meaning: “We’re allsick to death of hearing about the economic recession.”to get a breakIn this podcast, the phrase “to get a break” means to have an unusualopportunity to do something, often because the situation changed: “Maxine got abreak when a tornado destroyed almost all the other apple orchards in the areaand she was able to start selling her apples for more money.” The phrase “totake a break” means to have a short period of time when one stops working3These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2010). Posting ofthese materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.English as a Second Language Podcastwww.eslpod.comESL Podcast 624 – Advantages and Disadvantages in Lifeduring the day, when one can rest: “Saida usually takes a break around 10:30 todrink a cup of coffee in the cafeteria.” The phrase “to give (someone) a break”means to stop doing something that is irritating: “I’m so tired of hearing youcomplain! Give me a break!” Finally, the phrase “to make a break for(something)” means to begin running quickly, trying to escape: “When the policeofficer turned her head, the criminal made a break for the exit.”______________CULTURE NOTEMost American families do not have “servants” (people who work in their homeson a regular basis), but some “wealthy” (rich) families have “household help” to“maintain” (continue the operations of) their large homes.For example, some wealthy families have a “live-in” (staying in the home, livingwith the family) “nanny,” which is a person, usually a woman, who takes care ofthe children. Paying for a nanny is usually much more expensive than paying for“daycare” (a child care arrangement with children going to a place outside of thehome where they are cared for every day), but it allows the children to develop apersonal relationship with their nanny.Some wealthy families have anau pairinstead. Anau pairis similar to a nanny,but is a young person from another country. Anau pairwants to learn English,so she stays with the family and “looks after” (cares for) the children, usuallyreceiving a small “salary” (money received for working).When large homes have large “lawns” (garden areas), the family might have aprofessional “gardener” (a person who takes care of the plants in outdoor areas)who works only in that particular home. Wealthy families can also have“housekeepers” or “maids” (women who clean the home), cooks, and “butlers.” Abutler, usually a man, is responsible for managing the household, coordinatingthe services of the other servants and making sure that everything “runssmoothly” (happens without problems). Finally, some wealthy families have“chauffeurs” who drive them wherever they need to go.______________Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – a; 2 – c4These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2010). Posting ofthese materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.English as a Second Language Podcastwww.eslpod.comESL Podcast 624 – Advantages and Disadvantages in LifeCOMPLETE TRANSCRIPTWelcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 624: Advantagesand Disadvantages in Life.This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 624. I’m your host, Dr.Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development inbeautiful Los Angeles, California.Our website is eslpod.com. Go there to download a Learning Guide for thisepisode. You can download the Learning Guides you become a member of ESLPodcast. Not only will you get the Learning Guide, but also the satisfaction ofknowing that you are helping support this podcast.This episode is called “Advantages (which are things that help you in somesituation) and Disadvantages (things that hurt you) in Life.” Let’s get started.[start of dialogue]Andy: Doesn’t it make you sick? We bust our butts around here and the bossbrings in his nephew to be the new manager.Nia: You never know. He may be a good boss.Andy: I doubt it. He’s getting this opportunity just because he was born with asilver spoon in his mouth. He didn’t have to pull himself up by his bootstraps likethe rest of us.Nia: I’m going to wait and see how he is as a manager. I’m hoping to bepleasantly surprised.Andy: If you’re a blue blood like he is, born into privilege and old money, you cando no wrong.Nia: That’s not true. He’ll be held accountable for how this department performs.Andy: But when does somebody like me get a break? Okay, I was born on thewrong side of the tracks. I grew up in a white trash neighborhood. So what?I’ve worked hard to get where I am now. That guy hasn’t paid his dues like Ihave.5These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2010). Posting ofthese materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.
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