#0965 - Meeting Your Boyfriend’s Girlfriend’s Parents, - Ang, mater, ESL Podcast McQuillan Jeff mp3+PDF
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//-->English as a Second Language Podcastwww.eslpod.comESL Podcast 965 – Meeting YourBoyfriend/Girlfriend’s ParentsGLOSSARYas ready as (one) will ever be– a phrase used to show that one is not feelingconfident about doing something, but has done as much preparation as possibleand is agreeing to make it happen* After weeks of studying, Benjamin is as ready as he’ll ever be to take thecollege entrance exam.to work up– to generate; to create a feeling or emotion; to get excited aboutsomething* What can the public schools do to work up interest in careers in science,technology, engineering, and math?enthusiasm– excitement; a feeling of looking forward to doing something andwanting to do it* The third interviewee had the best qualifications for the job, but he didn’t showmuch enthusiasm for working in our company.to pass muster– to be acceptable; to meet some minimum standard orexpectation* If these designs don’t pass muster with the client, we’ll have to start over again.open-minded– willing to consider and accept new ideas and opinions that maymay not be what one previously thought* I really don’t like the idea of painting the house bright orange, but I’m trying toremain open-minded.nonjudgmental– not evaluating other people or things; not deciding whethersomething is good or bad; tolerant* A good priest has to be nonjudgmental, so that people are willing to talk abouttheir fears and doubts.like oil and water– not compatible; not able to get along; with many differencesthat make it difficult to build a relationship or reach an understanding* Even though they’re brothers, they have such different personalities that they’relike oil and water.to make a good first impression– to be likeable to people the first time onemeets them; for others to immediately like and respect a person after meetinghim/her* The best way to make a good first impression is to dress nicely and make eyecontact.1These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2013). Posting ofthese materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.English as a Second Language Podcastwww.eslpod.comESL Podcast 965 – Meeting YourBoyfriend/Girlfriend’s Parentsto win (someone) over– to change someone’s opinion in one’s favor slowly,over time; to gradually make a person like a person or thing* Nobody liked the new sales campaign at first, but we gradually won over thesalespeople as they saw their commissions increase.cakewalk– something that is very easy to do; something simple to accomplish* After taking advanced math classes this summer, algebra will be a cakewalk.to run the gauntlet– to experience many problems or threats, based on apunishment in which a person must run between two lines of people who arehitting that person* Buying a new house was like running the gauntlet, but in the end everythingworked out.to show up– to appear, especially unexpectedly or when one does not knowhow many will appear* How many people showed up at the press conference?to ambush (someone)– to attack someone unexpectedly as a surprise* The deer were ambushed by the hunters.to back out– change one’s mind and decide not to do something that one hasalready committed to doing* Once we sign this partnership agreement, we can’t back out.to put on (one’s) game face– a facial expression used to hide one’s emotionsand make one seem stronger, especially when entering a competition or adifficult situation* Make sure to put on your game face before we start the negotiations.to make a break for it– to leave unexpectedly and very quickly when one nolonger wants to be in a particular situation* The boys stole a camera from the store and tried to make a break for it, but apolice officer caught them.2These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2013). Posting ofthese materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.English as a Second Language Podcastwww.eslpod.comESL Podcast 965 – Meeting YourBoyfriend/Girlfriend’s ParentsCOMPREHENSION QUESTIONS1.a)b)c)2.a)b)c)Why doesn’t Judy want to meet Ronny’s parents?Because she thinks they won’t like her.Because she thinks she won’t like them.Because she doesn’t know what to talk about.What does Ronny mean when he says, “Put on your game face”?He wants her to stop crying.He wants her to smile.He wants her to stop looking nervous.______________WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?to work upThe phrase “to work up,” in this podcast, means to generate, to create a feelingor emotion, or to get excited about something: “Try to work up some excitementabout the race. It means a lot to Heather.” Or, “Why are you getting so worked upabout the dress rehearsal?” The phrase “to work out” means to do exercise: “Doyou prefer to work out in the gym, or outside?” The phrase “to work up” means todevelop or create something: “How long did it take you to work up those numbersfor the report?” Finally, the phrase “to work up an appetite” means to dosomething that makes one hungry: “I really worked up an appetite on that hike!”to show upIn this podcast, the phrase “to show up” means to appear, especiallyunexpectedly or when one does not know how many will appear: “Sheila wasreally upset that Blain didn’t show up until 9:30.” The phrase “to show off” meansto try to make other people admire oneself: “Nobody likes Pete because he’salways showing off, trying to prove that he’s smarter than everyone else in theroom.” The phrase “to show (one’s) face” means to have the courage to appearin a place where one is not welcome and/or where one should be ashamed:“How dare she show her face here after what she said?” Finally, the phrase “toshow (one’s) hand” means to stop keeping a secret and share one’s trueintentions: “Their negotiators forced us to show our hand long before we wantedto.”3These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2013). Posting ofthese materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.English as a Second Language Podcastwww.eslpod.comESL Podcast 965 – Meeting YourBoyfriend/Girlfriend’s ParentsCULTURE NOTETraditions Related to Meeting the ParentsMeeting the parents of a boyfriend or girlfriend is an important “milestone” (anevent with great meaning that marks progress toward a goal) in a relationship. Ingeneral, people do not bring a “romantic partner” (a person with whom one is in aromantic relationship) home to meet their parents until they are in a seriousrelationship with that person or believe they might want to spend the rest of theirlife with that person. In other words, being asked to meet the parents oftenmeans that the other person may be interested in getting married sometime inthe future.Meeting the parents can be stressful, because “presumably” (one can assume)the parents will share their opinion of oneself with their son or daughter, and thatcould “influence” (affect) the “course of the relationship” (what happens next inthe relationship). So when meeting the parents, people are usually “on their bestbehavior” (wanting to behave as well as possible). They generally speak verypolitely, addressing the parents as by their last name, such as Mr./Mrs. Smith,unless the parents ask them to use their first name.When meeting the parents, it’s a good idea to bring a gift, such as a “bouquet offlowers” (a group of cut flowers arranged to look nice), a bottle of wine, or a boxof chocolates. In most cases, the visitor is expected to sit in the living room ordining room and make pleasant conversation, but it is always a good idea to“pitch in to help” (offer assistance), either to prepare the meal or to clean upafterward.______________Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – a; 2 – c4These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2013). Posting ofthese materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.English as a Second Language Podcastwww.eslpod.comESL Podcast 965 – Meeting YourBoyfriend/Girlfriend’s ParentsCOMPLETE TRANSCRIPTWelcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 965 – Meeting YourBoyfriend’s/Girlfriend’s Parents.This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 965. 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. Become a member of ESL Podcast by going to ourwebsite. While you’re there, take a look at our ESL Podcast Blog and our ESLPodcast Store.This episode is a dialogue between Ronny and Judy about meeting the parentsof your boyfriend or girlfriend – always a interesting experience. Let’s get started.[start of dialogue]Ronny: Ready?Judy: Ready as I’ll ever be.Ronny: Try to work up a little enthusiasm about meeting my parents.Judy: It’s not them I’m worried about. It’s me. What if I don’t pass muster?Ronny: My parents are going to love you. They’re open-minded andnonjudgmental people. They won’t care about anything except that I like you andyou make me happy.Judy: Me and parents are like oil and water. I’ve never been good at making agood first impression.Ronny: Then you’ll gradually win them over. Meeting my parents will be acakewalk. They’re nice people. It’s not like you’ll be running the gauntlet meetingmy nine brothers.Judy: You didn’t tell them I’d be meeting your parents tonight, did you?Ronny: I may have mentioned it to Mark. Why?Judy: What if they decide to show up and ambush me?5These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2013). Posting ofthese materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.
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