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Speak English Like an American
LESSON 01
BOB'S
DAY AT WORK
Bob works as a
manager in a furniture store. Peter, his boss, is
not happy about sales. Bob's
new
advertising campaign hasn't helped. Peter decides
to fire him.
Peter:
Bob, I
hate to break the news, but our sales were down
again last month.
Bob:
Down again, Peter?
Peter:
Yeah.
These
days,
everybody's
shopping
at
our
competition,
Honest
Abe's
Furniture
Store.
Bob:
But everything in there
costs an arm and a leg!
Peter:
That's
true. They do charge top dollar.
Bob:
And their
salespeople are very strange. They really give me
the creeps!
Peter:
Well,
they must be doing something right over there.
Meanwhile, we're about to go
belly-up.
Bob:
I'm
sorry to hear that. I thought my new advertising
campaign would save the day.
Peter:
Let's face it: your
advertising campaign was a real flop.
Bob:
Well then I'll go back to
the drawing board.
Peter:
It's too late for that.
You're fired!
Bob:
What? You're giving me the ax?
Peter:
Yes. I've already found a
new manager. She's as sharp as a tack.
Bob:
Can't we even
talk this over? After all, I've been working here
for 10 years!
Peter:
There's no point in
arguing, Bob. I've already made up my mind.
Bob:
Oh
well, at least I won't have to put up with your
nonsense anymore! Good-bye to
you and
good-bye to this dead-end job.
Peter:
Please
leave before I lose my temper!
LESSON 02 BOB
RETURNS HOME WITH BAD NEWS
Bob tells his wife Susan that he lost
his job. Susan suggests that he start his own
business.
Susan:
What's the matter, dear?
Bob:
Susan, I got
canned today at work.
Susan:
But Bob,
you were Peter's right-hand man!
Bob:
Yes, and he stabbed me in
the back.
Susan:
Keep your
chin up. Maybe he'll change his mind and take you
back.
Bob: When pigs fly! Once he
makes up his mind, he never changes it. Besides, I
told him off.
Susan: Look on the
bright side: you won't have to set eyes on Peter
ever again.
Bob: Thank goodness for
that!
Susan: Hang in there. I'm sure
you won't be out of work for long
Bob:
In the meantime, we'll have to live from hand to
mouth.
Susan: Don't get too stressed
out, Bob. We'll make ends meet.
Bob: I can always get a
job at McDonald's as a last resort.
Susan: I don't think they're hiring
right now.
Bob: If worse comes to
worst, we can sell our home and move into a tent.
Susan: Let's think big! Maybe you can
start your own business.
Bob:
Easier said than done!
LESSON 03 TED'S DAY AT SCHOOL
Ted tells his parents he did poorly on
his chemistry test. They tell him he needs to get
serious
and study more.
Susan: How was your day at school
today, Ted?
Ted: Bad. I had a
chemistry test, and I blew it!
Susan:
Maybe if you didn't cut class so often, you'd do
better.
Bob: That's right, son.
Stop slacking off and start hitting the books!
Ted: But I can't stand chemistry
class. Besides, it's a lost cause. That class is
way over my head.
Susan: You need to buckle down.
Ted: When I'm a famous musician,
people won't give a hoot about my knowledge of
atoms
and molecules.
Bob:
That's beside the point.
Susan: We
know you have your heart set on going to New York
University.
Bob: And you don't
stand a chance of getting in there with such poor
grades!
LESSON
04 NICOLE'S DAY AT SCHOOL
Nicole
tells
her
mother
Susan
about
her
successful
presentation
at
school.
Her
brother
Ted
overhears and interrupts the
conversation.
Susan:
How was your day at school today,
Nicole?
Nicole:
It
was
great,
Mom.
I
gave
a
presentation
on
Hillary
Clinton
in
government
class.
Afterwards, my
teacher paid me a compliment.
Susan:
What did
she say?
Nicole:
She said
my presentation was head and shoulders above the
others.
Susan:
Way to go!
Nicole: She also said I should go into
politics, just like Hillary.
Ted:
You're so gung ho about
school. It drives me crazy.
Nicole:
Ted,
don't butt in! You're just jealous.
Ted:
Right. You hit
the nail on the head. I'm green with envy.
Nicole:
Would you just shut up? You're on thin
ice with me right now.
Ted:
Oh no! Look at me. I'm
shaking in my shoes!
LESSON 05 TED GOES OUT FOR THE EVENING
Ted leaves to go visit his girlfriend
Amber. Ted's mother Susan says she doesn't really
like
Amber She wishes him a good time
anyway.
Ted: See you later, Mom!
Susan: Where are you going, Ted?
Ted: I told Amber I'd drop by.
Susan: What are you two going to do?
Ted: Maybe go to the movies or to a
party. Our plans are still up in the air.
Susan: Why don't you invite her over
here?
Ted: I don't want to hang
around here. Dad is really down in the dumps.
Susan: Is Amber the girl with the nose
ring and the purple hair?
Ted:
Yeah. I'm crazy about her!
Susan:
Don't take this the wrong way, but she's not
exactly my cup of tea.
Ted: Take it
easy, Mom. We're not about to get married. We just
enjoy hanging out together.
Susan: I guess there's no
accounting for taste. Have a good time.
Ted: Don't worry. We'll have a
blast!
Susan: (under her breath)
That's what I'm afraid of!
LESSON 06 SUSAN STAYS HOME AND BAKES
COOKIES
Susan decides to cheer up her
husband. Bob loves her homemade cookies. Nicole
suggests she
start a cookie business.
Susan: Bob, I baked cookies for you.
Bob: That was so nice of you, dear.
You've got a heart of gold! Susan: Go ahead and
pig out!
Bob: These are delicious!
Susan: I thought they might cheer you
up. You've been in a bad mood lately.
Bob: I guess I have been a little on
edge. But these cookies are just what the doctor
ordered!
Nicole:
Do I
smell cookies? Susan: Yes, Nicole. Help yourself.
Nicole:
Yum-yum.* These are
out of this world. You could go into business
selling these!
Bob: You could call
them Susan's Scrumptious Cookies. You'd make a
bundle. Susan: Good
thinking!
Nicole:
Don't forget to
give me credit for the idea after you're rich and
famous!
Susan: You know I always give
credit where credit is due!
LESSON 07 SUSAN HIRES BOB
TO RUN HER BUSINESS
Susan
stays up all night thinking about her cookie
business. In the morning, she discusses it
with Bob. Bob agrees to work for her.
Bob:
You're up bright and early this
morning, Susan.
Susan:
I didn't
sleep a wink. I was awake all night thinking about
the new business.
Bob:
Running your own business is lots of
work. Are you prepared to work like a dog?
Susan:
No. But I am prepared to hire you to
run the business.
Bob:
You
want me to run a cookie business? Fat chance!
Susan:
Why not?
Bob:
I don't have a clue about
making cookies. I don't even know how to turn the
oven on!
Susan:
I'll give you a crash course.
Bob:
Do I have to do
the baking?
Susan:
No.
You'll just manage the business side.
Bob: Needless to say, I have mixed
feelings about working for you.
Susan:
I'll be nice. I promise you'll be a happy camper.
Bob: Okay. Let's give it a shot,
boss!
LESSON 08
TED FORMS A ROCK BAND
Ted plans to
become a successful musician. First, he needs
Susan to loan him money for a new
guitar Susan suggests that Ted bake
cookies to earn the money.
Susan:
You're in good spirits today, Ted.
Ted: I've got great news, Mom.
Susan: What is it?
Ted:
Amber and I are going to start a rock band!
Susan: Good for you!
Ted:
Mom, I'm not going to beat around the bush. I need
to borrow $$1,000 for a new guitar.
Susan: Ted, your father and I can't
shell out that much. We aren't made of money.
Ted: You're not? I thought you were
millionaires, like Donald and Ivana Trump!*
Susan: Ha ha. This is no time to be a
wise guy!
Ted: I promise I'll pay
you back.
Susan: How?
Ted: We're going to take the music
world by storm and make lots of money.
Susan: That sounds like a pipe dream.
Aren't high school rock bands a dime a dozen?
Ted: Yeah, but we're different. With
my guitar playing and Amber's beautiful voice,
we're sure
to make a splash!
Susan: Well, we're going through hard
times. You're going to have to work for that
$$1,000.
Ted: How?
Susan: You can bake cookies.
Ted:
I bet Mrs.
Clapton never made Eric** bake cookies, but I
guess those are the breaks.
* Donald Trump
is a famous American millionaire who made his
money in real estate. Ivana is his ex-wife.
** Eric Clapton
is a very popular guitarist.
LESSON 09 NICOLE FOR PRESIDENT!
Nicole discusses her plans to run for
student body president. Nicole wants Ted to ask
his friend
s to vote for her. Ted
agrees, in exchange for Nicole's help with his
homework.
Nicole: I've decided to run
for student body president! If I'm going to become
a senator one
day, I should get some
experience under my belt now.
Ted:
Andrea Jenkins is also running. She'll give you a
run for your money!
Nicole:
Andrea Jenkins is an idiot. I'm by far
the better candidate.
Ted: Don't be
so full of yourself! I might vote for Andrea.
Nicole:
Stop kidding
around. Let's get down to business. I need your
help.
Ted: You want me to help you!
Nicole:
Yes. I need you to
talk your friends into voting for me.
Ted: But you never give my friends
the time of day. All you give them is the cold
shoulder.
Nicole:
That's
because they've got blue hair and nose rings!
Ted: They're better than your
friends -- a bunch of goody-goodies and brown-
nosers!
Nicole:
That's
beside the point. Let's talk about your friends
and their votes.
Ted: Okay. You
scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. If you do
my chemistry homework, I'll
help you
get the votes.
Nicole: I'm not crazy
about that idea. But, okay, it's a deal. I hope I
can count on you.
LESSON 10 BOB VISITS THE VILLAGE MARKET
Bob goes to the Village Market, a
supermarket in town. He asks Carol, the owner of
the store,
if she would like to sell
Susan's Scrumptious Cookies. Carol agrees, but
isn't able to tell Bob how
much she'll
pay him.
Bob: Thank you for making
time for me today, Carol.
Carol:
Don't mention it, Bob. What's up?
Bob:
My wife baked these cookies from scratch. Please
take one.
Carol: Mmmm, chewy. These
are out of this world!
Bob: My
wife's a great cook.
Carol: You can
say that again. I don't want to make a pig of
myself, but let me take a few more.
Bob: Oink oink! Just kidding!
Carol: I'd like to sell these at the
Village Market. My customers will go nuts over
these!
Bob: How much would you pay
us for each cookie?
Carol: I'm not
sure. I need to roll up my sleeves and figure out
the finances.
Bob: Can you give me
a ballpark figure now?
Carol: I don't
want to jump the gun. Sit tight for now, and we'll
talk things over this evening.
LESSON 11 BOB DRIVES A HARD
BARGAIN
Carol from the Village Market
calls Bob to discuss Susan's Scrumptious Cookies.
Carol and Bob
discuss how much Bob will
receive for each cookie. Carol: Hi Bob. How's it
going? Bob: Fine tha
nks, Carol. How
are you?
Carol: Can't complain. Bob,
I've had a chance to crunch some numbers. I can
pay you 50 cents
per cookie.
Bob: That's out of the question. At
that price, it's not worth our while. The
ingredients alone
cost us 30 cents per
cookie.
Carol: Okay, let me sweeten
the deal -- 60 cents per cookie?
Bob:
Carol, my wife and I need to make a living from
this business.
Carol: Okay, okay,
you've twisted my arm. I'll pay you 75 cents per
cookie. Take it or leave it!
Bob:
Now you're talking! We'll take it.
Carol: You drive a hard bargain, Bob.
Bob: Yes, but we make a good cookie.
Carol: Let's get the ball rolling.
Bring me 2,000 cookies on Monday morning by 9 a.m.
LESSON 12 BOB'S
BIG COOKIE ORDER
The family is gathered
around the dinner table. Bob tells them about his
deal with the Village
Market. He asks
his kids for help baking the cookies.
Bob: I know I've been down in the
dumps since I got fired, but things are looking up
now. The
Village Market wants to sell our
cookies. Nicole: That's great news, Dad!
Bob: We're going to have to bake
like crazy over the weekend. They want 2,000
cookies by