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Topics: Presidents: George Washington; SeaWorld; Q&A Words: colonel to resign to boycott unanimously to set precedent hatchet dentures sea ride roller coaster attraction in captivity power force hurt locker inglorious bastard How bad can it get?

Learn how to talk to a professor during office hours about missed class work in English. Dialogue/Story [A knock on the door.] Jeff: Come in. Julie: Hi, Dr. McQuillan, I'm Julie Taylor. I'm in your two o'clock class on Thursdays. Jeff: Hi, Julie. Have a seat. What can I do for you? Julie: I wanted to come see you during your office hours because I missed class last week. I had a family emergency. Jeff: I'm sorry to hear that. We went over a lot of material, so make sure you get the notes from another student in class. Julie: Thanks, I will. Did you give any assignments? Jeff: Yes, I assigned an essay on the topics in chapter three of your textbook. Julie: Oh, I see. Are there guidelines for the essay? Jeff: Yes, it should be 8 to 10 pages, and it's due in two weeks. Take a look at your syllabus. It has more details. Julie: I will. Thanks a lot. I've also been meaning to talk to you about the trouble I'm having keeping up in class. I'm having trouble understanding the lectures. Is there anything you would suggest? Jeff: Some students tape-record the lectures and listen to them afterwards. That seems to help. Julie: That's a great idea. I'll definitely try that. I'm wondering if you give extra credit in your class. Jeff: No, I don't give extra credit assignments. But if you're worried about passing, there are still two more tests to pull up your grade. Julie: Yes, I'll study hard for those. Thanks a lot for your time. Jeff: No problem. See you in class. Julie: Okay, Professor McQuillan. See you Thursday.

Script: Georgia: So I thought Carla was nice. Andy: You did? I didn’t get that impression at all. I don’t know what Brian sees in her. Georgia: Really? I thought she was really trying to make a good impression. Andy: Yeah, she was trying too hard. She laughed too loudly at my jokes and complimented you too much on your cooking. Georgia: Maybe she was a little too eager, but that just shows that she really likes our brother. What’s wrong with that? Andy: Nothing is wrong with that, but did you see how clingy she was? She wouldn’t leave Brian’s side for a minute, spoke for him, and finished his sentences. I just found that really annoying. Georgia: Brian didn’t seem to mind and that’s what really counts. Maybe he likes having an attentive girlfriend. Andy: There’s attentive and there’s smothering. She just seemed really possessive, that’s all. Georgia: Methinks the gentleman doth protest too much. Andy: What do you mean by that? Georgia: I think you might like Carla a little too much for your own good. Shame on you, being interested in your own brother’s girlfriend. Andy: Are you crazy?! Didn’t I just tell you that I didn’t like her at all? Georgia: Yes, but you said it with such passion!

Script: Dennis: I just got a new sales job and I’m going to be making a bundle. Irene: What kind of job is it? Dennis: I’ll be working strictly on commission. The more I sell, the more I earn. It’s a great opportunity for someone with my talents in sales. Irene: I know you’re great at sales and I’m sure you’ll do well, but you can’t coast in a job based on commissions. You’ll have to work really, really hard. Dennis: I’m not worried. For me, selling is second nature. I’ll barely have to lift a finger and the profits will come rolling in. Irene: But isn’t your paycheck going to be in flux all the time? You’ll never know what your take-home pay will be. Dennis: There’s no cap on how much I can earn, so the sky’s the limit. Irene: That’s not exactly what I meant. Some weeks, it may be hard to live on what you earn, don’t you think? Dennis: What? Do I hear a hint of uncertainty in your voice? Irene: No, it’s just that… Dennis: Put your mind at ease. I could sell ice to Alaskans!

Topics: Emily Dickinson; the Lindbergh kidnapping; Q&A Words: poet to rhyme prolific recluse eccentric ahead of (one’s) time to kidnap ransom sensational fingerprint to be sentenced to death to confess sure of course certainly either Imma be

Learn how to cash a check and make a deposit at the bank in English. Dialogue/Story The local branch of my bank is located just a few blocks from where I live. It's very convenient, since it has four ATMs open 24/7. Today I had to go make a deposit, but because I wanted to cash a check as well, I needed to go inside to talk to a teller. Inside the bank, I got in line for the tellers. All of the tellers are behind a large piece of bulletproof glass, so you have to speak up when you are talking to them. When I got to the head of the line, the cashier asked, "How may I help you?" I said, "I'd like to deposit this payroll check into my checking account and cash this cashier's check." "Certainly," she said, "just endorse the back of both checks and put them in the tray." I said, "Sure. And can I get that in small bills - tens and twenties?" I waited for her to process my checks. Then she said, "Here you are," and counted out the cash and put it in an envelope. "Thank you," I said, and walked away. Now that I have some money burning a hole in my pocket, I guess I'd better spend it!

Script: Hitomi: What are you unboxing? Jason: This is my new smartphone. It has every feature under the sun! Hitomi: Every feature? Jason: It has a high quality camera and video camera, and it’s a videophone. It has a great GPS program, too. The touch-screen and the keyboard are easy to use and everything is so intuitive. Even a child could use it. Hitomi: Yeah, but a child couldn’t afford the expensive price tag, right? Jason: True enough, but it has a removable SIM card and is Bluetooth compatible. I can even use it as an e-book reader, and download apps for just about anything I want to do. No child’s toy could do all of those things. Hitomi: Yes, that’s true, but I have just one question. Jason: What? Hitomi: Can you make a telephone call on it? Jason: A telephone call? You mean a regular phone call? Yes, I think so.

Script: Elena: How do you like your new job at the Veteran’s Hospital? Wieland: I like it a lot. It’s really rewarding. Elena: What do you do there, exactly? Wieland: My job is to help returning vets who have been physically injured adjust to living with their medical disabilities. Elena: You mean people who have lost limbs? Wieland: Yes, some of the vets have had one or more limbs amputated. But that’s only one of the many disabilities we see at the hospital. For instance, this week I’m working with a vet who suffered serious hearing loss and a woman who has developed a visual impairment. Elena: It sounds like a very hard job. Wieland: It can be, but it’s also inspiring sometimes. I’ve seen people who are paralyzed – paraplegics and quadriplegics – overcome their disabilities and lead full and happy lives. With the help of wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs, seeing-eye dogs, and modified cars, a lot of people with disabilities can learn to be independent. That’s part of my job. Elena: Then you’re just the person I need to help my brother. Wieland: Is he disabled? Elena: Yes, he has a serious case of paralysis, caused by extreme laziness. Is there any help for him?

Topics: Movies: It's a Wonderful Life; Cape Cod; Q&A Words: unselfishness fraud to take (one’s) anger out on (someone) to commit suicide guardian angel inspirational cape year-round bed and breakfast vineyard to swell sign language backward / backwards to agree with to agree to to agree on howdy

Topics American Movies: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial · The MacArthur Fellows Program · Questions and Answers Key Terms extra-terrestrial alien to be stranded to lure psychic highest-grossing foundation genius merit no strings attached percussionist silversmith important significant critical tough navel-gazing

Script: I forgot to set my alarm last night and I woke up later than usual. I was tempted to skip my morning shave, but I hate having long stubble all day. I like to be clean-shaven every day. I’m the kind of guy who gets a five-o’clock shadow early in the afternoon, so if I skipped my morning shave, I’d look like I was growing a beard by the end of the day. I went into the bathroom and picked up my shaving cream. I lathered up my face and checked to see that my razor was sharp and that I didn’t need to replace the razor blades. There’s nothing worse than trying to shave with a dull razor. I tried using an electric razor for a while, but I could never get a close enough shave. I tried to focus on shaving my neck, chin, and cheeks. I was in too much of a hurry, though, and nicked myself on the neck. I hate it when that happens! I knew I was in too much of a hurry, but I was going to be really late. Oh, I did it again! This time I nicked myself on the chin. “Okay,” I said to myself, “slow down. You’d rather be a little late to work than to end up with a face full of potholes, right?”

Script: Event organizer: Do you hear that? It’s a packed house and your presentation was a hit. People are clamoring for more. Herman: I can’t believe it. I wasn’t expecting that kind of reception. The audience really seemed to like it. Event organizer: Like it? They were on the edge of their seats. Herman: The presentation actually started slowly, but it seemed to gain traction in the middle. Event organizer: You had the audience hooked from the start. You could have heard a pin drop in there when you were going over your main points. Your presentation is undoubtedly the highlight of the conference. Herman: Thanks. I’m still in shock. Maybe if I tweaked it a little, I could give this presentation at the national conference. Event organizer: You’ll have time later to think about that. Right now, you need to get out there for the Q&A. They’re waiting for you. Herman: But I don’t have anything else to say. Event organizer: Just get out there. Your adoring public is waiting for you!

Topics: “God Bless America” & Kate Smith; American Girl Dolls; Q&A Words: patriotic to set (something) aside prayer to bless to stand beside foam rendition seventh-inning stretch line doll child labor accessory provided that as long as “g” to suck

Learn how to write a polite, formal email to someone you do not know well in English. Dialogue/Story Dear Dr. Lee: I don't know if you'll remember me, but I introduced myself to you after your keynote at last week's conference. As I mentioned to you, I have read all of your work and I am a great admirer of your research. Your article in the top journal Language Learning was groundbreaking. The reason I am contacting you is that I would like to come to your university to study with you. I met some of your students at the conference and they couldn't stop singing your praises as a professor. I don't know if you are accepting any new students for the next year, but if so, I hope you will consider me. I have included two attachments to this email. I am sending a copy of my CV, and I am also including a research paper I completed earlier this year. I hope that these will give you an idea of my qualifications and experience. Please let me know if you need more information or more samples of my academic work. It was a pleasure and a privilege to meet you at the conference, and I hope to hear more about your research at a future conference. Sincerely, Lucy Hocevar

Script: Bill: Why are you reading that rag? Rachel: I enjoy reading it. I like its news coverage and its incisive commentaries. Bill: That’s nothing but a liberal propaganda rag. You can’t believe a thing they print in there. Rachel: That’s not true. The news stories are objective and unbiased. This magazine isn’t like the newspapers and news websites you read. Those are run by ultraconservative reactionaries, who only know how to write diatribes. If I only read the news sources you read, I would think that this world was being ruled by liberals. Bill: The world is being ruled by liberals, at least by the liberal press. Rachel: You’ve got to be kidding! Our politics and our financial system are run by staunch conservatives, who ignore any point of view other than their own. Those of us who are enlightened… Bill: You call yourselves enlightened? All you and your dyed-in-the-wool liberals want to do is to tear down old traditions. Rachel: Yes, we do want to tear down old traditions, old traditions that keep us from making progress toward… Sophia: Mom, Dad, what’s going on in here? Why are you yelling? Rachel: Oh, it’s nothing, honey. Go back to sleep. Your Dad and I are just having a friendly little talk.