ESL Podcast
好用的高中英语听力训练软件有哪些
好用的高中英语听力训练软件有哪些
小编给大家推荐几款相当实用的高中英语听力训练软件，希望能够帮助
各位同学在英语听力成绩上有一个大的提高，赶快来了解一下吧！
1.蝶变高中
如果你是高中生的话，蝶变高中是你必备的app，里面除了正常的励志电
台和各科知识点外，还有历年的高考英语听力真题、高中英语课文音频、以
及很多英语美文的音频。
2.ESL 英语
与ESL Podcast 同步更新，地道美式口语，针对每天的ESL 英语文章你可以每日练习自己的口语。
ESL（English as a Second Language，以英语为第二语言/外语）是针对母语非英语的并把英语作为第二语言的语言学习者的专业英文课程，是外国学生
申请美国大学所必修的一门语言课程。
相当于雅思托福，感兴趣的同学可以
试一下这个训练软件。
3.pp 复读机
《pp 复读机》是最好用的英语听力训练软件。
单句复读模式，歌词单句点
击跳转，再也不用手动拉播放条了。
4.树人高中英语听力训练
为了帮助高中学生提高英语听说能力，特聘请了北京几所着名中学具有丰
富教学经验的优秀教师编写脚本。
很好的一款听力训练软件。
5.能飞英语听力。
《把你的英语用起来》读书笔记01-ESLPOD
《把你的英语用起来》读书笔记01-ESLPOD《把你的英语用起来》读书笔记前言春节期间，读完了网络英语学习牛人“恶魔的奶爸”出版的《把你的英语用起来》一书，有一种茅塞顿开的感觉。
这本书里提出了一个非死记硬背型的学习方法，总结起来就是四个字：寓教于乐。
然后作者详细的介绍了如何在英语学习过程中，落实“寓教于乐”这四个字，在快乐开心中，实现英语水平突飞猛进，不仅可以应付考试，而且还能用于实践：看美剧不要字幕，无障碍阅读原著，与外国人侃大山，等等。
书中给出了大量的学习资源，并合理的安排了使用次序。
我觉得这种方法非常适合我，我本质上是非常讨厌死记硬背的，而且我在学习过程中也意识到如果你能找到学习的快乐，学习效率会大幅提高，事半功倍，反之亦然。
因此我把这本书的要点，以及书中大量的学习资源摘抄出了，以便查询和使用。
本文有2万字。
一、理论部分：1、英语是一门单词量巨大的语言，学习英语需要极大的“输入量”2、用于输入的学习素材，应该比自己现有水平高一点点3、在一段时间之内，只学习一个类型的素材，不要贪多4、素材应该是轻松有趣的，越学越喜欢的类型本书中的方法，适合英语中级水平的学习者（通过了4级考试，单词量接近1w）。
二、听力2.1、《赖世雄美语音标》磨刀不误砍柴工，打好基础，把音标学好学扎实。
2.2、慢速美语：ESLPod2.2.1 什么是ESLPod的英语学习播客（Podcast）一直在Apple iTunes商店的英语语言类播客中排名第一，深受世界各国英语学习者的喜爱，也广受英语教育机构赞扬。
自2005年开播以来，听众已经遍布全球各地，达数百万人以上。
这个播讲类材料由南加州大学Dr.Jeff McQuillan带领团队编辑制作，11年来，面向全世界提供英文教学广播——Jeff博士本人既是团队领导，也是节目的首席主播。
每期的播客自成一课，每一课全长大约20分钟，一般每课的模式是：· 一开始先是简单介绍这一课的内容主题。
ESLPod_583_Guide
ESL Podcast 583 – Going to a Spa1GLOSSARYthis is the life – a phrase used when one is very happy and relaxed, enjoying oneself very much, and wishing one could do that particular activity all the time, every day* Ah, this is the life! I wish we could eat like this every day, but we’d each weigh at least 300 pounds!spa – a business where people go to receive treatments and services thatimprove their beauty and health and help them relax* Let’s go to the spa and relax in the sauna for a few hours.paradise – heaven; a place that is very enjoyable and pleasant* The view here is so beautiful. It’s like being in paradise.massage – a treatment where one person uses his or her hands to push into the muscles of another person’s back and other body parts, either to relieve tension (help the person relax) or to treat an injury* After a long, stressful week at work, Helene was really looking forward to a professional massage.facial – a treatment that cleans and moisturizes one’s face through the use of several different scrubs, creams, and lotions* The day before the wedding, the bride and all her best friends got facials at the local beauty salon.body wrap – a treatment in which one’s body is covered in a cream, lotion, or another substance and then covered with warm towels, usually to soften the skin and relax the body* Did you hear about the new body wrap at the spa? They cover your body in chocolate, mud, and warm rocks to relax the muscles!rejuvenating – refreshing; making one feel better, younger, or like new* If you drink this rejuvenating juice each morning, you’ll feel like you’re 20 years younger.holistic – relating to the entire body or one’s entire health, and not just aparticular part* Orion’s doctor believes in holistic medicine that treats the entire body, and not just the body part that has a problem.ESL Podcast 583 – Going to a Spa2pampering – treatments and services that are luxurious and designed to make someone feel very comfortable and relaxed* As a college student, I always enjoyed going back to my parents’ home for some pampering: home-cooked meals, laundry service, and more.body scrub – a treatment where slightly abrasive products (like sand, nut shells, etc.) are rubbed all over the skin to remove dead skin cells and make skin appear brighter and younger* This body scrub uses small pieces of apricot pits to remove dead skin.scalp – the skin on one’s head, under one’s hair* Dandruff is a condition where one’s scalp is covered with many small pieces of dead skin.to calm (one’s) nerves – to make someone feel more relaxed and comfortable * Maybe a nice cup of hot tea will calm your nerves before you have to give your speech.manicure – a beauty treatment in which one’s fingernails are cut, shaped,moisturized, and painted* Mia chose to get a French manicure where only the tips of the fingernails are painted white.pedicure – a beauty treatment in which one’s toenails are cut, shaped, and painted, and one’s feet are moisturized, with the dead skin being removed* As the weather gets warmer, many women want to get pedicures before they start wearing sandals.waxing – a beauty treatment in which hair is removed from a particular part of one’s body by placing hot wax over the skin and letting it cool slightly before pulling it off, tearing the hairs out* Our salon offers waxing services for the eyebrows, chin, and legs.ESL Podcast 583 – Going to a Spa3COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS1. Which of these services are primarily for the skin?a) A massage.b) A body scrub.c) A pedicure.2. Which of these treatments does not happen on the head?a) A facial.b) A scalp massage.c) A manicure.______________WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?wrapThe phrase “body wrap,” in this podcast, means a treatment in which one’s body is covered in a cream, lotion, or another substance, and then covered with warm towels, usually to soften the skin and relax the body: “Was the body wrap as relaxing as you had hoped?” When talking about food, a “wrap” is a type of sandwich with food rolled into a tortilla (flat bread) instead of being placedbetween two slices of bread: “I’d like the turkey-bacon wrap, please.” When talking about clothing, a “wrap” is a large piece of clothing worn around awoman’s shoulders: “If it’s too cold to wear a sleeveless dress, you can always use this wrap.” Finally, “plastic wrap” is a very thin, clear piece of plastic used to cover the food in a bowl or dish: “If you cover those strawberries with plastic wrap, they won’t dry out in the fridge.”to calm (one’s) nervesIn this podcast, the phrase “to calm (one’s) nerves” means to make someone feel more relaxed and comfortable: “The doctor says she’ll be okay, but I’m afraid he said that just to calm my nerves.” The phrase “to be a bundle of nerves”describes the feeling of being very nervous: “He was a bundle of nerves before his interview.” The phrase “to lose (one’s) nerve” means to lose the courage to do something: “Hank was going to ask for a raise, but he lost his nerve.” Thephrase “nerves of steel” means the ability to be very brave and controlled even in a difficult or dangerous situation: “That firefighter must have nerves of steel!”ESL Podcast 583 – Going to a Spa4Finally, the phrase “to get on (someone’s) nerves” means to annoy or bother someone: “The way you chew with your mouth open really gets on my nerves.”______________CULTURE NOTEA “typical” (common; normal) spa has many different types of employees whowork together to create a “luxurious” (beautiful, comfortable, relaxing) pampering experience for their “clients” (customers). Some clients might work with only one of these employees, but other clients who come in for a “total” (complete)“makeover” (a transformation to change one’s physical appearance) might work with almost all of them.A “hairstylist” helps the client get his or her hair to “look its best” (be as beautiful as possible). The hairstylist “shampoos” (washes), cuts, dries, and “styles”(gives shape to) the hair. A hairstylist might also color the hair or add “highlights” (color added to small sections of hair), although this might also “fall to” (be the responsibility of) a “hair colorist,” depending on the size of the spa.A “manicurist” specializes in providing manicures and pedicures. A “hair removal specialist” or “hair removal technician” is an expert in waxing, helping people remove unwanted body hair. Some larger spas might have a hair removalspecialist who provides “permanent” (forever; not temporary) hair removalservices through the use of a “laser” (strong light) or another technology.A “masseuse” is someone who specializes in giving different kinds of massages.A masseuse might work closely with an “aroma therapist” who uses different“aromas” (odors; smells) to help the client reach different goals, such as relaxing or thinking more clearly.Finally, a “makeup artist” applies “makeup” (colors painted on the face) for theclients. Makeup artists also offer lessons in makeup “application” (techniques for putting on makeup) so that clients can learn to create the same “look” (physical appearance) at home.______________Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – b; 2 – cESL Podcast 583 – Going to a Spa5COMPLETE TRANSCRIPTWelcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 583: Going to a Spa.This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 583. I’m your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from Los Angeles, California.Visit our website at . Become a member of ESL Podcast and you can download a Learning Guide, an 8- to 10-page guide we prepare for all of our current episodes that will help you improve your English even faster.This episode is called “Going to a Spa.” It’s a dialogue between Tim and Jan using vocabulary that you would find at a spa. Let’s get started.[start of dialogue]Jan: This is the life! Spending the day at a spa is my idea of paradise.Tim: Yeah, it’s great.Jan: Aren’t you enjoying yourself?Tim: The massage was okay, but why do I have to get a facial and a body wrap? I’m a guy!Jan: Men need rejuvenating, too. These are all holistic treatments and you’ll feel like a new man when you’re done. Just enjoy the pampering.Tim: I feel like an idiot. How am I supposed to relax?Jan: Why don’t you get a body scrub or a scalp massage instead? Maybe that’ll calm your nerves.Tim: I don’t need a body scrub or another massage. I just want to get out of here. When will we be done?Jan: After this, all we have left are manicures and pedicures.Tim: What?! I’m not getting a manicure or a pedicure.ESL Podcast 583 – Going to a Spa6Jan: You did promise to go with me to the spa if I agreed to have your four college friends stay in our house for two weeks, remember?Tim: Yes, I remember. All right, let’s get this over with.Jan: Just be glad I didn’t sign you up for waxing![end of dialogue]Jan begins by saying to Tim, “This is the life!” That expression, “this is the life,” is used to show when you are very happy; you’re enjoying yourself very much,especially doing whatever it is you are doing right now. Jan says, “Spending the day at a spa is my idea of paradise.” A “spa” (spa) is a business where people go to usually receive some sort of treatment or service that makes themhealthier, makes them relax, makes them more beautiful. That would be a spa. I definitely need a spa! Well, this spa is Jan’s idea of paradise. “Paradise” is a place that is very enjoyable, a very pleasant place; we might say “heaven.” This place is my idea of heaven – my idea of paradise.Tim says, “Yeah, it’s great.” Jan says, “Aren’t you enjoying yourself?” She thinks maybe Tim really doesn’t like the spa that much. Tim says, “The massage was okay, but why do I have to get a facial and a body wrap? I’m a guy!” A“massage” (massage) is when someone touches you with their hands, usually, to try to relax your muscles, to relax your body; to relieve tension, we might say.Tim says, “The massage was okay,” but he wants to know why he needs to get a facial and a body wrap. A “facial” (facial) is a special treatment for your face, you can guess, that cleans it. It is usually something that involves using differentcreams, or things that they put on your face. I don’t know; I’ve never had one! A “body wrap” is where your whole body is covered in some sort of liquid, cream, lotion, or something else; it’s supposed to make the skin of your body softer.Facials and body wraps are things that traditionally a woman would get at a spa, not a man. I should also mention that “wrap” (wrap), as in body wrap, has other meanings in English that can be found in the Learning Guide.So Tim says, “I’m a guy,” meaning I’m a man – I’m a male, I should not have to get these things. Jan says, “Men need rejuvenating, too.” “To rejuvenate”means to make younger, to make you feel better, make you feel new. Some people work all day, they come home, they have a glass of wine, and they feel rejuvenated; they feel like they now have more energy. Jan says, “These are all holistic treatments and you’ll feel like a new man when you’re done.” “Holistic” means here relating to your entire body; relating to all of your health, not just oneESL Podcast 583 – Going to a Spa7particular part. The word “holistic” is used in many different ways, but usually it refers to the whole – the (whole) of something, although it’s spelled (holistic), no “w”.Jan says that these holistic treatments will make Tim feel like a new man. She says, “Just enjoy the pampering.” “Pampering” comes from the verb “to pamper” (pamper). “To pamper (someone)” is to do some things for them to make them feel good, to relax them, to make them feel comfortable. Often these are things that we might consider luxurious, expensive, something that makes you feel good.Tim says, “I feel like an idiot. How am I supposed to relax?” Jan says, “Whydon’t you get a body scrub or a scalp massage instead?” A “body scrub” (scrub) is when they put certain things on your body, perhaps something that is rough – something that is what we would call “abrasive.” They rub it on your body in order to remove the dead skin cells so that your skin seems brighter andyounger. A “scalp massage” refers to your “scalp” (scalp), which is the skin on top of your head, underneath your hair – if you have hair! So, a scalp massage would be someone massaging the top of your head basically. Jan says, “Maybe that’ll calm your nerves.” “To calm your nerves” means to make you feel more relaxed and comfortable. The person who comes home and has a glass of wine or a cup of tea may do so to calm their nerves, to make them less tense, make them more relaxed. The word “calm” has a couple of different meanings in English; take a look at the Learning Guide for some additional explanations.Tim says, “I don’t need a body scrub or another massage. I just want to get out of here. When will we be done?” When will we be finished here? Jan says,“After this, all we have left (meaning the only thing that remains for us to do) are manicures and pedicures.” A “manicure” (manicure) is when you go somewhere and they make your fingernails look good. They cut them; they perhaps paint them if you’re a woman, typically. It’s supposed to make your fingernails look better. A “pedicure” (pedicure) is the same thing but for your toenails, the nails on your feet. When I’m talking about “nails,” I’m talking about something that is at the end of each finger or toe, on the top of them, that protects the very top of the finger. Again, manicures and pedicures are typically things that a woman would get, not a man.Tim says, “What?! I’m not getting a manicure or a pedicure.” Jan says, “You did promise to go with me to the spa if I agreed to have your four college friends stay in our house for two weeks, remember?” You see, the reason Tim is there is it’s something he is doing for his wife. What his wife is doing for him is allowing himESL Podcast 583 – Going to a Spa8to invite his friends from college – from his college years, many years ago – to stay in their house. Tim says, “Yes, I remember. All right, let’s get this overwith.” “Let’s get this over with” means let’s complete this, let’s finish this as soon as possible; usually you say it about something that is painful or not pleasant.Jan says, “Just be glad I didn’t sign you up for waxing!” “Waxing” (waxing) is another beauty treatment where hair is removed from a particular part of your body by taking hot wax – “wax” is what you make a candle out of – you take hot wax and you put it on the skin, and then you allow it to cool a little so that it isn’t as hot, and then you pull it off, and with it will come your hair in that part of your body. It can, needless to say, be somewhat painful, especially for a man who has a lot of hair. So Jan is saying just be glad I didn’t sign you up for – meaning making appointment for you – for waxing, something that would, again, normally be done to a woman.Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed.[start of dialogue]Jan: This is the life! Spending the day at a spa is my idea of paradise.Tim: Yeah, it’s great.Jan: Aren’t you enjoying yourself?Tim: The massage was okay, but why do I have to get a facial and a body wrap? I’m a guy!Jan: Men need rejuvenating, too. These are all holistic treatments and you’ll feel like a new man when you’re done. Just enjoy the pampering.Tim: I feel like an idiot. How am I supposed to relax?Jan: Why don’t you get a body scrub or a scalp massage instead? Maybe that’ll calm your nerves.Tim: I don’t need a body scrub or another massage. I just want to get out of here. When will we be done?Jan: After this, all we have left are manicures and pedicures.ESL Podcast 583 – Going to a Spa9Tim: What?! I’m not getting a manicure or a pedicure.Jan: You did promise to go with me to the spa if I agreed to have your four college friends stay in our house for two weeks, remember?Tim: Yes, I remember. All right, let’s get this over with.Jan: Just be glad I didn’t sign you up for waxing![end of dialogue]Your English, we hope, was rejuvenated today by the wonderful script by Dr. Lucy Tse. Thank you, Lucy.From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. Thank you for listening. Come back and listen to us next time on ESL Podcast.English as a Second Language Podcast is written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse, hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan, copyright 2010 by the Center for Educational Development.。
ESLPod_400_Guide
ESL Podcast 400 – Working in a Dead End Job GLOSSARYemployment agency – a business that helps people find jobs* DeShawn had been looking for a job for almost six months, so he decided to go to an employment agency to get some professional help.dead end job – a job that does not have opportunities for the future; a job that does not lead to another job with greater responsibilities, importance, and pay* Working at a fast food restaurant is a dead end job for many people, so they usually don’t stay there more than a few months.advancement – promotion; moving up within an organization from an unimportant position to one with more responsibility and better pay* Cailee wants to find a job with a lot of opportunities for advancement so that she will always be challenged in her work.pay scale – a system that sets a minimum and maximum payment amount to each kind of job in a business or organization* According to the company pay scale, a senior manager makes between$75,000 and $92,000 per year.pay raise – an increase in one’s salary; an increase in the amount of money that one is paid for working* Most employees get a pay raise at the end of their first year if they are good workers.employment history – a record of where one has worked in the past and for how long* His employment history shows that he spent four years in the army before beginning to work in sales.mind-numbing – boring; extremely uninteresting* That class is so mind-numbing that most of the students fall asleep in the first half-hour!menial – boring and unimportant; uninteresting because something is too easy to do* During her first day at work, they gave her the menial task of writing addresses on envelopes. She was so bored!ESL Podcast 400 – Working in a Dead End Jobto burn out – to no longer be able to do something because one has done too much of it in the past and is too bored, tired, or sick to continue* Young lawyers who work 70 hours each week often burn out by the end of their third year.glass ceiling – the idea that people, especially women, who work in an organization can see the top managers and presidents but can never become one of them* Many women think that there is a glass ceiling for them in this company because all of the directors, vice presidents, and presidents are men.to promote (someone) – to give someone a better job that has more responsibility and better pay within the same organization where he or she was already working* Hank was promoted from Mechanic to Senior Mechanic last month and now he makes a lot more money.steppingstone – something that helps a person get to another place or to another level, especially at work* Getting a college degree is a steppingstone to most good jobs.stumbling block – something that makes it difficult or impossible to do something* When the runner hurt his knee, it was a major stumbling block in his athletic performance.reference – an evaluation of a person as an employee, made by someone who knows one professionally, usually when one is applying for a job* Pauline used to work for me, so she asked me to write a letter of reference when she decided to apply for a new job.to be trapped – to not have any options; to be forced to do something; to not be able to change something* Once they bought a house, they were trapped in their jobs, because if they quit working, they wouldn’t be able to pay for their new home.personal satisfaction – a feeling of happiness and contentment from what one is doing* Kayeesha worked as a lawyer for years, but she didn’t find personal satisfaction until she quit her job and began singing professionally.ESL Podcast 400 – Working in a Dead End JobCOMPREHENSION QUESTIONS1. Which of these would be part of a dead end job?a) Advancementb) Menial workc) Personal satisfaction2. What does Kurt mean when he says that there was a glass ceiling in his job?a) The building was made of glass.b) He got cut a lot at work.c) There were not opportunities for advancement.______________WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?to burn outThe phrase “to burn out,” in this podcast, means to no longer be able to do something because one has done too much of it in the past and is too bored, tired, or sick to continue: “After seven years of graduate school, Kelly was burnt out on studying and going to school.” The phrase “to burn up” means to have a very high fever or a very high body temperature: “This child is burning up! We need to take him to the doctor’s office right away.” Finally, the phrase “to burn down” means for a building to be destroyed by a fire so that there is nothing left: “When the candle fell over, the house made of wood quickly caught on fire and burned down.”referenceIn this podcast, the word “reference” means an evaluation of a person as an employee, made by someone who knows one professionally, usually when one is applying for a job: “People have to send a list of three references when they apply for that job.” The phrase “with reference to (something)” means regarding or about: “Hello, I’m calling with reference to your ad to sell your car.” When writing an academic paper, a “reference” is a book or article that one used to find information: “Don’t forget to list your references at the end of your essay.” Finally, as a verb, “to make a reference to” means to refer or to mention a book, article, or other source of information that one used while writing a paper: “Did you make a reference to any books from other countries, or did you read books only by American authors?”ESL Podcast 400 – Working in a Dead End Job CULTURE NOTEAmerican companies “recruit” (look for new employees) in many different ways. One of the simplest and most inexpensive ways is to place an “ad” (advertisement or announcement) in the local newspaper. Sometimes they place ads in “journals” (academic magazines) for professionals in a “field” (an area or type of work).Many companies also use the power of the Internet for recruitment. Companies often post “job descriptions” (a summary of what the job is and what the company is looking for in a new employee) on their website. Other companies use employment websites specifically for job announcements to “post” (upload something to the Internet for others to read) their job announcements. “Jobseekers” (people who are looking for a new job) can read job announcements on those websites and then “apply” (send in the required papers to be considered for a job) for those jobs.Companies that have a lot of money and need to hire for “top” (very important) positions often use “executive search firms,” which are also known informally as “headhunters.” These companies call people who are working in similar jobs at other companies and try to get them interested in coming to the company that is “hiring” (looking for a new employee). They often do this by offering to pay more money than what the other company is currently paying.Finally, many American companies recruit on college “campuses” (areas with many college buildings). They send a representative to a college campus to speak with interested students before they have completed their education. Some of these students are offered jobs to work after they finish college even before their graduation from the university.______________Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – b; 2 – cESL Podcast 400 – Working in a Dead End Job COMPLETE TRANSCRIPTWelcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 400: Working in a Dead End Job.This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 400. I’m your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California.Our website is . Go there to download a Learning Guide for this episode to help you improve your English even faster.This episode is called “Working in a Dead End Job.” It’s a conversation between Kurt and a woman who works at an “employment agency,” a company that helps you find a job. Let’s get started.[start of dialogue]Agency employee: Tell me why you’d like to sign up with our employment agency.Kurt: Well, right now I’m working in a dead end job. There are no opportunities for advancement. I’m already at the top of the pay scale, so there’s no chance of another pay raise.Agency employee: Okay, I’d like to find out a little more about your employment history. Tell me about your last job.Kurt: Oh, that was a mind-numbing position. I did menial work all day and I burned out in six months.Agency employee: What about the job you had before that?Kurt: The problem with that job was that there was a glass ceiling. They would never promote a person like me.Agency employee: And what about the job you had before that?Kurt: I only took that job as a steppingstone to the next one, but it turned out to be a stumbling block instead. My boss didn’t like me and wouldn’t give me a good reference.ESL Podcast 400 – Working in a Dead End Job Agency employee: Okay, so you were not happy with any of the jobs you’ve had. Kurt: No, they weren’t right for me. I don’t want to be trapped in a dead end job.I want something that will give me personal satisfaction.Agency employee: I see. Well, we’ll do the best we can. Have you considered working at an employment agency? I’m looking for a new job myself.[end of dialogue]The conversation begins with the woman who works for the employment agency asking Kurt, “Tell me why you’d like to sign up with our employment agency” – tell me why you want to use our agency – our company – to help you find a job. Kurt says, “Well, right now I’m working in a dead end job.” A “dead end job” is a job that doesn’t have a lot of opportunities; it doesn’t have a very good future. A “dead end” is when you have a street that stops, that you can’t go any farther on. Here, it’s used to refer to a job that doesn’t have any great importance, pay, or responsibilities in the future; it’s not going to lead you to anything else.Kurt says, “There are no opportunities for advancement.” “Advancement,” here, means moving up in the company; it’s the same as a “promotion,” to get a better job in the same company. Kurt says, “I’m already at the top of the pay scale, so there’s no chance of another pay raise.” The “pay scale” is a system that a business or organization uses to determine how much each job is going to be worth, how much they’re going to pay their employees. If an employee is there for two years, they may get this salary; if they’re in the company for five years, they get a different salary. So that’s what a pay scale is; it’s a set of, we would call them, “steps” that you go through as you are in the company longer, as you have more experience, or perhaps as you increase your education while at the job. A “pay raise” is an increase in the amount of money you receive for working, an increase in your salary.The agency employee says, “Okay, I’d like to find out a little more about your employment history.” Your “employment history” is a list or a description of the jobs that you have had in the past. If you look at my employment history, it began working at a car wash, cleaning cars when I was 15 years old. When I was 16, I worked at a nursing home, cleaning dishes in the kitchen for three or four months. Then, I worked in a store, selling things for almost seven years, and so on and so forth. Eventually, I ended up being a podcaster – it’s a long story!ESL Podcast 400 – Working in a Dead End JobKurt says, in describing his last job, it “was a mind-numbing position.” “Mind-numbing,” here, means boring, very uninteresting. Not interesting at all – it was mind-numbing. To “numb” (numb) something means that you lose your feeling. For example, if you sit on your legs the wrong way your foot could go, we would say, to sleep. It would go numb; you couldn’t feel anything in your foot.So, this is a mind-numbing – a brain-numbing, if you will – position. He says, “I did menial work all day and I burned out in six months.” “Menial” (menial) is similar to mind-numbing; it’s boring, it’s not important, it’s uninteresting. Usually, “menial” is a very simple physical task, such as washing the windows, or washing cars, or washing dishes – these are menial jobs. To “burn out” means that you can no longer work at that job; you are exhausted, mentally and perhaps physically. When you do a job for a long time, you may get sick of it; it becomes boring to you. “Burn” has several different meanings; take a look at our Learning Guide for some additional explanations.The agency employee then asks Kurt, “What about the job you had before that?” – what was the previous job you had? Kurt says, “The problem with that job was that there was a glass ceiling.” A “glass ceiling” (ceiling) is the idea that people, especially women, who work in an organization can never become the managers, the vice presidents, or the presidents. They’re looking up as if through a ceiling made of glass at all of those men in the higher positions. The “ceiling” is, as you probably know, the top of a room; the bottom is called the “floor.”So, “glass ceiling” is usually used to talk about women who are unable to advance or get promotions in an organization, but Kurt says that he was a victim of a glass ceiling. He says, “They would never promote a person like me.” To “promote” someone means to give them a better job, something with more pay and more responsibility.Then, the employment agency employee asks Kurt, “Well, what about the job before that one?” Kurt says, “I only took that job as a steppingstone to the next one, but it turned out to be a stumbling block instead.” Couple of expressions here: first “steppingstone,” in this case, is something that helps you get to another level – to a higher level, especially at work. So, you start washing dishes, and you say, “Well, that’s a steppingstone for cleaning the tables in the dining room; that’s what I really want to do.” A “steppingstone” is the first, or one of the first jobs that you have that you hope will lead you to get a promotion. A “stumbling block” is something that makes it difficult or impossible to do something. To “stumble” means to fall; “stumbling block,” then, would be something in your path – in your way that would make you fall. Here, Kurt isESL Podcast 400 – Working in a Dead End Job talking about how the job he had was a stumbling block; it prevented him from advancing.He says, “My boss didn’t like me and wouldn’t give me a good reference.” A “reference,” when we talk about a job, is an evaluation, usually a letter that someone will write about an employee, often for an employee that’s looking for another job outside of the company – a different job. “Reference” has a couple of different meanings in English however, so take a look at the Learning Guide so you know how to use it correctly.The agency employee says, “Okay, so you were not happy with any of the jobs you’ve had.” Kurt says, “ No, they weren’t right for me (they weren’t good for me). I don’t want to be trapped in a dead end job.” To be “trapped” means not to have any choices, not to have any options, to be forced to do something. Kurt doesn’t want to be trapped in a dead end job. He says, “I want something that will give me personal satisfaction.” “Personal satisfaction” is a feeling of happiness, feeling good about what you are doing.The employee says, “I see” – I understand. Then she asks Kurt, “Have you considered working at an employment agency? I’m looking for a new job myself.” So the woman says that maybe Kurt wants to work at the employment agency, because she wants a new job.Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a regular speed.[start of dialogue]Agency employee: Tell me why you’d like to sign up with our employment agency.Kurt: Well, right now I’m working in a dead end job. There are no opportunities for advancement. I’m already at the top of the pay scale, so there’s no chance of another pay raise.Agency employee: Okay, I’d like to find out a little more about your employment history. Tell me about your last job.Kurt: Oh, that was a mind-numbing position. I did menial work all day and I burned out in six months.Agency employee: What about the job you had before that?ESL Podcast 400 – Working in a Dead End Job Kurt: The problem with that job was that there was a glass ceiling. They would never promote a person like me.Agency employee: And what about the job you had before that?Kurt: I only took that job as a steppingstone to the next one, but it turned out to be a stumbling block instead. My boss didn’t like me and wouldn’t give me a good reference.Agency employee: Okay, so you were not happy with any of the jobs you’ve had. Kurt: No, they weren’t right for me. I don’t want to be trapped in a dead end job.I want something that will give me personal satisfaction.Agency employee: I see. Well, we’ll do the best we can. Have you considered working at an employment agency? I’m looking for a new job myself.[end of dialogue]The script for this episode was written by someone who definitely needs a pay raise, Dr. Lucy Tse.From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. Thank you for listening. We’ll see you next time on ESL Podcast.English as a Second Language Podcast is written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse, hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan. This podcast is copyright 2008.。
ESLPod_612_Guide
ESL Podcast 612 – Introducing a Speaker1GLOSSARYmay I have your attention – a formal phrase used when speaking to a large, noisy audience, asking them to be quiet and listen to what one has to say* May I have your attention, please? It’s time for the best man to make a toast to the bride and groom.honor – something that is a pleasure and makes one feel proud and respected * It is a great honor to accept this award. Thank you so much.to introduce – to present; to tell someone or a group of people about another person whom they are meeting for the first time* Let me introduce you to my wife.guest speaker – a person who is invited specifically to speak at an event or conference* How were you able to get such a famous celebrity to be a guest speaker at your conference?to need no introduction – to be very well known by other people, so thateveryone already knows one’s profession, background, interests, and more * Madonna’s music is familiar to millions of people, so the performer needs no introduction.innovator – an inventor; someone who is very creative and willing to take risks, and becomes the first person to find new ways of doing things* Google is an innovator that has changed the way things are done on theInternet.revolutionary thinker – a person who has many new ideas that are shocking at first, but change the way other people think and the way things are done* Galileo was a revolutionary thinker who taught others that the Earth was not the center of the universe.to strive – to try to do something that is very difficult and/or uncommon* Their organization strives to reduce poverty and eliminate hunger worldwide.to bring attention to – to raise awareness of; to make many people think about something that they would normally ignore or be unaware of* Researchers are bringing attention to the education benefits of filling a child’s home with books.ESL Podcast 612 – Introducing a Speaker2advanced degree – a master’s or doctorate degree; any academic degreehigher than a bachelor’s degree, such as an MS, MA, MFA, MBA, Ph.D., MD, or JD* Henry is preparing to take the entrance test because he wants to earn an advanced degree in law.honorary doctorate – a doctorate of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree that a university gives to an individual to recognize his or her outstanding contributions in a particular field, even if he or she has never studied at that university* Even though he never went to college, he has had so much success inbusiness that he holds three honorary doctorates from some of the bestuniversities in the country.much-anticipated – something that people have been waiting for and looking forward to for a long time* The president is expected to make a much-anticipated announcement about foreign policy today.speech – a period of time when one person speaks on a particular topic, usually in front of a large group of people* Lucille is going to give a speech about the new particle accelerator in her physics laboratory.to address – to speak about or discuss a particular topic* This proposal addresses three different ways we could try to cut costs by 10% in the next year.without further ado – a formal phrase meaning that one is going to dosomething right away, without delaying or hesitating any longer* I’ve been talking for too long already, so without further ado, let me give you what you’ve been waiting for – the names of our award winners.to join (someone) in welcoming (someone) – to begin clapping along with the speaker so that another person can come to the stage or take the microphone and begin speaking* Please join me in welcoming our newest board member, Kathy Willis.ESL Podcast 612 – Introducing a Speaker3COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS1. Why does the speaker say that Edwina Litton needs no introduction?a) Because everyone is already friends with her.b) Because everyone is familiar with her work.c) Because she isn’t important enough.2. Why has Edwina Litton been called a revolutionary thinker?a) Because she believes in revolution and rebellion.b) Because she comes up with many new ideas.c) Because she changed the way we understand the way people think.______________WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?honorThe word “honor,” in this podcast, means something that is a pleasure andmakes one feel proud and respected: “It would be an honor to be your date at the dance.” The word “honor” also means the respect that one feels from otherpeople and that makes one feel very proud: “He would do anything to defend his family’s honor.” The phrase “to graduate with honors” means to earn very good grades as a student and to get special recognition because of them: “Sybilstudied very hard and graduated with honors.” The phrase “your honor” is used when speaking to judge: “Your honor, my client is running late, but he should be here soon.” Finally, the phrase “on (one’s) honor” is used when talking about a very serious promise: “On my honor, I’ll never tell anyone your secret.”to addressIn this podcast, the verb “to address” means to speak about or discuss aparticular topic: “This book is fascinating, because it addresses many of life’s most important questions.” The verb “to address” also means to speak to a particular group of people: “Have you decided what you’re going to talk aboutwhen you address the veterans’ association next month?” The verb “to address” sometimes means to tackle an issue or solve a problem: “According to mostscientists, what is the best way to address global warming?” Finally, the phrase “to address an envelope” means to write an address on an envelope, letting the post office know where it should be delivered: “Your cards will be delivered more quickly if you address them with the correct zip code.”ESL Podcast 612 – Introducing a Speaker4CULTURE NOTEGood “public speakers” (people who give speeches) know not only what they’re talking about and how to present it clearly, but also how to “capture” (get; catch) their audience’s attention and keep the listeners interested throughout thespeech, no matter how long it is. Public speakers use many different“techniques” (ways of doing something) to “liven up” (make more interesting) their speeches, depending on the audience and the “setting” (where something happens, under what conditions, and in what environment).Many public speakers try to liven up their speeches by telling “anecdotes” (short, funny stories) or “inspirational stories” (stories about people who did very difficult things, making other people admire them). For example, a speech aboutalcoholism might include an inspirational story about someone who “overcame” (won; beat) alcoholism “against all odds” (in a very difficult, seemingly impossible situation). Other public speakers tell “jokes” (funny stories), especially at the beginning of their speech, to try to get the audience members to laugh.Other public speakers try to keep the audience “engaged” (involved) by“encouraging” (helping something to happen) audience participation. They might encourage the audience members to “speak up” (say something aloud) when they have a question, or they might ask the audience questions and wait for audience members to shout the answers.Using “visual aids” (things for people to look at that support one’s message) is another way to liven up a speech. Sometimes speakers bring “props” (physical objects) or “posters” (large pieces of paper) related to their main ideas. More and more often, speakers are making “multimedia presentations” that use many tools, including slide presentations, photographs, usic, video, and more.Most audiences “appreciate” (like and are thankful for) speakers’ efforts to liven up their speeches, as long as the techniques don’t “detract” (reduce the value) from the main message.______________Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – b; 2 – bESL Podcast 612 – Introducing a Speaker5COMPLETE TRANSCRIPTWelcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 612: Introducing a Speaker.This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 612. I’m your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California.Our website is . You can download a Learning Guide for this episode on our website by becoming an ESL Podcast member. In addition to being able to download the Learning Guides for all of our current episodes, you’ll feel better about yourself because you’re supporting ESL Podcast. Yes, it’s good for your English, and good for your mental health!This episode is called “Introducing a Speaker.” It is going to use vocabulary you would hear when someone was going to introduce a presenter, for example at a conference or at a presentation, usually a formal presentation. Let’s get started.[start of dialogue]Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention, please?It is my great honor to introduce our guest speaker today. Our speaker isactually a person who needs no introduction, since she is well known in our field as one of its great innovators. Edwina Litton has been called a revolutionarythinker by those in our field. That’s because she has strived to bring attention to those issues that we believe are so important.Dr. Litton holds four advanced degrees and has an honorary doctorate from Harward University. In her much-anticipated speech today, she will address what she sees as the future of our field.Without further ado, please join me in welcoming Dr. Edwina Litton.[end of dialogue]I begin introducing the speaker by saying, “Ladies and Gentlemen.” This is avery formal expression we use for formal events. If you are trying to get people’s attention, if you are trying to get people to stop talking and listen to you in aformal situation, say a business meeting, usually a large meeting where there areESL Podcast 612 – Introducing a Speaker6many people would say, “Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention,please?” Your “attention” is what you are focusing on. You want them to focus on you. I continue by saying, once again using some formal phrases, “It is my great honor to introduce our guest speaker today.” An “honor” (honor) issomething that makes you feel proud, makes you feel respected; it’s a goodthing, a pleasurable thing even. The word “honor” has a couple of meanings in English; take a look at the Learning Guide for some additional explanations. So I say, “It is my great honor,” a very high honor, if you will, “to introduce our guest speaker.” “To introduce (someone)” in this case means to tell someone or to tell a group of people about another person whom they are probably meeting for the first time. So, you bring a friend of yours to a party, and you meet someone that you know but that your friend does not, you would introduce your friend to the other person there at the party. In this case, I’m introducing the speaker; I am saying this person, who you may not know is...and then I give a description. The “guest speaker” is a person who is invited specifically to talk at an event: a meeting, a conference perhaps.I say, “Our speaker is actually a person who needs no introduction.” Thisexpression, “to need no introduction,” means that he or she is very well known by other people, that everyone in the audience listening would already know thisperson. It’s sort of a way of saying to the person you are very famous; it’s kind of a compliment to that person. So I say, “Our speaker is actually a person who needs no introduction, since she is well known in our field as one of its greatinnovators.” “Our field” here means whatever area we are working in or studying in. My field when I was professor was applied linguistics; that was the area that that I studied and did research in. The presenter here, the guest speaker, is well known in the field of the people at this meeting as one of the great innovators. An “innovator” (innovator) is someone who is very creative, someone who will take risks, someone who invents something new. An innovator is often the first person to find new ways of doing things or to do things for the first time.“Edwina Litton,” that’s the name of the guest speaker, “has been called arevolutionary thinker by those in our field.” A “revolutionary thinker” means, in this case, someone who has many new ideas. These ideas may be surprising when you first hear them. They have new ideas about the way things should be done in the world, in particular whatever field we’re talking about here. So, a revolutionary thinker is someone who has very bold, perhaps controversial new ideas about something.I say that Edwina is a revolutionary thinker, “That’s because she has strived to bring attention to those issues that we believe are so important.” “To strive”ESL Podcast 612 – Introducing a Speaker7(strive) means to try to do something that is very difficult, to do something that is not easy: “I’m going to strive to help all of the people in the world learn English who want to learn English.” It’s not easy; I’m going to strive to do it, I’m going to put a lot of effort into it, I’m going to work very hard in order to accomplish this thing. So, Edwina has strived to bring attention to certain issues. “To bringattention to (something)” means to make many people think about something that perhaps they didn’t know before or that they would normally not think about, they would normally ignore. This can be used in many different ways. You could say to your boss, “I’d like to bring to your attention (or ‘bring your attention to’)something that was in the newspaper this morning.” You are telling him about something that he or she probably doesn’t know, because they’re workinginstead of reading their newspaper at their desk. So, maybe you should beworking too! But, the idea is that you are telling someone something they didn’t know before. Well, Edwina has strived to bring attention to certain issues –certain topics that this group believes are important. I should point out it’s also possible to say “striven” here: she has “striven” (en) instead of “strived” (ed). They both are acceptable in American English.“Dr. Litton,” I say, “holds four advanced degrees.” An “advanced degree” would be something like a master’s degree or a doctoral level degree (a doctorate), any academic degree – any academic level of achievement that is higher than your bachelor’s degree. So you go to college, you study four years, you get anundergraduate degree: your bachelor’s of arts or bachelor’s of science. After that if you get an additional degree, that would be an advanced degree, one that is higher than the undergraduate degree. A master’s of science, a master’s of art, a master’s of fine arts, a master’s of business administration, a doctor ofphilosophy, a medical doctor, a doctor of law (a juris doctor), all of these are advanced degrees. Well, Dr. Litton has four, and one of them is obviously a Ph.D., an MD, or some other doctorate. She also has an honorary doctorate from Harward University. Harward University is kind of like Harvard University; the biggest difference is the “w” in the middle of the word. “Honorary” is when you go to a university, typically at the end of the year ceremony called thecommencement ceremony, when everyone who is graduating from the university will receive their degree – their piece of paper that says that they havegraduated, they have completed their work. When you go to thesecommencement exercises, as they’re called, these commencement ceremonies, they often have someone who is famous or who has done something great and they want to honor that person. They want that person to receive somerecognition and so they give them an honorary doctorate, universities do this. So that person technically is now a doctor, although that’s not really true, but it is a way of honoring that person.ESL Podcast 612 – Introducing a Speaker8“In her much-anticipated speech today,” I continue, “she will address what she sees as the future of our field.” Something that is “much anticipated” – “much-anticipated” in this case – is something that people have been waiting for and looking forward to a long time. In this speech – this time where she is going to stand up and tell you what she thinks, she will address what she sees as thefuture of our field. “To address” here means to speak about a particular topic, to discuss a particular issue. There are other meanings of this word; you can find those in our Learning Guide.Finally I say, “Without further ado.” “Without further (or additional) ado.” This is a formal phrase meaning that you are going to do something right away; you’re not going to continue, in this case, your introduction; you are ending yourintroduction. “Without further ado (ado), please join me in welcoming Dr. Edwina Litton.” “To join (someone) in welcoming (someone else)” means that typically you begin to clap your hands so the person feels welcome as the person comes up from their chair to talk to you. “Join me in welcoming our guest today,” and every one will clap, and the person will feel welcome; they will feel like people want him or her to be there. That’s the idea.And so without further ado, let’s listen to the dialogue at a normal rate of speech.[start of dialogue]Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention, please?It is my great honor to introduce our guest speaker today. Our speaker isactually a person who needs no introduction, since she is well known in our field as one of its great innovators. Edwina Litton has been called a revolutionarythinker by those in our field. That’s because she has strived to bring attention to those issues that we believe are so important.Dr. Litton holds four advanced degrees and has an honorary doctorate from Harward University. In her much-anticipated speech today, she will address what she sees as the future of our field.Without further ado, please join me in welcoming Dr. Edwina Litton.[end of dialogue]Our script was written by someone who needs no introduction, Dr. Lucy Tse.ESL Podcast 612 – Introducing a Speaker9From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. I definitely need anintroduction! Thank you for listening. Come back and listen to us next time on ESL Podcast.English as a Second Language Podcast is written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse, hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan, copyright 2010 by the Center for Educational Development.。
英专训练听力材料
英专训练听力材料英语专业的学生在训练听力时，可以选择多种类型的材料来提高自己的听力水平。
以下是一些建议的英专训练听力材料：英语新闻：通过收听英语新闻，可以了解时事热点，同时提高听力水平。
建议选择BBC、CNN等知名新闻媒体的报道。
英语演讲：英语演讲通常具有清晰的语言表达和逻辑结构，是训练听力的好材料。
可以选择TED演讲、名人演讲等。
英语电影和电视剧：通过观看英语电影和电视剧，可以熟悉日常用语、俚语和口音等，提高听力理解能力。
建议选择带有字幕的影片，以便更好地理解对话。
英语专业听力教材：市面上有很多针对英语专业学生的听力教材，这些教材通常包含多种类型的听力材料，如对话、短文、讲座等，有助于学生全面提高听力水平。
英语听力考试真题：对于准备参加英语听力考试的学生来说，熟悉考试真题是非常重要的。
可以选择历年的专四、专八等考试真题进行练习。
在训练过程中，建议采取精听和泛听相结合的方式。
精听时，要集中注意力，力求听懂每一个单词、短语和句子；泛听时，可以放松一些，主要目的是熟悉英语的语音、语调和语速。
同时，要注意积累常用的词汇和短语，以便更好地理解听力材料。
当然，除了之前提到的听力材料外，英语专业的学生还可以考虑以下更多的选择来训练和提高自己的听力技能：英语播客（Podcasts）：有很多专门针对英语学习的播客，比如“ESL Podcast”、“Luke's English Podcast”等，它们通常包含日常生活对话、词汇解释和听力练习。
同时也可以选择非专门为学习设计的播客，如生活、娱乐、科技等领域的播客，这些可以帮助学生熟悉不同口音和语速。
英语有声书（Audiobooks）：通过听有声书，学生可以在享受故事的同时提高听力。
经典文学作品、当代小说、非虚构作品等都可以找到有声书版本。
慢速和常速的有声书都有，可以根据自己的水平选择合适的速度。
英语广播剧和戏剧：广播剧和戏剧通常包含丰富的情感表达和角色互动，这对于理解语境中的语言非常有帮助。
ESLPod_633_Guide
ESL Podcast 633 – Moving Out of a Home1GLOSSARYto move in – to begin living in a new place; to move all of one’s belongings into a home so that one can begin living there* Don’t forget to call the electricity and gas companies to set up your accounts before you move into the new apartment.to move out – to stop living in a place; to move all of one’s belongings out of a home so that one can go somewhere else to live* Quincy is really excited about moving out of his parents’ home to go to college.last-minute packing – the process of putting things in boxes immediately before one is leaving, often because one has waited too long* Ermin hates the stress of last-minute packing, so he usually has everything ready at least four days before he goes on a trip.packing tape – a roll of wide, thin plastic that is sticky on one side and is used to close cardboard boxes by taping together the sides of the tops and bottoms * You can buy boxes and packing tape at the post office if you need to send a package.major undertaking – a large and/or difficult task or project that requires a lot of planning and work* Painting the exterior of a three-story home is a major undertaking. Why don’t you hire someone else to do it, instead of trying to do it yourself?mover – a person whose job is to help people pack their belongings, put them into a large truck, drive them to a new location, and then take them out of the truck and into the new building, possibly unpacking the belongings, too* Write “bedroom,” “bathroom,” or “kitchen” on each box, so the movers know where to put them.moving van – a large truck used to carry furniture and boxes from oneapartment, home, or office to another* If you have a one-bedroom apartment, a 10-foot moving van is probably big enough, but if you have a five-bedroom home, you might need a 27-foot moving van.storage – facilities where one can keep one’s belongings until they are needed * They’re moving out of their home on the 7th , but their new home won’t be ready until the 30th , so they have to put all their things in storage for a few weeks.ESL Podcast 633 – Moving Out of a Home2perishables – things that will go bad and be unusable if they are not used within a short period of time* When Ken moved overseas, he left all his perishables with his neighbor, like milk, eggs, bread, mayonnaise, and other groceries.essentials – things that one must have and cannot live without* It’s just an overnight trip, so I packed only the essentials: clean underwear, a toothbrush, and a comb.to lift – to raise heavy things off the ground or another surface, usually so they can be taken somewhere else* If you need to lift heavy boxes, use your knees, not your back.to load – to put boxes or bags into a vehicle so they can be taken somewhere * Packing everything into boxes took hours, but loading them into the truck was quick and easy.to disassemble – to take something apart; to separate the pieces of something * Have you ever tried to disassemble a computer or cell phone to learn how it works?to make a deal – to reach an agreement with someone, usually with both parties receiving some benefit* Let’s make a deal: I’ll cook if you’ll wash the dishes.to invite (someone) over – to ask someone to come into one’s home, usually for fun or for a social event* The Sissons have invited us over for dinner next Friday.tool – something that is used to do a job or to make something easier, usually held in one’s hand* The only tool you’ll need to assemble this bookcase is a screwdriver.in no time – very soon; very quickly* I know you’re scared of needles, but you need this shot. Just close your eyes and take a deep breath, and it’ll be done in no time.ESL Podcast 633 – Moving Out of a Home3COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS1. Which of these is an example of a perishable?a) A bookcase.b) A blanket.c) A banana.2. What does Ellie need to do with her desk and bookcase before the movers come?a) She needs to empty them.b) She needs to take them apart.c) She needs to sell them.______________WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?moverThe word “mover,” in this podcast, means a person whose job is to help people pack their belongings, put them into a large truck, drive them to a new location, and then take them out of the truck and into the new building: “When the movers dropped the box, we could hear all the glasses breaking.” An “earth mover” is a large machine that moves soil and rocks: “The little boy loves watching earth movers at work.” The phrase “movers and shakers” is used to describe people who have a lot of power, money, and influence in society: “When Joannareceived her promotion, she started spending a lot of time with other movers and shakers who were well-known in the city.”to loadIn this podcast, the verb “to load” means to put boxes or bags into a vehicle so they can be taken somewhere: “When you’re loading the truck, put the heaviest things at the bottom and the lightest things on top.” The verb “to load” can also mean to put bullets into a gun or to put film into a camera: “I need a new roll of film. Can you show me how to load it?” When talking about computer programs, the verb “to load” means for a program to start: “Sometimes it takes a long time for the program to load on this computer, because there isn’t enough memory.” Finally, the phrase “to be loaded down with (something)” means to have too much work or too many problems: “Ever since Michel took the new job, he has felt loaded down with too much work.”ESL Podcast 633 – Moving Out of a Home4CULTURE NOTEUsing the services of a moving company can make a move less “stressful” (causing anxiety and worry), but it’s important to hire a good, “reliable”(something one can depend on) moving company. People need to know that their goods will arrive at their new home “on time” (as scheduled; before the deadline) and in good condition.Fortunately, there are many moving companies to choose among. When“selecting” (choosing) one, first ask to see the company’s “license,” or official permission to operate as a moving company in a particular city or state. Also, ask for proof of the moving company’s “insurance,” or a policy that will pay money if the moving company makes a mistake and damages or “misplaces” (loses) one’s belongings. A moving company should also have “liabilityinsurance,” which would pay money if someone gets hurt while moving one’s belongings.It’s also a good idea to ask for a list of the moving company’s “recent” (not long ago) customers with “contact information” (addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, etc.). Then you can “check references,” calling the company’s past customers and asking them about their experience with the moving company, as well as whether they would “recommend” (tell someone else to use or dosomething) the company’s services.Finally, it is important to call the “Better Business Bureau” and find out whether anyone has “filed” (submitted) “complaints” (written or spoken reports ofproblems) about their experience with the moving company.Then, once you have a list of moving companies that seem good and reliable, you can base your selection on price and “availability” (when something can be used).______________Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – c; 2 – bESL Podcast 633 – Moving Out of a Home5COMPLETE TRANSCRIPTWelcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 633: Moving Out of a Home.This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 633. I’m your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful – and I do mean beautiful – Los Angeles, California.Our website is , but you know that already. Did you know that you can download a Learning Guide for this episode on our website? That’s right. Go there today and get more information about becoming an ESL Podcastmember. If you become a member, you will be healthy, wealthy, and wise. Well, wise at least!This episode is called “Moving Out of a Home.” It’s a dialogue between Andre and Ellie. Let’s get started.[start of dialogue][A knock on door.]Andre: Hello. Is anyone here?Ellie: Yes, can I help you?Andre: I saw your door open and I just wanted to make sure everything was okay. Did you just move in?Ellie: No, I’m moving out. As you can see, I’m doing last-minute packing. I think I’ve used up 10 rolls of packing tape!Andre: This looks like a major undertaking. Are you moving yourself?Ellie: No, the movers are coming with the moving van tomorrow morning. I’m moving a few things into storage, and I’ll take a few of the perishables andessentials in my car, but they’ll be doing the heavy lifting. No loading for me. Before they come, though, I need to disassemble this desk and this bookcase. It’ll be a long afternoon.Andre: I can see that. Are you moving far?ESL Podcast 633 – Moving Out of a Home6Ellie: No, I’m only moving about a mile from here to another apartment.Andre: Oh, so you’re not moving out of the area.Ellie: No, I’m not.Andre: I’m glad to hear that. Let’s make a deal: I’ll help you disassemble your furniture if you’ll promise to invite me over to your new place sometime.Ellie: Really? Are you sure you’re willing to do that?Andre: Sure. Hand me those tools and I’ll have it done in no time.Ellie: Boy, am I glad I left my door open.Andre: Yeah, so am I.[end of dialogue]Our dialogue begins with Andre knocking on a door. He says, “Hello. Is anyone here?” Ellie says, “Yes, can I help you?” Andre says, “I saw your door open and I just wanted to make sure everything was okay.” Andre apparently lives nearthis house, saw the door open, and for some weird reason decided to go and find out who was there. He says, “Did you just move in?” “To move in” is a two-word phrasal verb that means to begin living in a new place, when you move all of your things to a new apartment or a new house. Ellie says, “No, I’m moving out.” “To move out” is the opposite of “to move in,” it’s when you are leaving a place: your apartment or your house.Okay, so Andre doesn’t know this woman, and he doesn’t know that she’s been living there, so maybe Andre isn’t from the neighborhood. Maybe Andre is a thief – a crook, a criminal. Let’s find out!Ellie continues, “As you can see, I’m doing last-minute packing.” To do anything “at the last minute” means to do it right before the deadline, right before it has to be done, to wait until there is no more time left. “To pack” (pack) means to put your things in boxes, in suitcases so you can move them. So, “last-minutepacking” (“packing” here is a noun) means the process of putting all your things in boxes to move them at the very last possible opportunity. Ellie says, “I think I’ve used up 10 rolls of packing tape!” “To use up” means to complete, to finish,ESL Podcast 633 – Moving Out of a Home7to have no more of. In this case, she’s used up 10 rolls of packing tape.“Packing tape” is wide, thin plastic tape – tape is sticky on one side – and you use it to close a box to make sure it stays closed. The tape typically comes on a “roll,” that’s a circle that you can then pull the tape off of.Andre says, “This looks like a major undertaking.” Anything that is “major” is large or important, big. An “undertaking” is a task, a job to do, often a long and difficult one. So you will often see these words together, “a major undertaking,” meaning a big job to do. “Are you moving yourself?” Andre says, meaning are you doing this alone, is no one helping you. Of course, we think Andre isinterested in stealing her stuff and so, of course, he wants to know if anyone else is coming over.Ellie, unhappily, says, “No, the movers are coming with the moving van tomorrow morning.” The “movers” are the people whose job it is to come and help you pack. You can actually hire people, pay them to come to your house and help you put all your things into boxes if you have a lot of things, or perhaps if you’re old and don’t have the strength – or if you’re just lazy! Ellie is having the movers come over tomorrow with the moving van. By the way, I should mention “mover” has a couple of different meanings in English, and those are in the LearningGuide. A “van” is a large truck that is used usually to move things from one place to another. A “moving van” is usually a large what we would call “semi” or “semi truck.” She says, “I’m moving a few things into storage, and I’ll take a few of the perishables and essentials in my car, but they’ll be doing the heavy lifting.”“Storage” is a place where you can keep your boxes and other things, perhaps because you don’t have room in your house, perhaps because you are moving to a smaller house, or because you just hate to throw anything away – to get rid of anything – and you have too much stuff. We all have too much stuff I think!Ellie says, “I’ll take a few of the perishables and essentials in my car.”Something that is “perishable” (perishable) is something, usually food, that you need to keep in a freezer or refrigerator. If you don’t, the food will, we would say, go bad; you won’t be able to eat it anymore. So meat, for example: you can’tkeep the meat outside of a refrigerator for two days, the meat will go bad. In fact, the recommended amount of time I think is two hours maximum. So, she’staking these perishable with her. She’s also taking other “essentials,” things that she absolutely must have, things that she can’t wait to use: her toothbrush, orperhaps her favorite pillow. The movers, however, will be doing the heavy lifting. “To lift” (lift) means to take something very heavy and move it off of the ground or off of a table. You are picking it up; you are lifting it. So, “heavy lifting” as a noun is when you have a lot of very heavy things – things that weigh a lot that need toESL Podcast 633 – Moving Out of a Home8be moved. Sometimes we use this expression just to mean a difficult task,something that is difficult or hard to do. She says, “No loading for me.” “To load” (load) means to put the boxes into the moving van; “to load” is usually use when you are moving or going from one place to another and you are taking things with you. If you are going to the airport, you will need to load your luggage – load your suitcases into your car. She needs to load the boxes into the moving van but she’s not going to do it herself, that’s why she says, “No loading for me.” “Before they come,” she says, “I need to disassemble this desk and thisbookcase.” “To disassemble” is the opposite of “assemble.” “To assemble” is to put something together; “to disassemble” is to take something apart.Ellie says, “It’ll be a long afternoon,” meaning I have a lot of work to do Andre,what do you want. Andre says, “I can see that. Are you moving far?” Ellie says, “It’s none of your business buddy!” No, she doesn’t say that, does she? No, she says, “No, I’m only moving about a mile from here to another apartment.” Andre says, “Oh, so you’re not moving out of the area,” meaning away from this city. She says, “No, I’m not.” Andre says, “I’m glad to hear that. Let’s make a deal.” “To make a deal” means to reach an agreement with someone, when bothpeople get something out of your agreement. Well here’s the agreement: Andre says, “I’ll help you disassemble your furniture (your desk and bookcase) if you’ll promise to invite me over to your new place sometime.” Now we see that Andre is not a criminal; he’s someone who is trying to start a romantic relationship with Ellie, you see. He says, “I’ll disassemble your furniture if you invite me over,”meaning if you ask me to come to your house for dinner, and Ellie says, “Really? Are you sure you’re willing to do that?” So Ellie obviously likes Andre. Sheprobably shouldn’t since she has a boyfriend. Oh, you didn’t know that? Yeah, she does!Andre says, “Sure. Hand me those tools (meaning give me those tools) and I’ll have it done in no time.” “Tools” are things that you use to help you dosomething else. You could have a hammer, you could have a screwdriver; those are tools that you would use, perhaps to disassemble something. Andre says, “I’ll have it done in no time,” meaning very quickly, very soon. Ellie says, “Boy, am I glad I left my door open so that any strange man could come in and start talking to me.” She really just said, “Boy, am I glad I left my door open,” but she meant what I said! Andre says, not surprisingly, “Yeah, so am I.” Nice job Andre – if that’s your real name!Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed.[start of dialogue]ESL Podcast 633 – Moving Out of a Home9[A knock on door.]Andre: Hello. Is anyone here?Ellie: Yes, can I help you?Andre: I saw your door open and I just wanted to make sure everything was okay. Did you just move in?Ellie: No, I’m moving out. As you can see, I’m doing last-minute packing. I think I’ve used up 10 rolls of packing tape!Andre: This looks like a major undertaking. Are you moving yourself?Ellie: No, the movers are coming with the moving van tomorrow morning. I’m moving a few things into storage, and I’ll take a few of the perishables andessentials in my car, but they’ll be doing the heavy lifting. No loading for me. Before they come, though, I need to disassemble this desk and this bookcase. It’ll be a long afternoon.Andre: I can see that. Are you moving far?Ellie: No, I’m only moving about a mile from here to another apartment.Andre: Oh, so you’re not moving out of the area.Ellie: No, I’m not.Andre: I’m glad to hear that. Let’s make a deal: I’ll help you disassemble your furniture if you’ll promise to invite me over to your new place sometime.Ellie: Really? Are you sure you’re willing to do that?Andre: Sure. Hand me those tools and I’ll have it done in no time.Ellie: Boy, am I glad I left my door open.Andre: Yeah, so am I.[end of dialogue]ESL Podcast 633 – Moving Out of a Home10How do you learn English in no time? Keep listening to these wonderful scripts by Dr. Lucy Tse.From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. Come back and listen to us again, if you have a chance, here at ESL Podcast.English as a Second Language Podcast is written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse, hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan, copyright 2010 by the Center for Educational Development.。
国外自学英语的教材
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这些教材都有其独特的优点和适用范围，学习者可以根据自己的需要和水平选择适合自己的教材。
同时，建议学习者结合多种教材进行学习，以获得更全面的英语知识和技能。
ESLPod_543_Guide - Describing Different Smells
ESL Podcast 543 – Describing Different Smells GLOSSARYto renovate– to improve a room or building by rebuilding, expanding, and/or redecorating it* They’re going to renovate their house by adding another bathroom.stale– not fresh; old and used* The bread won’t become stale as quickly if we keep it in a closed plastic bag. musty– slightly wet and bad-smelling because something hasn’t had enough air moving around it* The basement is really musty. Would it help to put a fan down there?to air (something) out– to make air move around something so that it becomes fresher and better-smelling* If you don’t have time to wash your gym socks, at least air them out before you put them back on.putrid– dead and decaying, with a very bad smell* They couldn’t understand why their entryway had such a putrid smell until they found the dead rat under their front porch.faint– very slight; almost unnoticeable; barely* Can you hear that music? It’s very faint, but you can hear it if you stand very still.nasty– very unpleasant and disgusting; gross* Why would anyone want to live in such a nasty apartment building?to permeate– to be present in every part of something; to be found throughout something* The sound of laughter permeates the air at school during recess.burnt– damaged by fire; damaged by being burned* After the fire, a few pieces of burnt wood were all that was left of the building. smoky– with a lot of the smelly, hot, grey air that is produced by a fire* Let’s open the flue in the chimney before we start the fire, or else the whole room will get smoky.ESL Podcast 543 – Describing Different Smellsto hold (one’s) breath– to not breathe, usually to avoid smelling something or to avoid making a noise* When we go in there, hold your breath! The air is full of poisonous gases. truckload– the amount that would fill one truck; the amount of something that can be carried by one truck; a large amount* They used two truckloads of river rocks to decorate the area in front of the building.scented– with a pleasant smell* Do you like to use scented soap when you take a bath?perfume– a liquid with a strong, pleasant smell, used by women to make themselves more attractive, usually placed on the wrists and neck* The smell of her perfume quickly filled the elevator, and people began to cough. to mask– to cover something else; to make it impossible to see, smell, hear, or perceive something else* Yu-Lin tried to use makeup to mask her acne.foul– very unpleasant* We went to that restaurant last week, and we were served the foulest food we’d ever tasted. It was horrible!to stink– to have a very bad smell* That blue cheese stinks! I don’t know how you can eat it.sense of smell– the ability to smell things and/or to recognize something by its smell* Dogs have a great sense of smell, so police officers use them to help find drugs in suitcases at airports.ESL Podcast 543 – Describing Different SmellsCOMPREHENSION QUESTIONS1. What kind of smell would you expect to find around a dead animal?a) A musty smell.b) A putrid smell.c) A burnt smell.2. What does Giles mean by saying he’d have to lose his sense of smell to work there?a) He’d have to learn to stop breathing.b) He’d have to bring good-smelling things to work.c) He’d have to stop being bothered by smells.______________WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?faintThe word “faint,” in this podcast, means very slight or almost unnoticeable: “There’s always faint music playing in the office, but it’s never so loud that it interrupts our work.” The phrase “a faint hope/chance” means a slight possibility that something might happen: “There’s only a faint chance that people are still alive under the collapsed building, but we have to keep looking.” The phrase “to not have the faintest idea about something” means to not know anything about something: “‘What do you think she meant by that?’ ‘I haven’t the faintest idea.’” Finally, someone who is “faint-hearted” is not trying very hard, usually because one doesn’t think one can do it, or because one doesn’t really want to do or have it: “Marissa made a faint-hearted attempt to get the job, but she really wants to stay home with her children.”foulIn this podcast, the word “foul” means very unpleasant: “Bryan hates changing his daughter’s foul-smelling diapers.” The phrase “foul language” means bad or rude words that may be offensive: “Please don’t use foul language around the children.” If someone is in a “foul mood,” he or she is in a very bad mood and might get angry very easily: “Don’t do anything to make Mom mad. She’s in a really foul mood today.” In sports, a “foul” is an action that doesn’t follow the rules: “The player got a foul for hitting another player.” Finally, the phrase “foul play” means an illegal or dishonest activity, or murder: “The newspaper said she died of natural causes, but the police suspect foul play.”ESL Podcast 543 – Describing Different SmellsCULTURE NOTEMany “breeds” (types of an animal) of dogs have a very good sense of smell. For that reason, these dog breeds are often used as police dogs, which are also known as “K9s,” meaning “canines” (dogs or dog-like animals).A “public order enforcement dog” is used to help police officers “chase” (run after) “suspects” (people whom the police believe have committed a crime). These dogs can also help to protect the police officer by “attacking” (physically fighting against) a criminal, if necessary. These are usually large, strong, and intelligent dogs.A “tracking dog” is used to “track” (find where someone has gone and follow that direction) criminals or people who have become lost. The dog might be given a small piece of the person’s clothing and then be told to track that person. The police officers follow the dog until the person is found.An “illicit substances dog” is used to find drugs or “explosive devices” (bombs). These dogs are often seen at airports where they “sniff” (smell something by breathing in loudly through one’s nose) suitcases. If the dog “detects” (finds something), it points to the suitcase until the police officer comes over and opens it.Finally, a “cadaver dog” is used to find “cadavers” (dead bodies) through its sense of smell. With the right training, some dogs can even smell cadavers that are underwater.Police dogs are “valued” (respected and honored) members of the “police force”(a group of police officers). Sometimes they are given their own “badges” (a piece of metal worn to identify oneself as a police officer or firefighter). When the dogs are “killed in the line of duty” (killed while working), they are often given a full police “funeral” (the ceremony held after someone dies).______________Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – b; 2 – cESL Podcast 543 – Describing Different Smells COMPLETE TRANSCRIPTWelcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 543: Describing Different Smells.This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 543. I’m your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California.Our website is . Go there today to download the Learning Guide for this episode, that will help you improve your English even faster.This episode is called “Describing Different Smells.” It’s a dialogue between Julia and Giles talking about the different words we use to describe how things smellin English. Let’s get started.[start of dialogue]Giles: Do you really think we’ll be able to renovate this place and turn it into a restaurant?Julia: It’s not so bad. I know it smells a little stale and musty in here, but all we need to do is air it out.Giles: Air it out? This place needs a lot more than an airing out. The kitchen smells putrid. I wonder what died in there.Julia: There is a faint smell of something nasty in there, but I don’t think it permeates through the rest of the building, do you?Giles: No, but there are different nasty smells in other parts of the building. Oh! There’s a really strong burnt, smoky smell in this corner. Hold your breath!Julia: This is a restaurant. I’m sure a thorough cleaning will make all the difference.Giles: That might be true for the kitchen, but what will you do in the dining room? An entire truckload of scented candles or bottles of perfume couldn’t mask those foul smells. This place just stinks, from top to bottom!Julia: All right, I’ll look for another building, but this place is cheap and within our budget.ESL Podcast 543 – Describing Different SmellsGiles: Yes, but if I had to work here, I’d first have to lose my sense of smell! [end of dialogue]Giles begins by saying to Julia, “Do you really think we’ll be able to renovate this place and turn it into a restaurant?” “To renovate” means to improve a room or an entire building by usually rebuilding parts of it, expanding it, perhaps putting different decoration – different colors, that sort of thing. “To renovate” means to make new, in some ways, the room or the building. Giles wants to take a place, some place they own or are renting, and turn it into a restaurant, meaning make it into a restaurant. Maybe it was a store before, now it would be something different.Julia says, “It’s not so bad.” The place is not too bad is what she’s saying. She says, “I know it smells a little stale and musty in here, but all we need to do is air it out.” “Stale” is a way of describing a smell that is not fresh, that is old; something that smells used could be described as stale. “Musty” (musty) is something that smells like it’s slightly wet; it’s a very bad smell, usually because there hasn’t been enough air circulation in a particular area. If you live in the northern part of the United States and your house has a basement, sometimes in the basement it can get very moist, very damp, meaning there’s water there, and that can lead to a musty smell. “To air (something) out” means to open windows or to do something to make the air move around the particular space so it dries out, smells better, gets rid of the bad smells. You might open a window, for example, to air something out.Giles says, “Air it out? This place needs a lot more than an airing out.” Notice he uses “airing out” as a noun, from the verb “to air (something) out.” He says, “The kitchen smells putrid.” “Putrid” (putrid) is the smell of something that is dead, something that is perhaps decaying, meaning that, for example, it’s been sitting there for a long time and so it starts to come apart. A human body, if it were left in a room – a dead body, that is – would start to decay. It would start to change colors; it would start to smell bad. Well, that bad smell we could describe as being putrid. It doesn’t just mean it’s a dead body; there are other things that can smell putrid. “Putrid” is perhaps one on the most negative words you can use to describe the way that something smells. Giles says, “I wonder what died in there.” He’s joking; he doesn’t mean something actually is dead in there – although it’s possible!Julia says, “There is a faint smell of something nasty in there, but I don’t think it permeates through the rest of the building, do you?” A “faint (faint) smell” is aESL Podcast 543 – Describing Different Smellsvery slight, very small – so small you can almost not notice it. “Faint” has a lot of different meanings in English in addition to this one. Take a look at the Learning Guide for some more explanations. “Nasty” (nasty) is something that is very unpleasant; we might even say it’s disgusting or it’s gross. It’s a very negative way to describe something. You could say, “It was a nasty fight.” The two people were fighting, they were yelling at each other, they were shouting, using bad language. That would be a nasty fight. Here, “nasty” means that the smell is very bad. Julia says there’s a faint smell something nasty in there, but she doesn’t think it permeates through the rest of the building. “To permeate” (permeate) means to be present in every part of something – in every part of, in this case, the building. If a nasty smell permeates the building, we mean you can smell it everywhere in the building.Giles says that he doesn’t think the nasty smell permeates through the rest of the building, but there are different nasty smells in other parts of the building. He then says, “Oh! There’s a really strong burnt, smoky smell in this corner. Hold your breath!” A “burnt (burnt) smell” would be something that smells after it has been damaged by fire. “Smoky,” similarly, means that something has been burning, or something has been producing smoke, and the smoke is now the smell that you get when you go close to that object. So if there’s a fire in the room, and there was a wooden chair, after the fire whatever is left of the chair might have a burnt, smoky smell. Giles says to Julia, “Hold your breath!” “To hold your breath” means not to breathe, usually because you don’t want to smell something. You want to avoid a bad smell, hold your breath. It means not to breathe.Julia says, “This is a restaurant. I’m sure a thorough cleaning will make all the difference.” So I guess they’re in a building that had a restaurant, but it’s an old one and it needs cleaning up. Giles says, “That might be true for the kitchen, but what will you do in the dining room (the place where people eat, or dine)? An entire truckload of scented candles or bottles of perfume couldn’t mask those foul smells. This place just stinks, from top to bottom!” Giles says that an entire truckload of scented candles or bottles of perfume couldn’t mask those fouls smells. A “truckload,” here, would be the amount that you could put into a truck; more generally, it just means a large amount of something. So he’s saying that even if we had a large number of scented candles – “scented” means with a pleasant smell. So you buy a candle, and you light it, and it gives off a pleasant smell. That would be a scented candle. I personally don’t like scented candles, because I don’t think the smell is very pleasant at all usually. Giles also mentions bottles of perfume. “Perfume” is a liquid with a strong, pleasant smell. It’s used primarily by women. When men use perfume, they don’t call it perfume, they typically call it “cologne,” just so they don’t seem like they’re women I guess.ESL Podcast 543 – Describing Different SmellsI don’t know; it’s all perfume basically! “To mask” (mask) means to cover something, to make it difficult or impossible to see or smell or hear something. In this case, make it difficult to smell something. “Foul” (foul) is like the word “putrid,” something that is very unpleasant, something that is very bad. “Foul,” however, has some other meanings; take a look at the Learning Guide for those. So going back, Giles says, “An entire truckload of scented candles or bottles of perfume couldn’t mask those foul smells. This place just stinks, from top to bottom!” “To stink” means to have a very bad smell. You would never want to say to your boss or to your girlfriend, “Boy, you really stink!” That is not a nice thing to say. More generally, “stink” means to be very bad at something. So we could say, “Ah, that baseball player stinks.” “David Beckham stinks,” for example. I’m not saying he actually stinks; I don’t watch soccer so I don’t really know! But when Giles says, “This place just stinks,” he means it literally stinks; it smells “from top to bottom,” meaning the entire building – the entire room.Julia says, “All right, I’ll look for another building, but this place is cheap and within our budget,” meaning we can afford it; we have enough money for what we planned. Giles says, “Yes, but if I had to work here, I’d first have to lose my sense of smell!” Your sense of smell is your ability to smell. We talk about the five senses: smell, see, hear, taste, and touch. And then of course, the sixth sense, which is the ability to see dead people – if you saw the movie, you know what I’m talking about!Now let’s listen to the dialogue again, this time at a normal speed.[start of dialogue]Giles: Do you really think we’ll be able to renovate this place and turn it into a restaurant?Julia: It’s not so bad. I know it smells a little stale and musty in here, but all we need to do is air it out.Giles: Air it out? This place needs a lot more than an airing out. The kitchen smells putrid. I wonder what died in there.Julia: There is a faint smell of something nasty in there, but I don’t think it permeates through the rest of the building, do you?Giles: No, but there are different nasty smells in other parts of the building. Oh! There’s a really strong burnt, smoky smell in this corner. Hold your breath!ESL Podcast 543 – Describing Different Smells Julia: This is a restaurant. I’m sure a thorough cleaning will make all the difference.Giles: That might be true for the kitchen, but what will you do in the dining room? An entire truckload of scented candles or bottles of perfume couldn’t mask those foul smells. This place just stinks, from top to bottom!Julia: All right, I’ll look for another building, but this place is cheap and within our budget.Giles: Yes, but if I had to work here, I’d first have to lose my sense of smell! [end of dialogue]There was nothing stale about this dialogue, because it was written by Dr. Lucy Tse.From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. Thank you for listening. Come back and listen to us next time on ESL Podcast.English as a Second Language Podcast is written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse, hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan, copyright 2010 by the Center for Educational Development.。
ESLPod_205_Guide
ESL Podcast 205 – Shopping for ShoesGLOSSARYdress shoes – formal shoes worn with formal or business clothes* My brother asked me to help him pick out a pair of dress shoes to go with his new suit.heel – the back part of a shoe under the ankle; the bottom back part of the foot * She stepped on some gum with the heel of her left shoe and had trouble getting it off.brand – the name of the company that makes the things you find in stores* I’ve never heard of this brand of televisions. Do you recommend them?sandal – a type of shoe made with straps so that the foot is easily seen* Summer is the perfect time of year to wear sandals.boot – a type of shoe with a tall top so that part of your leg is covered* Make sure you wear your winter boots if you plan to be out in then snow all afternoon.loafer – a type of shoe that is flat or has a low heel, with no shoelaces or buckles * He prefers wearing a loafer because they are easier to put on and to take off. open toe – a type of shoe that doesn’t cover the toes* People do not normally wear open toe shoes in the winter.strap – a long, thin piece of material, such as leather or cloth* When she got on the crowded subway, she held on tightly to the strap of her bag so that no one would be able to steal it from her.slip-on – any type of shoe without shoelaces or buckles that someone can put on simply by putting their foot into the shoe* Slip-ons for young kids are a good idea because many of them haven’t learned how to tie shoelaces yet.width – size of the foot when measured across, from side to side* She liked the shoes, but none of the widths it came in fit her correctly.ESL Podcast 205 – Shopping for Shoesnarrow – a thin space that is longer than it is wide* Those big trucks are having problems driving through the narrow streets of London.wide – a large or big distance from side to side* The purpose for building this bridge is to make it possible for cars to cross that wide river between the two cities.to fit – to be the right size and shape for something* She didn’t buy the sweater because it wasn’t a good fit.tight – not enough room for something; too little space* The jacket looked like it was the right size, but when he tried it on, he thought it was too tight.loose – too much room for something; too much space; not strongly fixed or attached onto something* Some of the book’s pages are loose and keep falling out of the book.to keep in mind that... – to remember; to think about; to consider* My wife decided to buy a large couch to replace a smaller one even though I told her to keep in mind that there may not be enough space in the house for it. leather – the dried skin of an animal used to make clothes, shoes, bags, and other things* He’s a vegetarian and he doesn’t buy anything made of leather.to stretch – to make wider, longer, or larger by pushing or pulling* I don’t want to try on your sweater. I’m bigger than you are and I’ll probably stretch it.to ring (someone) up – when a salesperson adds up and records on a cash register the things you want to buy* You look like you’re ready. I can ring you up over here.ESL Podcast 205 – Shopping for ShoesCOMPREHENSION QUESTIONS1. What type of dress shoes did Alissa buy?a) Bootsb) Slip-onsc) Loafers2. Alissa bought shoes in what size?a) 6b) 6 1/2c) 7______________WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?heelThe word “heel,” in this podcast, means the bottom part of the back of a shoe under the ankle: “You can tell that she walks a lot because of the worn-out heel on her shoes.” “Heel” can also mean the back part of a foot: “She had some trouble walking because of a cut on her left heel.” A term that is often used for women’s shoes is “high-heels,” a type of shoe that has a tall, thin heel: “I like the look of these high heels but I can’t walk in them!” The word “heel” is also used for the bottom part of a hand that connects with the arm: “The heel of my hand felt sore yesterday after making bread all day.”bootIn this podcast, the word “boot” means a type of shoe with a tall top that covers the lower part of your leg: “Before going into the river, the fishermen put on their rubber boots.” As a verb, “to boot” is an informal term that means to dismiss someone, usually from a job or a position: “After he was found stealing, he was booted by his company and told to never come back.” Or, “She was on a reality show, but was booted after the first show.” “To boot,” as a verb, can also mean to start a computer: “We had to boot the computer again after the new software was installed.”ESL Podcast 205 – Shopping for ShoesCULTURE NOTEIn the United States, there are different sets of shoe sizes for men, women, and children. Shoe sizes are “determined,” or found, by measuring how long a footis, from the tip of the largest toe to the very back part of the heel. This isnormally done in shoe stores where there is a foot-shaped metal plate withnumbers to measure feet. The width is also measured and is given a letter onthis plate. Most stores use the same kind of template made by the samecompany, so it’s almost certain that the size you get in one store will be the samesize you’ll get in another store.Women’s sizes are equal to men’s sizes plus 1.5., so that a size 7 in men’sshoes is a size 8.5 (or 8 ½) in women’s shoes. For children’s shoes, sizes forgirls and boys are the same.Women Shoe SizesEnglish2 2.53 3.54 4.55 5.56 6.577.58 European343535.5363737.5383939.54040.54142 American 4.55 5.56 6.577.588.599.51010.5 Japanese21.52222.5232323.5242424.52525.52626.5Men Shoe SizesEnglish5 5.56 6.577.588.599.51010.51111.512 European3838.739.34040.5414242.5434444.5454646.547 American 5.56 6.577.588.599.51010.51111.51212.5 Japanese23.52424.52525.52626.52727.52828.52929.53030.5Children Shoe SizesEnglish99.51010.51111.51212.51313.51414.51515.516 European2727.52828.5293030.53131.53232.53333.53434.5 American9.51010.51111.51213.51313.51414.51515.51617 Japanese15.51616.51717.51818.51919.52020.52121.52222.5 ______________Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – b; 2 – bESL Podcast 205 – Shopping for ShoesCOMPLETE TRANSCRIPTWelcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 205, “Shopping for Shoes.”This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 205. I’m your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California.On This podcast, we’re going to go to the store and buy some shoes. Let’s go! [Start of story]Clerk: Can I help you find something?Alissa: Yes, I’m looking for some dress shoes for work, something with a low heel.Clerk: Have you tried this brand? They make really comfortable shoes. This company makes several styles of dress shoes, including a sandal, a low boot, and a loafer. These right here are open toe and those over there have a strap in the back.Alissa: Oh, I like these slip-ons, but they seem too narrow. My feet are pretty wide.Clerk: Those actually come in three widths: narrow, medium, and wide. Do you want to try them on?Alissa: Sure. Do you have them in a 6-and-a-half or a 7, in black or brown? Clerk: I’m not sure. I’ll have to check in the back…Here you are. How does the 6-and-a-half fit?Alissa: They’re a little too tight in the toe. Let me try the 7. Oh, that’s better, but now the heel is a little too loose.Clerk: Keep in mind that since they’re leather, they’ll stretch a little.ESL Podcast 205 – Shopping for ShoesAlissa: In that case, I’ll take the black pair in the 6-and-a-half.Clerk: Great. I can ring you up over here.[End of story]The podcast today is called “Shopping for Shoes.” Everyone needs to wear shoes – well, almost everyone! The dialogue begins with the clerk – the person who works at the store – asking Alissa, “Can I help you find something?” Alissa says, “Yes, I’m looking for some dress shoes for work.” A dress, “dress,” shoe just means a formal shoe. It could be something you wear with a dress, but we also use that term for a man’s shoe that is formal we say it’s a dress shoe. The man could wear a dress too, I guess!The one that Alissa is looking for is a low heel shoe. We should probably talk a little bit about the parts of the foot because we use different vocabulary to talk about those related to shoes. Your foot has, on the bottom in the back what we call a heel, “heel,” and that’s the bottom back of your foot. It’s also what we call the back bottom of a shoe. The opposite of your heel are your toes. The foot is connected to your leg by something called an ankle, “ankle.” An ankle is that bone that sticks out that is above your foot that allows you to move your foot back and forth.You have a heel on your foot, and a shoe also has a heel. The heel is either high or low. A high heel is when it is tall. So, women, for example, and, I don’t know, some men, wear shoes that have high heels, and it’s like a little stick that sticks on the back of the shoe, and that makes the woman taller. A low heel shoe is one that doesn’t have a very big heel, it’s more flat. What Alissa is looking for is a shoe with a low heel.The Clerk says, “Have you tried this brand?” A brand, “brand,” is a type of something sold by a company. Diet Coca-Cola, for example is a brand. It’s a type of product sold by a company. The clerk asks Alissa if she has tried this particular brand that he is showing her. He says that the company that makes this shoe has several different styles, “including a sandal,” “sandal.” A sandal is a shoe that doesn’t have a top on it, usually. It has a bottom, of course, what we would call the sole of the shoe, “sole” is the whole bottom of the shoe, but it doesn’t have a top. Instead, it has what we call straps, “straps.” A strap is like aESL Podcast 205 – Shopping for Shoes little...little piece of leather, or like a little rope, really, that holds your foot onto the bottom. But a sandal, usually you can see the toes of the person and the top of their feet.A boot, “boot,” is a heavier shoe, usually one that goes above the ankle, or covers the ankle. Remember, the ankle is that bone that connects your foot to your leg. The other kind of shoe that the clerk says this company makes is a loafer, “loafer.” And, a loafer is a low heel shoe – could be for a man or a woman – and it has a flat bottom and it’s a very simple shoe. Usually it’s a shoe that you can just put your foot into, and you don’t have to do anything else: you don’t have to tie the shoelaces. A shoelace, “shoelace,” all one word, is the little string or rope that you use to make your shoe tighter on you so that it doesn’t fall off. A loafer doesn’t have any shoelaces; it doesn’t have any buckles, “buckles.” A buckle is similar to a shoelace: it helps keep your foot in the shoe, but it’s usually made of metal, and it has two parts that connect. You have a buckle on your belt. If you wear pants, the belt, “belt,” keeps your pants from falling down, and the buckle connects the belt together. Well, shoes can have shoelaces or buckles, but if it’s a loafer, it doesn’t have either of those.The clerk also says that the company makes some open toe shoes. Open toe means that you can see the toe. They also have slip-ons. A slip-on, “slip-on,” is a shoe that you don’t need a shoelace or a buckle for. A loafer is a type of slip-on, but you could have other types of shoes that were slip-ons. If you don’t have to do anything to keep the shoe on your foot, you don’t have to tie up the shoelaces or fasten the buckle – the verb to fasten, “fasten,” is used when we talk about connecting the two parts of a buckle – then you have a slip-on shoe. Well, Alissa says that the shoes that she is trying are too narrow – that her “feet are pretty wide.” The clerk says well, these shoes “come in,” or are available in, “three widths.” The width, “width,” of a shoe is how big it is from side to side. It could be a very wide width, so if you have a foot that is very wide, you would have a wide width shoe. It could be a narrow width, which would be something with a skinnier foot, and then in between is a medium width.The clerk asks Alissa if she want to “try them on,” and Alissa says, “Sure. Do you have them in a six-and-a-half or a seven” – she’s asking for the size of the shoe. The clerk says, “I’m not sure. I’ll have to check in back,” meaning I’ll have to go to the back of the store to see if I have any. He does that, comes back and asks Alissa how “the six-and-a-half fit” – that is, how does the shoe of size six-ESL Podcast 205 – Shopping for Shoesand-a-half fit her foot. The verb to fit, “fit,” means that something is not too big; it’s not too small; it’s just right. You can say a shoe “fits me well,” meaning it’s very comfortable. You can also say that a shirt, or a pair of pants, or any kind of clothing fits you – means it’s not too big; it’s not too small.Alissa says that the shoes are “little tight in the toe.” When a shoe is too small, we say it’s tight, “tight.” The opposite of that would be loose, “loose.” If it’s too big, the shoe will be loose – your foot will move around and the shoe will fall off. If it’s too tight, that will hurt your feet. So, you want something that isn’t too tight and is not too loose.The clerk says to Alissa that she should, “Keep in mind that they’re leather” – the shoes are made of leather. The expression, to keep something in mind, means the same as remember – be sure to consider. Somebody says, “Keep in mind that our store closes at 9 p.m.” – they’re saying be sure that you know, or be sure that you remember that our store closes at nine. So, the clerk says, “Keep in mind that since” the shoes are made of leather, “leather,” “they’ll stretch a little.” Leather is the skin of an animal that we use to make clothing out of. You can have a leather jacket, a leather coat; you could have leather shoes. I have a nice pair of leather pants. Leather is usually from a cow or some other animal.The verb to stretch, “stretch,” means that something will get bigger. When we say, for example, that the leather will stretch, we mean that after you start wearing the shoes, the leather – the actual skin of the shoe – will get a little bigger because of your feet being inside of them – they will stretch – they will become a little bigger.Alissa says, “In that case, I’ll take a black pair in the 6-and-a-half.” “In that case,” meaning well, if they’re going to stretch, if they will get a little bigger, then I want to buy a pair of shoes size 6-and-a-half.The clerk says, “Great. I’ll ring you up over here.” To ring, “ring,” someone up means that you are going to take their money, that you are going over and you will take their cash or their credit card so they can pay for the item.Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a native rate of speech.ESL Podcast 205 – Shopping for Shoes[Start of story]Clerk: Can I help you find something?Alissa: Yes, I’m looking for some dress shoes for work, something with a low heel.Clerk: Have you tried this brand? They make really comfortable shoes. This company makes several styles of dress shoes, including a sandal, a low boot, and a loafer. These right here are open toe and those over there have a strap in the back.Alissa: Oh, I like these slip-ons, but they seem too narrow. My feet are pretty wide.Clerk: Those actually come in three widths: narrow, medium, and wide. Do you want to try them on?Alissa: Sure. Do you have them in a 6-and-a-half or a 7, in black or brown? Clerk: I’m not sure. I’ll have to check in the back…Here you are. How does the 6-and-a-half fit?Alissa: They’re a little too tight in the toe. Let me try the 7. Oh, that’s better, but now the heel is a little too loose.Clerk: Keep in mind that since they’re leather, they’ll stretch a little.Alissa: In that case, I’ll take the black pair in the 6-and-a-half.Clerk: Great. I can ring you up over here.[End of story]Our script today was written by Dr. Lucy Tse.If you want more information about today’s topic, including all of the vocabulary words that we used and some additional vocabulary about shopping for shoes,ESL Podcast 205 – Shopping for Shoesgo to our website at and download the Learning Guide for this podcast.From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan, thanks for listening. We’ll see you next time on ESL Podcast.English as a Second Language Podcast is written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse, hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan. This podcast is copyright 2006.。
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ESL Podcast
2014-03-02 ESL Podcast 978 – Getting Access to Restricted Areas
Security officer: Excuse me, sir, but this is a restricted area. Only authorized personnel are permitted.
Carl: I just want to take a quick look. Is this really where the president will be speaking? Security officer: I can neither confirm nor deny that, sir. Please step aside.
Carl: What if I have press credentials? Could I get in then?
Security officer: Only if you’ve been screened by security. Really, sir, I must ask you to leave this area. It’s off-limits to you.
Carl: Couldn’t I just hang around and watch while people arrive? I won’t say a word.
Security officer: No, and if you persist, I’ll have to have you shown out.
Carl: I’m not causing any trouble. I’m an American citizen and this is a free country! I can stand wherever I want to.
Security officer: Not on private property. Jim, could you please escort this gentleman off the premises?
Carl: Hey, this is a travesty! I’m going to file a formal protest!
Security officer: You do that. Just do it off the premises.
Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
ESL Podcast 977 – Parts of the Body
Sonia: What in the world is that?!
Nadir: It’s a life-size figure of George Washington. It’s for Leon’s school project.
Sonia: Then why are you making it?
Nadir: I’m not. I’m just helping him.
Sonia: Uh-huh. Why does George Washington have really big hands and flat palms?
Nadir: He cut down the family’s cherry tree. Remember? He probably needed big hands to do that.
Sonia: And why does he have little tiny feet with six toes on each foot and no ankles?
Nadir: I made a little mistake with those, but they’ll be covered up with shoes, so no one will see them.
Sonia: And why is George’s head shaped like an egg? His ears are lopsided and his earlob es are disproportionate to his other facial features.
Nadir: That’s why I made the forehead and chin bigger, so no one will notice those ears. We’ll probably put a hat on him anyway.
Sonia: But his legs look really thin on top and thick on the bottom, with kneecaps that stick out. Nadir: I’ll put pants on him, so no one will see those either.
Sonia: So it won’t matter if he’s not anatomically correct, right?
Nadir: Right.
Sonia: Good thing this isn’t for science class!
Script by Dr. Lucy Tse。