2008年ESL之人际交往 04 Asking for a First Date（打印版）

2008年ESL之人际交往 04 Asking for a First Date（在线收听）

04 Asking for a First Date

GLOSSARY

could I speak to (someone) – a phrase used to ask to speak with someoneover the phone; a phrase used to show who one wants to speak with on thetelephone* Hello, could I speak to Mr. Alvarez, please?

this is he/she – a phrase used to identify oneself as the person who has beenasked for on the phone* - Could I speak to Matthew, please?

- Yes, this is he.

How about you? – a phrase used to ask someone the same question that onejust answered; a phrase used to ask whether another person thinks or feels thesame way as oneself* I’m hungry. How about you?

to go out – to do something with another person; to have a date; to gosomewhere with another person* Last night Sheryl and Rickie went out to have dinner and see a movie together.

date – a romantic meeting between two people; an opportunity to do somethingwith another person, learn more about that person, and find out whether one is romantically interested in that person* On Ernie’s first date, he took a girl to see Swan Lake at the theater.

to grab – to get; to have; to do something quickly and informally* Let’s grab something to eat before we start studying.

How does that sound? – a phrase used to ask for one’s opinion aboutsomething that one has just said or proposed* I think we should go to Nebraska for Christmas next year. How does thatsound?

to have plans – to be busy; to be scheduled to do something; to have alreadymade another commitment* He said he would like to go to your wedding, but he already has plans for thatday.

tied up – busy; occupied; unable to do something because one has to dosomething else* Kristoff was tied up at the office until almost 9:30 p.m. last night.

free – available; not busy; not occupied* Are you free next Thursday night, or do you have to work?

I don’t suppose... – a polite phrase used to ask someone whether something is true, or whether another person knows something or can do something* I don’t suppose you know where there’s a pharmacy around here, do you?

to make it – to be able to do something, go somewhere, or attend an event* They weren’t able to make it to the party last night because they couldn’t findanyone to take care of their kids.

to pick (someone) up – to drive somewhere and meet a person, taking thatperson to another place in one’s car* The tour guide picked us up from the hotel at 7:30 a.m.

to work – to be acceptable; to be all right; to not create any problems or difficulty* Will it work for you if I wait until Tuesday to pay you?

to look forward to (something) – to be excited, happy, and eager aboutsomething that will happen in the future; to think about some future eventpositively* They are looking forward to their vacation in Miami this summer.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS1. When is Natalie available?

a) Tomorrow.

b) On Friday.

c) On Saturday.

2. What will happen at 7:00?

a) Sergio and Natalie will meet at the movie theater.

b) Sergio will call Natalie.

c) Sergio will arrive at Natalie’s house.

______________WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?

tied upThe phrase “tied up,” in this podcast, means busy and unable to do somethingbecause one has to do something else: “Shane is tied up in a meeting right now,but I’ll have him return your call when he is back at his desk.” The phrase “tieddown” means feeling that one doesn’t have enough freedom because one has many responsibilities: “Lately, he has felt really tied down by his family.” Thephrase “tied in” means connected with something or related to something:

“Everything I heard from your uncle tied in with everything I know aboutDesmond and how he isn’t a very good friend.” Finally, the phrase “to tie theknot” means to get married: “After dating for four years, they’re finally going to tiethe knot next month.”

to workIn this podcast, the verb “to work” means to be acceptable and to not create any problems or difficulty: “James said he wanted to write the report by himself, and Isaid, ‘That works for me!’” The phrase “to work at something” means to make abig effort to do something that is difficult: “Becoming a good tennis player can bedifficult. You may have to work at it for years.” The phrase “to work on(something)” means to make an effort to make something better: “The house is adisaster, but they’re working on cleaning it up.” The phrase “to work on(someone)” means to try to persuade someone to do or say something:

“Lawrence plans to vote for the other candidate, but we’re working on him.” Finally, the phrase “to work something off” means to do something to get rid of anegative feeling: “He started exercising to work off stress from work.”

CULTURE NOTEA first date is very important, because it gives people an opportunity to make apositive “first impression” (the way that one person first reacts to another person). It is important to dress nicely and to be “punctual” (arrive on time).

Traditionally, some women like it when men bring them a gift on a first date. Common gifts include a “floral bouquet” (a pretty group of flowers), a small box ofchocolate candies, or a small “stuffed animal” (a soft toy made to look like ananimal).

If it is a formal date, especially for an important dance, a man usually gives awoman a “corsage” (a small arrangement of flowers worn on a woman’s dress orwrist) and a woman gives a man a “boutonnière” (a small flower worn on a man’s suit jacket).

The most common type of first date is probably having dinner and seeing amovie. Other first date ideas include going to the theater, having a “picnic” (ameal eaten outdoors) at a park, visiting an art gallery or museum, or going“bowling” (a game where heavy balls are rolled to knock down large pieces orpins). Generally it isn’t a good idea to introduce the other person to yourrelatives because it is considered too early in the relationship.

Some people prefer to go on “group dates” with many couples. They think thesetypes of first dates are safer, especially when they do not know the other personwell. Other people go on first dates that are “blind dates,” meaning that they have never seen the other person before.

______________Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – a; 2 – c

COMPLETE TRANSCRIPTWelcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 351: Asking for aFirst Date.

This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 351. I’m your host, Dr.

Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in –you know where – beautiful Los Angeles, California.

Visit our website at eslpod.com and download a Learning Guide for this episode. The Learning Guide contains all of the definitions, vocabulary, sample sentences,additional definitions not discussed on the episode, cultural notes,comprehension questions, secrets to living forever, and a complete transcript ofthis episode.

This episode is called “Asking for a First Date.” It’s a conversation betweenNatalie and Sergio. Sergio likes Natalie, and he’s going to do that mostdangerous thing: ask her to go on a date with him. Let’s get started.

[start of dialogue]

Natalie: Hello.

Sergio: Hi, could I speak to Natalie?

Natalie: This is she. Sergio: Oh hi, this is Sergio. How are you?

Natalie: Good. How about you?

Sergio: I’m great. Uh, well, the reason I’m calling is I was wondering if you’d liketo go out sometime?

Natalie: You mean on a date? Sergio: Yeah, with me. Natalie: I’d love to. Sergio: Really? I mean, that’s great. I was thinking we could grab dinner onFriday and then see a movie. How does that sound?

Natalie: Oh, I already have plans for Friday. Sergio: How about Saturday? Natalie: I’m tied up on Saturday, too. I’m free tomorrow, though. I don’tsuppose you want to go out tomorrow night?

Sergio: Sure, I can make it tomorrow. I’ll pick you up around 7:00. Is that okay?

Natalie: Yeah, that works for me. See you tomorrow at 7:00.

Sergio: I’m really looking forward to it. Natalie: Me, too.

[end of dialogue]

Our dialogue begins with Natalie answering the telephone; Sergio has called her. She says, “Hello,” which is how most people answer the phone. Sergio says, “Hi,could I speak to Natalie?” When you call someone and you, perhaps, don’trecognize their voice or if it’s not the person you want to speak with, you say “could I speak to...” and then the person’s name. It’s a polite way of asking totalk to someone. Natalie says, “This is she.” She’s saying I am the person youare asking for; I am Natalie. Sergio says, “Oh hi, this is Sergio. How are you?” Natalie says, “Good. Howabout you?” “How about you?” is a phrase used to ask someone the samequestion that you just answered, or to ask someone if they think or feel the sameway as you do. For example you say, “I’m hungry,” and then you turn to yourfriend and you ask, “How about you?” meaning are you hungry.

Sergio is a little nervous; he says, “I’m great. Uh, well, the reason I’m calling is Iwas wondering (I was thinking about – I was asking myself) if you’d like to go outsometime?” “To go out” is another way of, in most cases, saying to have a date. It can just mean to go with someone else to do something. You may say to yourfriend, “Let’s go out tonight,” meaning let’s go somewhere – to a movie, to agame, to take a walk. “To go out” can also mean to be in a romantic relationshipwith someone: “I’m going out with a beautiful woman.” That would be saying Iam dating a beautiful woman. I’m not, of course, I’m already married – I don’t dothat sort of thing!

Natalie says, “You mean on a date?” She’s not sure if Sergio is just asking heras a friend or as a possible girlfriend. Sergio says, “Yeah (yes), with me” – ofcourse! Natalie says, “I’d love to.” Sergio must be very happy, he says,“Really?” – a little surprised; lack of confidence Sergio! “I mean, that’s great.” He realizes that he shouldn’t have said “really,” which expresses surprise, so hesays, “I mean,” correcting himself, “that’s great.”

“I was thinking we could grab dinner on Friday and then see a movie.” “To grab”

(grab) usually means to get, or to take something with your hand, but we use this expression also to mean, in this case, to go and do something, usually informally:

“Let’s grab some dinner.” We often say, “Let’s grab a bite to eat,” meaning let’s go eat something – not a fancy, formal place, but an informal place. Sergio says,“How does that sound?” The expression “how does that sound” is used whenyou are asking someone’s opinion about something you have said or you have“proposed” – you have recommended.

Natalie says, “Oh, I already have plans for Friday.” If someone says they “haveplans,” they mean they’re busy, they can’t do something; they have anothercommitment. We hope Natalie doesn’t have another date! Sergio says, “Howabout Saturday?” Natalie says, “I’m tied up on Saturday, too.” To be “tied up”

means to be busy, to be occupied; you’re not able to do something because youhave another commitment. It’s similar to “to have plans.” “Tied up” has a coupleof meanings in English; take a look at our Learning Guide for some additionalexplanations.

Things are not sounding too good here for poor Sergio; Natalie seems to have avery busy life! Natalie says, “I’m free tomorrow, though.” “I’m free” means I’mnot busy; I’m available, I can go with you tomorrow. “I don’t suppose you want togo out tomorrow night,” she asks Sergio. This expression, “I don’t suppose…” is a polite way of asking a question, of asking someone whether something is trueor whether someone can do something. For example: “I don’t suppose that it’s raining out right now?” You’re asking someone “Is it raining out?” – you don’tthink so. You can also use it to be polite: “I don’t suppose you want to go todinner with me,” meaning you probably don’t, but I want to ask you anyway. Ofcourse, you really want to go to dinner with that person, you’re just being politeby saying “I don’t suppose.”

Sergio says, “Sure, I can make it tomorrow.” “To make it,” here, means to beable to do something – to go somewhere. “Can you make it to the movie?”

meaning are you able to go to the movie. Or you may say, “I can’t make it” – I’mnot able to go. “I’ll pick you up,” Sergio says, “around 7:00.” “To pick someoneup” is a phrasal verb meaning to drive to someone’s house in your car and take that person with you in your car. Usually it means you have a car – anautomobile.

Sergio says, “I’ll pick you up at 7:00. Is that okay?” Natalie says, “Yeah, thatworks for me.” “To work,” here, means to be acceptable, to be okay, not tocause any problems. “To work” has lots of meanings in English; take a look atthe Learning Guide for some more explanations.

Sergio says, “I’m really looking forward to it.” “To look forward to something”

means to be excited, to be happy about something. Of course, Sergio is excitedabout going on a date with Natalie. Natalie says, “Me, too,” which is our informalway of saying I am looking forward to it also.

What will happen with Natalie and Sergio? I’m not sure. Perhaps this will be thefirst of many dates!

Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed.