Using English at Work：60 Socializing with Coworkers(6)（打印版）

Next, Van tells a funny story about the last date he went on that didn't go very well.

Van's story is about something that went wrong on his date.

We have a good laugh over his story.

"To have a good laugh" means to laugh very loudly and for a long time about something that is funny.

Many people go to comedy clubs or watch funny movies because they want to have a good laugh.

We all had a great time at happy hour and it was a good way to kick off the weekend.

"To kick off" means to start something with some action or event.

You might kick off a party with some good music, or kick off a conference with a keynote or introductions.

We've kicked off, or begun, the weekend by going to this happy hour and having a lot of fun.

Now let's listen as I describe how I socialize with my colleagues again, this time speaking at a normal speed.

When I walk past Van's desk on my way out of the office, I see that he's talking to a group of people.

He stops and asks if I want to go with them to the happy hour at the restaurant and bar down the street.

It has been a busy week and I need to blow off some steam.

On top of that, I don't have any big plans for the evening, so I say, "yes."

Eight of us walk down the street to Steve's Cantina.

We find a table in the back of the bar and look at the drinks menu.

Happy hour is from 4 to 7 p.m., and the drinks are half price.

We order our drinks and I go to get some snacks and appetizers.

I look at the food that's available and I see a lot of deep-fried foods and chips and dip, so I load up and go back to the table.

One of the guys, Brian, starts to grumble about work and to bad-mouth the boss.

I'm in no mood to talk about work, so I change the subject.

I ask everybody what his or her plans are for the weekend.

Diana says that she's planning to kick back and relax.

Rodrigo says he has a hot date.

Van tells us a funny story about the last date he went on that didn't go very well. We have a good laugh over it.

We all have a great time at happy hour and it's a good way to kick off the weekend!

That's the end of our 10th and final lesson; it's also the end of our course.

I hope you've enjoyed listening to this course as much as we did putting it together.

Please visit our website at elspod.com to find other courses to help you improve your English.

From Los Angeles, California, I'm Jeff McQuillan. Thanks for listening.

This course has been a production of the Center for Educational Development, in beautiful Los Angeles, California. Visit our website at eslpod.com.