March 25th - Restaurant

Restaurant Ordering When you sit down to eat at a restaurant remember to leave a tip.  The average you should leave is 15 percent.  After you are seated, the first thing they ask is if you want something to drink.  "Can I get you a drink?"  "Can I get a drink for you?"  "Would you like to order a drink now?"  "Can I get a drink started for you?"  "What would you like to drink?"  "I'll take a coke."  "I'll have an orange juice."  "Water will be fine."  "Can I have a glass of water?"  After they bring out your drinks, they will take your order.  The reason they do this is because most people know what they want to drink, but want a few minutes to decide what to eat.  "May I take your order?"  "What would you like to order?"  "Are you ready to order?"  "What would you like today?"  If you need more time, you can simply say, "Can I have a couple more minutes?"  When you are ready to order, just read off what you want.  "I'll take the Salisbury steak with hash browns."  Depending on what you order, they will have side options they will ask you about.  Listen carefully to your choices and choose one.  You should prepare yourself by reading the menu carefully.  It should indicate what your options are.  "Would you like toast, a muffin, or a cornbread?"

March 18th - Fluency in Conversation

1- You're so difficult to get through
	Storyline: JB was trying to get a hold of Joner, but his line was always busy.....
	Laura:	Did you call Joner last night?
	JB:	Yes. I tried to get a hold of him last night, but it was so difficult to get through.
	Laura:	That's strange. Maybe he was on the Net.
	JB:	That's probably it! No wonder the line was busy all the time! Maybe he ought to get another line.
	Laura:	Or he should get call-waiting.

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2- Eating out

Laura and JB want  to fix pork chops for dinner, but they later find out that the meat has gone bad.... JB: What are we going to eat for dinner? Laura: I'm going to fix some pork chops. JB: I'm afraid the meat is rotten. Laura: That's strange!  I just bought it the day before yesterday. JB: Well, I forgot to put it in the refrigerator. Laura: Good for you!  Now what should we eat? JB: Why don't we eat out? Laura: Again?  Weren't you just complaining that it's too expensive to eat out? JB: Not when you're hungry.

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3- I Can't Stand Him Any Longer!
	Storyline: JB told Laura that he didn't realize that Joner would fly into a rage at his advice....
	Laura :	What's going on between you and Joner?  Did you guys have a fight or something?
	JB:	I can't stand him any more!  He has such a short fuse that even a little piece of friendly advice sets him off.
	Laura:	So what did you tell him?
	JB:	I told him that if he could be more patient and try not to lose his temper so easily, he would be more popular.
	Laura:	No wonder he threw a fit.  His popularity is really a sore spot.
	JB:	Well, I guess I'll just keep my mouth shut.  That'll teach me to give advice!
	Laura:	Not unless you want to die!

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4- Her Skin Looks So Baby Smooth!
	When Joner tells Laura that the girl who sits several seats away is pretty, Laura seems to be a little jealous....
	Tetudoviscky:	She's really pretty, isn't she?  Her skin looks so baby smooth!
	Laura:	Well, it's just that she puts lots of make-up on her face.  Actually, natural beauty comes from within.
	Joner:	Ah, I can smell jealousy in the air!
	Laura:	She has nothing that deserves my jealousy.  I don't have to put things on my face and I still look pretty.  Don't you think so?
	Joner:	Yeah, right!  But what did you put on your face last night, those little greenish things?
	Laura:	They're cucumbers.  They're natural skin soothers, natural healers of the skin.  Haven't you heard them say on TV that...erh...they soften the skin, wipe out the roughness, counter irritation, and build strength and resilience?
	Joner:	Yeah, yeah, yeah!  They wipe out tight, tired feelings and remove lines and age signs.  Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah!  See I can even recite it.
	Laura:	That's right!  You've learned a lot, haven't you?

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5- A Drink to Our Friendship!
	Storyline: Laura hasn't seen Mr Ikutake for a long time, but they finally meet again in a party hosted by Laura
	Laura:	I'm really happy that you could come.
	Mr. Ikuatke:	Yeah. It's been years since we did this together.
	Laura:	I know. It has been a long time.
	Mr. Ikutake:	Well, anyway, a drink to our friendship!
	Laura:	Cheers!

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March 11th - Apologizing

March 11th - Restaurant Ordering

Restaurant Ordering When you sit down to eat at a restaurant remember to leave a tip.  The average you should leave is 15 percent.  After you are seated, the first thing they ask is if you want something to drink.  "Can I get you a drink?"  "Can I get a drink for you?"  "Would you like to order a drink now?"  "Can I get a drink started for you?"  "What would you like to drink?"  "I'll take a coke."  "I'll have an orange juice."  "Water will be fine."  "Can I have a glass of water?"  After they bring out your drinks, they will take your order.  The reason they do this is because most people know what they want to drink, but want a few minutes to decide what to eat.  "May I take your order?"  "What would you like to order?"  "Are you ready to order?"  "What would you like today?"  If you need more time, you can simply say, "Can I have a couple more minutes?"  When you are ready to order, just read off what you want.  "I'll take the Salisbury steak with hash browns."  Depending on what you order, they will have side options they will ask you about.  Listen carefully to your choices and choose one.  You should prepare yourself by reading the menu carefully.  It should indicate what your options are.  "Would you like toast, a muffin, or a cornbread?"

March 4th- Learning Through Short Conversations

L: Joner hates shaving.
JB: Me too.
L: He just cut himself again.
JB: Did he use a new blade?
L: It doesn't matter. Old blades cut, new blades cut.
JB: Maybe you should buy him  an electric shaver.
L: They make a lot of noise, but they don't give a close shave.
JB: Maybe he should stop shaving.
L: And grow a beard?
JB: Sure. Why not?
L: Because food and other stuff  may stick in his beard.
JB: Hmm. Here's an idea. Put cream on his face and have a dog lick it off.

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JB: Excuse me.
L: Yes?
JB: Are you reading this paper?
L: Oh, no. Help yourself.
JB: I asked because the paper is sitting next to you.
L: Thank you. That's polite of you to ask.
JB: Some people would just pick it up.
L: Yes, I know. Some people are rude.
JB: I always try to be polite.
L: So do I.
JB: The world needs more polite people like us.
L: I agree 100 percent. May I have a question?
JB- Of course! Go ahead!
L- Are you trying to flirt with me?
JB- I thought you were doing that. Sorry.

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JB: Evelyn wants a puppy.
L: You already have Belinha, don't you?  You better think about it.
JB: Why do we have to think about it?
L: Because a puppy costs money.
JB: No, it doesn't. Puppies are free.
L: Yes, but a puppy needs shots.
JB: Shots for what?
L: So it won't get sick. Just like you get shots.
JB: I hate shots.
L: And a puppy eats food. Food costs money.
JB: No problem. I'll give him food off my plate.
L: Oh, no you don't. Puppies don't eat vegetables.

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L: Look at all these kittens!
JB: How many are there?
L: Eight.
JB: They're all so cute.
L: Yes, but I can't keep them.
JB: What are you going to do with them?
L: I'm going to give them away. Do you want one?
JB: Yes, I would love one but I must talk to my wife before taking it.
L: Which one do you want?
JB: That one. The one that's all black.
L: Yes, I like that one, too.
JB: I'll call him Timão.

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L: My friend's parents go to church every Sunday.
JB: They trust in God, don't they?
L: They hope they will go to heaven.
JB: They probably will.
L: But no one knows for sure.
JB: That's for sure.
L: No one knows what happens after we die.
JB: I heard that If we are good, we will be happy in heaven with God.
L: That's what many people believe.
JB: If we are bad, we will be unhappy forever in hell.
L: I don't want to go to hell.
JB: Let's go to church with them on Sunday.

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L: My boss died. JB: I'm sorry for you. L: Thank you. JB: When did he die? L: A couple of months ago. JB: You still miss him, don't you? L: Yes, but I talk to him almost every day. JB: I got it. When you go to church, right? L: No, when I call him on his cell phone. JB: What do you mean? L: I buried him with his cell phone. JB: What will you do when the battery dies? ...................................................... JB: Today is Friday the thirteenth. L: That's a bad day. JB: It's supposed to be unlucky. L: You're supposed to stay home all day. JB: That's what I do. L: My friend stayed in a hotel on Friday the thirteenth. JB: That was a mistake. L: He stayed on the thirteenth floor. JB: What happened? L: Someone stole his laptop. JB: He was asking for it. L: He learned his lesson. He's home today. ..................................................... JB: Do you really love me? L: Of course. You are my best teacher. JB: Prove it. L:  Prove that you are my best teacher? JB: No. Prove that you love me. L: Come on JB ! How can I prove it? JB: Take Eve and I  to dinner on our wedding birthday. L: That's it? That's all I have to do? JB: Take us to a nice restaurant, not to McDonald's or Outback. L: But a nice restaurant costs money. JB: Yes, and you have to make a reservation. L: That's such a hassle. JB: I knew you didn't love me. L: Okay, okay! I'll make a reservation right now. ............................................................

March 4th - Imagine and answer

March 4th - Advanced Idioms

Advanced and Smart Idioms

Cos' everyone is talking about you

A hot potato

Speak of an issue (mostly current) which many people are talking about and which is usually disputed

A penny for your thoughts

A way of asking what someone is thinking

Actions speak louder than words

People's intentions can be judged better by what they do than what they say.

An arm and a leg

Very expensive or costly. A large amount of money.

At the drop of a hat

Meaning: without any hesitation; instantly.