Cars

Posted by: MichikoNakamura Fri, 23 Nov 2007 16:19:06 GMT

ポッドキャスト

Let's begin by reading this opening conversation:

Michael: Boy, it sure is crowded today.
Michiko: Yeah, there are a lot of cars out.
Michael: Watch out for that cat!!
Michiko: That was a close call. I almost hit it.
Michael: It was a good thing I was watching.
Michiko: I have to pay more attention to my driving.
Michael: That's O.K. everyone gets distracted once in a while.

In any kind of emergency, you don't have time to say a lot of words. You can just say:

"Watch out!"   or   "Look out!"

In the conversation above, did you notice that the woman said:

"That was a close call"

That means she almost hit the cat.   Another way to say the same thing is:

"That was a close shave"

When you are driving a car, you might have to honk your horn. When you are a pedestrian, the only way to warn someone is by using your voice. Parents also warn their children at home.

Read this conversation between two people in a car.

Michiko: What's the fastest way to get to Kaneohe?
Michael: Taking the freeway is a lot faster than going through the side streets.
Michiko: I want to change lanes. Can you tell me when it's clear?
Michael: Not yet. A car is coming.
Michiko: Can I go now?
Michael: O.K. go fast.

When you want to go somewhere quickly, you can ask:

"What's the fastest way to get to Kaneohe?"

or

"What's the best way to get to Kaneohe?"

Many cars in America don't have a side view mirror. A rear view mirror is required by law. When you change to a right lane it's kind of hard to see, so passengers can help the driver. You can ask them:

"I want to change lanes"

or

"I want to get over"

Now that you have told them what you want, you can ask:

"Can you tell me when it's clear?"

"Is it clear?"

or

"Is it O.K. to change?"

If you are the passenger, you can answer by saying:

"Not yet. A car is coming"

or

"Go ahead. It's clear"

Now, read this next conversation:

Michael: Michiko, do you have your driver's license?
Michiko:   Yes, I just got it 3 months ago.
Michael: Who taught you?
Michiko: My husband and a few friends. I was glad I didn't have to go to driving school.

Remember that most Americans don't go to driving school so if you are curious about how they learned how to drive, you can ask:

"Who taught you?"

"How did you learn to drive?"

or

"Who taught you how to drive?"

Now when you have gotten your permit and practiced driving, it is time to take the road test. You can either go to the police station very early or make an appointment.

Now, read this conversation as woman makes an appointment.

Police: Hello, may I help you?
Michiko: Yes, I'd like to make an appointment to take the road test.
Police: Is Wednesday at 9:30 o.k.?
Michiko: I'd prefer to have something in the afternoon. Are there any openings after 12?
Police: There's an opening at 2:30 on Thursday. Is that all right?
Michiko: Yes, that's fine.

The main thing to remember from this conversation is how to ask to take the road test. You can use one of these questions:

"I'd prefer to have something in the afternoon"

or

"Are there any openings after 12?"

Now, read this next conversation:

Michiko: Well, today is the day!
Michael: Are you ready?
Michiko: I think so. I've been practicing for months!
Michael: Do you have everything you need?
Michiko: Yes, I have my permit, no-fault insurance, and proof of registration for the car. Do I need anything else?
Michael: No, I don't think so.
Michiko: I'm jittery.
Michael: There's no need to be nervous. You're ready! Just do your best!

When you take a road test you will need to have three things; your driving permit, your no-fault insurance and proof of registration for the car you will be using. In this conversation, the woman mentioned that she was jittery. That mean nervous. Read these example sentences:

"I feel nervous"

or

"I feel jittery"

Before someone takes the test, you can wish them well by saying:

"Good luck! "

or

"Do your best!"

Once you get a driver's license you can drive anywhere. There's one thing that most people have problems with; It's parking! Let's read this next conversation between two people looking for a parking space.

Michael: Michiko, keep your eyes open for a parking space.
Michiko: That lady looks like she's leaving.
Michael: Why don't you ask her?
Michiko: Excuse me, are you leaving?
Lady:       No, I just came.
Michiko:   O.K. thanks.
Michael: I see another space on the other side. Let's drive around.
Michiko: Oh no, someone was already waiting for it.
Michael: Should I just wait here?
Michiko: Yeah, something should open up.
Michael: There's a guy pulling out right over there!
Michiko: All right, Michael! We finally got a space.

In this conversation, Michael told Michiko to keep her eyes open for a parking space. That means to look for one.   Read that sentence again:

"Keep your eyes open for a parking space"

It is common to try to follow people who are walking in the parking lot. But sometimes you can't be really sure if they are leaving, arriving, or just putting packages in their car. So you can ask :

"Excuse me, are you leaving?"

or

"Are you going?"

Now if you were the person to whom the question was asked you could respond by saying:

"No, I just came"

or

"Yes, I'm leaving"

Read these example conversations:

Michael: Excuse me, are you leaving?
Michiko: No, I just came.

Michael: Are you going?
Michiko: Yes, I'm leaving.

In this conversation, Michael noticed that a car was pulling out. That means that a car was coming out of a space. "Pulled in" means to drive in. Read these example sentences:

"Mother just pulled into the parking space"

"There's a guy pulling out right over there"

When you are a passenger or driver in a car there may be certain requests that you might want to make. Read this conversation and see how many requests you can hear:

Michael: I'll give you a ride home, Michiko.
Michiko: Thanks. Could you turn the air conditioner off? I'm a little cold.
Michael: Can I open the window?
Michiko: Sure. Then I can smoke.
Michael: Would you mind not smoking in the car? The smell stays for a long time.
Michiko: I'm sorry, I didn't know you quit smoking.
Michael: Oh, it's starting to rain.
Michiko: Could you roll up your window? I'm getting wet.
Michael: Here's your house. Oh, and by the way be sure to slam the door because last time you didn't shut it well.
Michiko: O.K. thanks for the ride.

There were 5 requests in this conversation. Read them again:

"Could you turn the air conditioner off?"

"Can I open the window?"

"Would you mind not smoking in the car?"

"Could you roll up your window?"

"Be sure to slam the door"

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Decorate

Posted by: MichikoNakamura Fri, 23 Nov 2007 15:58:24 GMT

ポッドキャスト

Taking Care of a Home

Read this opening conversation:

Dad: Donna, we're going to move to another house.
Kid: Why daddy? I like it here.
Dad: Well, we found a better place. It's closer to your school and less expensive.

Transfer is another word for move but it might not be your choice. It could be the government or a company is making you move. You could say:

"We're going to move to another house"

or

"We are being transferred to Japan."

There are many reasons why people move, but in Hawaii, one major factor is the cost. You can tell people:

"Our new place is less expensive"

or

"Our new place is more affordable"

When you are moving, you have to pack up all of your belongings. Afterwards you will have to unpack. For example:

"You have to pack up all of the things you don't use every day"

When you move, you might ask friends to help. If you want someone to help you, you should ask them first.

There are several ways you can ask. For example:

"Can I ask you a favor?"

"Do you mind if I ask you a favor?"

or

"Would you mind doing me a favor?"

A lot of people have their friends help them because hiring a moving company can be expensive. If you want to check on prices over the phone, your conversation could sound like this:

Michael: Hello, could you quote some prices for moving from a house to another part of the island?
Michiko: It's $74.49 an hour for two men and a truck.
Michael: Do they do packing too?
Michiko: Yes, they'll do furniture.

To check on prices, you can use one of these sentences:

"Could you quote some prices for moving to the mainland?"

or

"How much does it cost to move from Honolulu to Arizona?"

Usually, the moving men will pack your things but you might not want them to touch valuable things because they might be a little rough sometimes. So you can say:

"That's very valuable"

"That's priceless"

or

"That's worth a lot of money."

"Renovating" just means improving something, usually some kind of building. You can also use the word "remodeling."   For example, you could say:

"I started renovating my house"

or

"I started remodeling my house."

Usually, houses just need to be repainted in order to look nice and new. Read this conversation involving paint:

Michiko: Well, here I am! I'm all ready to paint!
Michael: All right, first you can use this roller. It's easier than using the brush.
Michiko: Did you stir the paint?
Michael: Yes, it's ready to use.
Michiko: Whew, I'm getting dizzy from all the paint fumes.
Michael: Oh, you'd better take a break.

When you paint a large wall, you will probably only use brushes for the corners. For the wide places, you can use a roller. You also have to be careful when painting because you could breathe in paint fumes.

When people feel dizzy or feel sick from paint fumes, they might sound like this:

"I'm getting dizzy from the paint fumes"

and

"The paint smells so strong, it makes me sick."

Renovation could mean adding or taking away something from your house. When you want to take something down, you can use several different verbs.   For example:

"We're knocking down the old garage"

or

"We're tearing down the addition."

"Decorating means making something more attractive by adding something. You can decorate anything. "To Decorate" is a verb. The noun is the word "decor". For example:

"I'm decorating my living room"

or

"I love the decor of your living room!"

When you buy furniture or wallpaper, you want the colors to match. Read this conversation.

Michiko: I think we need to buy a new covering for this sofa.
Michael: Yeah, it's a little worn.
Michiko: Do you think a pastel pink will go with the room?
Michael: Ugh, no, It'll look too feminine.

In this conversation, someone said the room was too feminine. That means it looks like a girl's room. If your room has dark colors, you can say it looks like a masculine room.

One important part of decorating a house or apartment is hanging up pictures. So you can say:

"Let's hang this painting up"

or

"Let's take this painting down."

When we put up paintings, we usually use nails.
For example, you could say:

"Let's use a nail to put up this painting"

or

"We hung this painting up with a nail"

When you are trying to put up a picture, you may have to give instructions.   For example:

"It's not straight. Move it to the left."

"It's crooked. Tilt it a little to the left."

"It's too high. Bring it down a little."

When you find the right spot to hang the picture, you can say:

"Hold it right there"

or

"That's perfect"

When you enter someone's house, you can ask:

"Should I take off my shoes?"

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Embarking on improving lifestyle

Posted by: MichikoNakamura Mon, 11 Jun 2007 00:55:08 GMT

日常生活の改善に取り組む

若さを保つために

忙しくて食事時間が不規則になりがちです。
時間がないので、ほとんど朝食ヌキです。
昼食は気分転換の時間です。
せかせかしないでゆっくり食事を楽しみます。
食後は、１５分間くらい短い昼寝をして疲れを取ります。
食後、買い物があってもなくても、近所のお店まで歩きます。
外食が続くと、ついつい食べすぎてしまいます。
栄養が偏ります。一度に食べすぎないように心がけています。
ビタミンの多い食品を採るように心がけています。
消化に良い夜食を少し食べます。

にちじょうせいかつのかいぜんにとりくむ

わかさをたもつために

いそがしくてしょくじじかんがふきそくになりがちです。
じかんがないので、ほとんどちょうしょくぬきです。
ちゅうしょくはきぶんてんかんのじかんです。
せかせかしないでゆっくりしょくじをたのしみます。
しょくごは、じゅうごふんかんくらいみじかいひるねをしてつかれをとります。
しょくご、かいものがあってもなくても、きんじょのおみせまであるきます。
がいしょくがつづくと、ついついたべすぎてしまいます。えいようがかたよります。
いちどにたべすぎないようにこころがけています。
ビタミンのおおいしょくひんをとるようにこころがけています。
しょうかによいやしょくをすこしたべます。

Embarking on improving lifestyle

For maintaining youth

Because I am busy, mealtime tends to become irregular.
I often skip breakfast because of lack of time.
Lunchtime is used for a change of mood.
I spend a relaxing time to enjoy a meal.
After eating, I take a short nap for about 15 minutes to get refreshed.
After a meal, I walk over to nearby stores even when I have no plan to buy anything.
I tend to overeat when I dine out. Nutrition becomes unbalanced.
I pay attention not to eat too much at one sitting.
I try to eat vitamin-rich foods.
I eat small midnight snacks that are easy to digest.

（ハワイパシフィックプレス連載）

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Court

Posted by: MichikoNakamura Fri, 23 Nov 2007 15:33:11 GMT

Jury Duty

Here are some common vocabulary words:

"justice" "judge" "jury" "Attorney" "Bailiff" "trial"

All right, now that we've learned some common vocabulary words, let's read this conversation:

Michael: Did I get any mail today?
Michiko: Only some junk mail and this letter. Here.
Michael: Oh no!
Michiko: What does it say?
Michael: It says that I have to appear at the courthouse for jury duty.
Michiko: What's jury duty?
Michael: That means I have to listen to the trial and decide whether or not the person is guilty.
Michiko: I thought the judge did that.
Michael: Well, some trials have a jury. They also have a judge but the jury makes the decision.
Michiko: That's interesting.

There are two kinds of trials. One has a jury. A jury is chosen from citizens or residents of that area. People who are chosen to be on the jury will receive a letter asking them to go to one of the courtrooms. In the conversation above, the man wanted to know if he received any mail.

Read these example sentences:

"Did I get any mail today?"

"Any mail for me?"

"Are there any letters for me?"

Now, read this conversation in the courtroom:

Judge: Is there any reason why you can't serve on the jury?
Michael: Yes, your honor. I own a small business and If I'm not there, I have to close the store.
Judge: OK, you are dismissed. Anyone else?
Michiko: Excuse me, your honor, but I can't understand English very well.
Judge: OK, you are dismissed.

On the first day you arrive for jury duty, the judge will ask if anyone has a reason for not serving on the jury. It has to be a good reason because nobody wants to take off work to be on a jury.

Here are some examples of good reasons:

"I'm the owner of a small business"

and

If I'm not there, the store will close."

"I don't understand English very well."

Did you notice in the conversation above that the people called the judge, "your honor". This is a title of respect. Whenever you talk to the judge, you should say, "your honor."

If you are accepted as a member of the jury, you will be paid a certain amount of money every day as well as a small amount for your mileage.

Now, read this short conversation:

Bailiff: Don't worry, you will all be paid for serving on the jury.
Juror: How much will we get paid?
Bailiff: You will get paid 30 dollars a day.
Juror: Thats not very much.
Bailiff: You will also get paid for your mileage.
Juror: How much do we get for mileage?
Bailiff: You will get 12 cents per mile.

Read these example sentences:

"How much will we get paid?"

"How much do we get for mileage?"

Now, read this conversation:

Bailiff: Now, I want you to raise your right hand.
Michiko: OK.
Bailiff: Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
Michiko: I do.
Bailiff: You may be seated.

Now, the trial is ready to begin. The jury must decide whether the defendant is innocent or guilty. Read this conversation:

Judge: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you will be hearing testimonies about what happened. Remember that the defendent must be considered innocent until proven guilty. Do you understand?
Jury: Yes, we understand.
Judge: Good, then let's proceed.

Let's pause here for a moment. At the beginning of the trial, the judge will tell the jury:

"The defendant is innocent until proven guilty."

One of the foundations of American law is that everyone has the right to a fair trial. A fair trial means that the defendant is innocent until proven guilty. Read this example sentence:

"The defendant is innocent until proven guilty"

Now, read this conversation:

Bailiff: Will Kumiko Takahashi please approach the stand?
Judge: Counselor, your witness.
Attorney: Thank you, your honor. Could you please state your name for the record.
Michiko: My name is Kumiko Takahashi.
Attorney: Could you state your occupation?
Michiko: I'm a waitress at Bob's Steak House
Attorney: And were you working on the night of October 13th.
Michiko: Yes, I was.
Attorney: Could you explain to the court what happened that night.
Michiko: Well, two of the customers were arguing about something. I told them I was going to call the police.

Read these example sentences:

"My name is Kumiko Takahashi"

"It's Kumiko Takahashi"

"I'm a waitress at Bob's Steak House"

After asking you some simple questions, the attorney will ask you to say what happened. He might say:

"Could you explain to the court what happened that night?"

or

"Could you tell the court what happened?"

During the trial there may be many witnesses. Read this conversation:

Bailiff: Will Michael Jones please approach the stand?
Judge: Counselor, your witness.
Attorney: Thank you, your honor. Could you tell the court what you were doing on the night of October 13th.
Michael: I was taking a walk.
Attorney: Did you walk past Bob's Steak House.
Michael: Yes, I did.
Attorney: And could you tell the court what you saw?
Michael: Yes, I saw two gentlemen in the parking lot fighting.
Attorney: And then what happened?
Michael: One of them threw a beer bottle and broke the window of the restaurant.
Attorney: Do you recognize the man who threw the bottle?
Michael: Yes.

In this conversation, the witness told what he saw. He was also asked to identify the person. Read these example sentences:

"Do you recognize the man who threw the bottle?"

"Can you identify the man who threw the bottle?"

After the ladies and gentlemen of the jury have heard all of the witnesses, they must decide whether the person is guilty or innocent.

Now read this conversation:

Bailiff: All rise. The honorable Judge Ann Higashi presiding.
Judge: Ladies and Gentleman of the jury, thank you for your patience. Do any of you have any questions?
Michael: Yes. Can we take notes during the trial?
Judge: No, you are not allowed to take any notes. You must rely on your memory.
Michael: Will we have a chance to talk to the other jurors?
Judge: Yes, after we are finished, you will all meet and discuss the evidence. Then you must decide whether the person is innocent or guilty.
Michael: How long do we have to decide?
Judge: As long as you need. But you must all agree. The decision must be unanimous.

After the trial is finished, the members of the jury will leave the courtroom and discuss the case. This is called "deliberation". Read this example sentence:

"The decision must be unanimous"

During the deliberation, the jury discusses the case. After the jury decides on the case, they must return a verdict or decision to the

court.

Now, let's read this conversation as the jury returns to the courtroom.

Bailiff: All rise. The honorable Ann Higashi presiding.
Judge: Thank you. You may be seated. Did the jury arrive at a verdict?
Michael: Yes, your honor.
Judge: What's the verdict?
Michael: Guilty.
Judge: Thank you. You may be seated.

In this conversation, the jury returned to the court to return the verdict. Read these example sentences:

"Did the jury arrive at a verdict?"

"What's the verdict?"

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Coupons

Posted by: MichikoNakamura Thu, 22 Nov 2007 18:46:09 GMT

ポッドキャスト

Let's begin by reading this opening conversation:

Michiko: Do you ever use coupons, Joe?
Joe: No, I never do. I guess I'm a spend-thrift.
Michiko: No wonder you never have money. You should start to use coupons.
Joe: Do you use coupons all the time?
Michiko: Yes, because before I was an impulsive shopper and I ran out of money. Now I only buy things on sale or if I need it.
Joe: You're one smart cookie.

The word "spend-thrift" is someone who spends money carelessly or wastefully. We would also call that person a squanderer because he/she spends money extravagantly. Here are some sentences you can use:

"Please don't spend your money extravagantly"

"It's not good to squander your money"

"My husband is such a spendthrift"

There are people who go shopping and just buy things if it looks good. They don't care if it's expensive or if they don't need it. These kind of people are impulsive or spontaneous.   Here are some questions you can ask:

"Are you an impulsive shopper?"

"Are you a spontaneous shopper?"

When people go shopping, they don't often read the fine print of the coupon. It can often get you into trouble. Read this conversation:

Cashier:   Hi, just one can of beans?
Shopper: Yes and I'd like to use this coupon.
Cashier: I'm sorry, this expired last week.
Shopper: Huh? Where's the expiration date?
Cashier: Right here in the fine print. Youll have to pay the regular price Im afraid.
Shopper: Never mind. I just wanted to get it because of the coupon.
Cashier: O.K. next please.

As you may have noticed, the coupon expired. This means that after a certain date, the coupon is no good. The expiration date is the date the coupon expires.   You might want to use these sentences:

"When does this coupon expire"

"The expiration date for this coupon is June 4, 1994."

Some coupons are very deceptive. You may have to buy something to get another thing free. Read this conversation between two friends:

Michael: Look! I got this great coupon for a free loaf of bread!
Michiko: But you have to buy another loaf first.
Michael: Oh shoot. I didn't know this was two for one.
Michiko: You should still use the coupon, it's a good deal.
Michael: I guess I'll save a few bucks.

There are often two for one specials. That means buy one, get one free. Read these example sentences:

"Is this coupon two for one?"

"Buy one candy bar, then get another free"

We mentioned before that bucks is another way to say dollar. You may want to go shopping for groceries. You should find out what you need before you go. It's inconvenient to forget something and have to drive all the way home.

Read this conversation between a husband and wife talking:

Michiko: I'm going to go grocery shopping now. Need anything?
Michael: Can you pick up some toilet paper? We're running short.
Michiko: Are we out of mayonnaise?
Michael: Yes, pick up one jar please.
Michiko: I'm going to get the low fat one. We need to cut down on our cholesterol.
Michael: O.K. honey. I'll see you later. I would go but I don't feel up to it now.
Michiko: That's all right. Bye.

Food shopping is called grocery shopping. In the conversation, the couple was running short of toilet paper. That meant that they had a little but would soon have none. You can also say "running out." Ran out or out means that there is none. You can say:

"We're running short of toilet paper."

"Star Market ran out of fresh salmon yesterday."

Now, read this next conversation between a shopper and a cashier:

Shopper: Hi, I'd like to use these coupons.
Cashier: You don't need those. They're just advertisements.
Shopper: Oh. How do I know the difference?
Cashier: Well, usually coupons have dotted lines so that you can cut them out.

Before the cashier rings up your purchase, you should tell her/him
that you want to use coupons. You can say:

"I'd like to use these coupons."

So remember that you have to read coupons very carefully to make sure it is a coupon and find out the restrictions. Most of the time, coupons have dotted lines. We also say clip out to mean cut out.

There are some restrictions when you use a coupon. One was the expiration date. Now read this dialogue between an elderly man and a cashier:

Cashier: Hello. Do you have any coupons?
Elderly man: Yes, I want to use these two coupons.
Cashier: I'm sorry sir, you are only allowed to use one coupon for one item.
Elderly man: Hmmmph. Just ring it up already.
Cashier: Opps. This offer is only good at our Pearlridge store.
Elderly man: Aghhh! I give up.

Now if you are not sure if they have these restrictions, you can always ask. Read these questions.

"Can I use more than one coupon for this can of corn?"

"Is there a restriction on how many I can buy?"

"Is this coupon good at this store?"

Now, read this next conversation:

Michael: Michiko, why don't you use this coupon. It has a $50 value!
Michiko: I'm skeptical of it.
Michael: Really? You can get a free shampoo, cut and style with this coupon!
Michiko: Are you sure it's free? I don't trust these things. Maybe it means it's $50 off a $100 job!
Michael: No, $50 value is different from $50 off.

Value means how much something is worth.

If you are unsure what the coupon means, you can clarify it over the telephone. Read this telephone conversation:

Michael: Hello, Micky's beauty salon.
Michiko: Hi, I wanted to clarify a coupon I found in KJL's coupon book.
Michael: Yes?
Michiko: Is it $50 off the original price or do I get the beauty treatment for free?
Michael: It's free with the coupon.
Michiko: What a deal!
Michael: Yeah, you can't go wrong.

In this conversation, the woman wanted to find out if it was really something free. The question she asked was:

"Is it $50 off the original price or do I get the beauty treatment for free?"

Now sometimes there are really great sales and some things are sold out in no time. What should you do in this situation?

Read this dialogue between a stock boy and adult woman shopper:

Shopper: Excuse me, where can I find the macadamia nuts that were advertised in the paper?
Stockboy: It's right behind you, but opps…We've run out.
Shopper: Do you give rainchecks?
Stockboy: Yes, you go right up to the customer service and get one.
Shopper: All right. Thank you.

In this conversation, the woman has a coupon for macadamia nuts. She wanted to find the ones that were advertised in the paper. She said:

"Where can I find the macadamia nuts that were advertised in the newspaper?"

In this conversation, the woman asked for a raincheck. When something on sale is sold out, you can get the item later for the same price when the item comes in. You have to have to ask for a raincheck.

You can say

"Do you give rainchecks for the macadamia nuts?"

When you use a coupon, make sure you buy the right brand because if you buy the wrong one, they may make you go back and get the right one. Or they might have someone get if for you and you could tie up the line. Now, read this next conversation:

Shopper: I have a coupon for this box of detergent.
Cashier: I'm afraid this is the wrong brand.
Shopper: You mean it's not Gleem?
Cashier: No, it's Shine time. I'll call someone to get it for you.
Shopper: Oh, I feel bad for holding up the line.
Cashier: No problem, this happens all the time.

If you are not sure if it is the right one, you might hear these sentence.

"I'm afraid this is the wrong brand."

You can use this sentence:

"Is this the right brand for this coupon?"

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Concerts

Posted by: MichikoNakamura Thu, 22 Nov 2007 17:06:30 GMT

One of the most common forms of entertainment is going to a concert.
Read this opening conversation:

Michael: I really love music, don't you?
Michiko: I sure do. What's your favorite kind of music?
Michael: Well, it really depends on what kind of mood I'm in. Sometimes I like jazz, sometimes I like Christian music,
sometimes classical and sometimes Hawaiian music.
Michiko: What do you mean by "mood"?
Michael: Oh, mood means how I feel at the time.
Michiko: What's your mood today.
Michael: Oh, I feel like some classical.

Almost everyone likes to listen to music. In this conversation,
Michiko asked the question:

"What's your favorite music?"

The word "favorite" means the kind you like the most. So If you could only choose one kind of music, what would it be.

You can use it to ask other questions like:

"What's your favorite sport?"

"What's your favorite hobby?"

or

"Who's your favorite movie star?"

Read these example conversations:

Michael: What's your favorite sport?
Michiko: My favorite sport is golf.

Michael: What's your favorite hobby?
Michiko: My favorite hobby is reading.

Michael: Who's your favorite movie star?
Michiko: My favorite movie star is Audrey Hepburn.

Michael: So Michiko, your favorite kind of music is classical?
Michiko: Yes, that's right.
Michael: What do you think about heavy metal?
Michiko: I don't care much for that kind of music.
Michael: Neither do I.

How do you buy a ticket for a concert? The most common places for a concert are at the Waikiki Shell, the Blaisdell Concert hall or Aloha
Stadium. Sometimes when you attend a concert, there will be reserved seats. At other times, you have to go early. This is called "First
come, First serve" or general admission.

There are two kinds of tickets, reserved and first come, first serve or general admission.

Read this example conversation

Michiko: Where can I buy tickets for these concerts.
Michael: Well, the best place to buy tickets for these concerts is at the Blaisdell Box office.
Michiko: What's a box office?
Michael: A box office is a place where you buy tickets. Another way to say the same thing is "ticket counter." They also give other kinds of information at the box office.

Read these example sentences:

"Where can I buy tickets for the concert?"

"What kind of tickets do they have?"

Now let's read this conversation at the box office.

Cashier: Hello, may I help you?
Customer: Yes, I'd like to buy two tickets for the Honolulu Symphony. Are there any tickets left for the Saturday afternoon
performance?
Cashier: Yes, there are a few left in the balcony.
Customer: OK, I'll take two in the balcony.

In this conversation, the customer said:

"I'd like to buy two tickets for the Honolulu Symphony."

Read these example sentences:

"I'd like a ticket for the jazz concert on Sunday at Turtle Bay"

"I'd like two tickets for the Opera in October"

"I'd like 4 tickets for the Honolulu Symphony on Thursday night"

Another way to ask for tickets is to say:

"Can I have two tickets?"

or

"Do you have any tickets for….?"

Read these example sentences:

"Can I have two tickets for the Reggae concert on Tuesday?"

"Do you have any tickets for the rap concert for next month.

Read this next conversation:

Michael: What are doing on Saturday night?
Michiko: Nothing. I was planning on staying home.
Michael: Would you like to go to a concert at the Blaisdell Concert Hall?
Michiko: That sounds great. Who's performing?
Michael: The Honolulu Symphony.
Michiko: Great. I love classical music.

There are lots of ways to invite someone to go to a concert. In this conversation, Michael said:

"What are you doing on Saturday night?"

He wants to know if she is busy. If not then he can invite her. There are some other ways to ask someone if they are busy on a certain
day. For example:

"Are you doing anything on Saturday night?"

"Are you free on Saturday night?"

or

"Are you busy on Saturday night?"

After you find out if the person is free, then you can make the invitation. The invitation is very simple. In this conversation,
Michael said:

"Would you like to go to a concert at the Blaisdell Concert Hall?"

There are many ways to make the invitation.
Read these examples.

"Can you go to a concert at Aloha Stadium?"

"I'd like to invite you to a concert at the Waikiki Shell."

Some invitations are more formal than others. Here's an example of a ormal invitation:

"I'd like to invite you to a concert at the Blaisdell Concert Hall?"

You can use these invitations if you don't know the person very well. But if you are inviting your friend or someone you know well, you can
say:

"Do you want to go to a concert?"

or

"Let's go to a concert."

What do you say when you have to refuse and invitation. Read these conversations:

Michael: Would you like to go to a concert at the Blaisdell Concert Hall?
Michiko: I'd love to but I can't. I have an appointment.
Michael: Can you go to a concert at Aloha Stadium?
Michiko: I'm afraid I can't make it.
Michael: I'd like to invite you to a concert at the Waikiki Shell?
Michiko: I won't be able to make it.

Read those example sentences again:

"I'd love to but I can't. I have an appointment"

"I'm afraid I can't make it"

"I won't be able to make it"

If you have to give a negative response, it's better if you can give the reason why. For example:

"I'm very sorry but I have to work that day"

or

"I'm afraid I can't make it. I already have an appointment."

There are two kinds of seats at a concert, they are " reserved" and "general admission." When you go to a concert with reserved seats,
sometimes people sit in the wrong seats. If you find someone sitting in your seat, you should say something to them. Read this conversation:

Michael: Excuse me, what seat do you have?
Michiko: I have 8D.
Michael: This is 8E. I think 8D is over there.
Michiko: Oh, I'm sorry. I made a mistake.

If you want to know if someone is sitting in an empty seat, you can ask the them:

" Is anyone sitting there?"

" Are these seats saved?"

or

" Are these seats taken?"

Of course, when you ask someone a question, you should start by saying, "Excuse me."

Read these example sentences:

" Excuse me, Is anyone sitting there?"

" Excuse me, are these seats saved?"

" Excuse me, are these seats taken?"

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Cooking

Posted by: MichikoNakamura Thu, 22 Nov 2007 16:57:03 GMT

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Michael used a cook book in order to plan his menu. The first thing he did was to check the ingredients. Once you have everything you need, you can start preparing the food to cook. Listen to this next conversation:

Mom: Peter! Can you help me cook? I'm running late today.
Peter: O.K. mom. What should I do?
Mom: Well, first,   you can peel and dice the onions.
Then you can cut the zucchini and eggplant. Don't cut yourself with the knife.
Peter: Don't worry. I won't.

These days, most people are so busy that they don't have much time to cook. One good idea is to have your children help you. In this
conversation, the mother asked her son to help prepare dinner. Read these example sentences:

"Can you help me cook?"

"Could you give me a hand?"

"I need your help"

It's good for children to learn to cook but they have to be careful
with knives. Read this example sentence:

"Don't cut yourself with the knife"

There are lots of cooking words. For example:

peel, dice and cut

There are many different words that mean almost
the same as "cut" "Like" "slice" "chop" and "carve".

Read these example sentences:

"First, you can peel and dice the onions"

"Then you can cut the carrots and celery"

Another important thing to learn while cooking is how to measure. In the United States, people use cups, ounces, teaspoons, and tablespoons. A tablespoon is about the same as a big kitchen spoon. A teaspoon is smaller than a tablespoon. There are 3 teaspoons in 1tablespoon.   The largest unit of measurement is the cup. There are 16 tablespoons in a cup.    Read these example sentences:

"There are 16 tablespoons in 1 cup"

"There are 3 teaspoons in one tablespoon"

Not only are there many kinds of meals to make, there are also many different ways to cook food. Read these example sentences:

Michael: What method of cooking do you like?
Michiko: I like stir-fry.

Michael: How should I cook these potatoes?
Michiko: I think you should boil them.

Michael: How do you cook bread?
Michiko: I bake it in the oven.

Michael: How do you like your eggs?
Michiko: I like them fried.

Michael: What should I do with this popcorn?
Michiko: Put it in the microwave.

Of course there are other methods of cooking, such as broiling, poaching and steaming. Read these words you commonly read in a cook book:

"heat", "add", "cook", "turn", "season", "sprinkle" and "mix"

"Stir" means almost the same as "mix". You can "mix" by hand mixers or with an electric mixer. Besides mix and stir, you may also hear the word combine.   Read these example sentences:

"Stir the pot until it boils"

"Mix the ingredients"

or

"Combine everything in the pot"

Another word that means almost the same thing is "blend". To blend, you will need to use a blender. Read this next conversation:

       Michiko: What should I do first?
       Michael: "Heat the oven to 350 degrees."
       Michiko: Ok, I've got it. And then what?
       Michael: "Add the meat and carrots"
       Michiko: All right. And then?
       Michael: "Sprinkle the soy sauce."
       Michiko: OK. Next.
       Michael:   "Season the meat to taste"
       Michiko: Yes.
       Michael: "Mix all of the ingredients in a bowl"
       Michiko: And?
       Michael: And finally, "Cook in the oven for 30 minutes"

Now that you have learned how to cook, you might want to use some
spices.   Of course the most common spices are salt and pepper.

Michiko: What kind of spices do you like to use?
Michael: I like to use garlic and chili powder.
Michiko: Do you like hot food?
Michael: Yes, I do. How about you? What spices do you like to use?
Michiko: I don't use many spices. Just salt and pepper.
Michael: Spices really help to give food flavor. Some spices are hot, and some spices are mild. A good cook knows how to use spices well.

In this conversation, Michael made two good points about spices. Read these example sentences:

"Spices really help to give food flavor"

"A good cook knows how to use spices wel"

Cooking is not as hard as it sounds. It just takes a little preparation and a little skill. Read this next conversation:

Michiko: Dinner is served.
Michael: Wow, I'm starved. This food smells delicious.
Michiko: I hope you like it.
Michael: What is it?
Michiko: It's my own special beef stew.
Michael: Umm. It's delicious. Can I have the recipe?
Michiko: Sure, I'll write it down for you.
Michael: Thanks. I can try this recipe with my roommates.

After all that hard work in the kitchen, it's finally time to eat. Michael liked the food so much that he asked for the recipe.    Read these example sentences:

"Can I have the recipe?"

"Could you give me the recipe?"

"I must have this recipe"

Recipes are commonly found in cookbooks. I should mention that most Americans like to cook too much food. It's better to have too much than too little and you can always store the leftovers in the refrigerator.   Sometimes, you can eat this leftover food for several days. If you wait too long to eat it, you might get food poisoning.

Read this next conversation:

Michael: What's for dinner tonight?
Michiko: We're having leftovers.
Michael: Not again. We had leftovers yesterday.
Michiko: I know but we have to get rid of all this food in the refrigerator.
Michael: Yeah, but if we eat this food, we might get sick.
Michiko: Why?
Michael: Because there's mold on it.
Michiko: Oooh.

Mold is a bacteria that grows on spoiled food. It is usually green but can be other colors. Leftovers will only last for a few days in the refrigerator before they spoil and get moldy. In this conversation, they had a lot of food in the refrigerator because there were leftovers. The mother said:

"We have to get rid of all this food in the refrigerator."

How do you know if it's spoiled?    Read this next conversation:

Kid: Mommy, can I eat this piece of bread?
Mother: Well, look at it and smell it. If it is turning green or other colors and smells strange then it's probably bad.
Michael: Yuck! There's some green mold on it and it smells rotten!
Michiko:   Always check food that has been in the refrigerator for a long time, son. I don't want you to get sick.

In the conversation the boy also said:

"There's some green mold on it and it smells rotten!"

You should eat the leftovers as soon as possible. Leftovers don't need to be cooked, they need to be reheated or heated up. If you have a microwave oven, it's very easy to heat up leftovers. Read these example sentences again:

"I'm going to heat up the leftovers for dinner tonight"

"I'm going to warm-up the leftovers for lunch"

"I'm going to reheat this sauce in the microwave oven"

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Shopping for Clothes

Posted by: MichikoNakamura Thu, 22 Nov 2007 16:48:09 GMT

Read this conversation at a department store:

Clerk: Hello, may I help you?
Customer: Yes, May I try this on?
Clerk: Sure, go ahead.
Customer: Where's the dressing room?
Clerk: It's over there on the right wall.

When you are at a department store, you will need to "try on" clothes before you buy them. Before going into the dressing room, you should ask permission.

The first words a salesperson will ask you are:

"May I help you?" or "Can I help you?"

The customer answered with:

"May I try this on?"

He could also have said:

"Can I try this on?" or "I'd like to try this on."

If you don't want to "try on" anything, you can say:

"I'm just looking."

Now, read this short conversation:

Clerk: May I help you?
Customer: No, thanks. I'm just looking.

If you don't know where the dressing room is, you can ask the clerk.
Read the last part of that conversation again:

Customer: Where's the dressing room?
Clerk: It's over there on the right wall.

Another way to say the same thing is:

"Where can I try this on?"

Read this short conversation:

Customer: Excuse me, where can I try this on?
Clerk: The dressing room is over there on the right.

Read this similar conversation:

Clerk: Hello, can I help you?
Customer : Yes, can I try this shirt on?
Clerk: Yes you can.
Customer: Where can I try this on?
Clerk: The dressing room is over there on the right wall.

Once you are in the dressing room, you might need to ask for help.
Read this conversation:

Clerk: How are you doing in there?
Customer: Could you help me?
Clerk: Sure.
Customer: What kind of material is this?
Clerk: It's cotton.

The salesperson might ask you:

"How are you doing in there?"

or they might say: "Do you need any help?"

If you don't need any help, you can say:

"I'm doing fine" or "I'm OK"

If you do need help, don't hesitate to ask the salesclerk because that's their job. Now read this conversation:

Clerk: How are you doing in there?
Customer: Could you help me?
Clerk: Sure.
Customer: Do you have another size?
Clerk: Yes, what size do you want?
Customer: I want a size 7.

Did you understand that conversation? She asked for help and the salesperson went to get her another size. Let's read part of that conversation again:

Clerk: How are you doing in there?
Customer: Could you help me?

If the customer needs help, they can say:

"Could you help me?"

"Would you help me?"

or

"I need your help"

Before buying something, you should check the label to see what kind of material it is made out of and also how it is to be washed. You can also ask the salesperson.Read this conversation:

Customer: What kind of material is this?
Clerk: It's 100% cotton.

The customer asked:

"What kind of material is this?"

Another way that he could have said the same thing is:

"What's this made of?"

There are many different kinds of material. Read these short conversations:

Michael: What material is this?
Michiko: It's cotton.

Michael: What's this made of?
Michiko: It's made of wool.

Michael: What kind of material is this?
Michiko: It's a polyester blend.

Did you hear those different types of material. Cotton, wool, polyester blend. Now listen to those sentences again and repeat after me and Michiko:

The reason that it's important to know the kind of material is because each type of material requires different washing instructions. For example:

"Wool may need to be dry cleaned" or "Cotton may need to be washed in cold water"

It's also important to know if it's possible to wash in a washing machine or if you have to wash it by hand. If you are unsure, you can ask the clerk.

Read these conversations:

Customer: Can I wash this in the washing machine?
Clerk: Yes, you can. It's made from cotton.

Customer: Should I wash this by hand?
Clerk: Yes, it's better not to wash this in the washing machine because it's made out of silk.

Read this conversation:

Clerk: Hello, may I help you?
Customer:Yes, May I try this on?
Clerk: Sure, go ahead.
Customer: Where's the dressing room?
Clerk: It's over there on the right wall.

Clerk: How are you doing in there?
Customer: O.K. but could you help me?
Clerk: Sure.
Customer: What material is this?
Clerk: It's made out of cotton?
Customer: Can I wash this in the washing machine?
Clerk: Yes, you can.
Customer: OK. I'll take it.

Here are the key sentences to remember:

"May I try this on?" or "I'd like to try this on?"

"Where's the dressing room?" or "Where can I try this on?"

"Could you help me? or "I need your help."

"What's this made of?" or "What kind of material is this?"

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Christmas

Posted by: MichikoNakamura Thu, 22 Nov 2007 16:39:48 GMT

ポッドキャスト

What are some things that people do for Christmas?
One thing people do is buy a Christmas tree.
Read this conversation:

Michael: Come on, Michiko. Let's go shopping for a Christmas tree.
Michiko: All right. Let's find a real, big one.
Michael: Hmm. What about this one? Is it too tall?
Michiko: No, it's not too tall. But it's too bushy.
Michael: This one is no good either. It's too sparse. What do you think about this one?
Michiko: It's better than the other ones. Why don't we get it?
Michael: Ok. I think you made a good choice.

In this conversation, Michael and Michiko are looking for a nice, big tree.
Now let's practice these sentences.
Read these example sentences:

"Is it too tall?"
"Is it too bushy?"

"Is it too sparse?"

When decorating the tree, people use shiny tinsel,
Christmas ornaments, lights and sometimes even popcorn.
Read this conversation around the Christmas tree.

Michael: Michiko, let's trim the tree now.
Michiko: OK, first we'll have to wrap the lights around the tree.
Michael: Should I go clockwise or counterclockwise?
Michiko: It doesn't really matter.
Michael: Hey, some of the lights are burnt out.
Michiko: That's ok. We'll replace them later.
Michael: Now, let's hang some ornaments.
Michiko: Don't drop those ornaments. They're glass so they'll break.Michael: Let's put the star on now.
Michiko: There, all finished. It looks beautiful, doesn't it?
Michael: It really does.

this conversation, they were decorating the tree. The first thing that they put on was the lights. For example:

"Should I go clockwise or counterclockwise?"

Clockwise means the same direction the hands of a clock go while counter-clockwise is the opposite way.

After wrapping the lights around the tree, they hung the ornaments. And finally they put on the star. For example:

"Wrap the lights around the tree"

"Hang the ornaments"

"Put the star on"

In the conversation above, some of the lights were burned out. In that case, you can say:

"Some of the lights are out"

"Some of the lights don't work"

A very important custom associated with Christmas is the giving of gifts. There is always a crowd at the shopping centers with people pushing and shoving to find just the right gift for someone.

Now read this short conversation at a department store:

Customer: I'd like to ask if you have any more of this perfume.
Salesman: I'm sorry, you'll have to ask someone in the women's department. I'm new here.

Read these example sentences:

"I'd like to ask if you have any more of this perfume"

"Do you have any more perfume?"

Read this next conversation:

Salesman: Hi, may I help you?
Customer: Yes, I'm looking for a sweater for my mother.
Salesman: The only ones we have are the ones on the rack.
Customer: Oh, I like this one. I'll take it.
Salesman: Will that be cash or charge?
Customer: I'll pay by check.
Salesman: May I see your ID please?
Customer: Here you are. Can I have this wrapped here?
Salesman: You'll have to take it to the gift wrap department. It's on the fourth floor in the back corner.
Customer: Thank you.

Sometimes the cashier will give you a box for your purchase. If not, then you will have to go the gift wrapping department. In this conversation, the customer asked the salesman:

"Can I have this wrapped here?"

If you don't want to be bothered by going to the shopping center to do your shopping, you can always shop by catalog. When you order something through a catalog by mail, it's called "mail order". When you order something over the phone, it's called a "phone order."

Read this conversation about Christmas dinners:

Michiko: Michael, are you planning a party for Christmas?
Michael: Yes, I think so.
Michiko: What's going to be on the menu?
Michael: I'm going to have turkey, steamed vegetables, ham and pineapple, tossed green salad, rice and dessert.
Michiko: That sounds delicious. Is that what most Americans eat for Christmas?
Michael: Well, there is no set menu for Christmas dinner. People eat whatever they like. But in general, Christmas dinner is very similar to Thanksgiving dinner.
Michiko: Wow, it sounds like it's going to be a feast.

Read these example sentences:

"What's going to be on the menu?"

"What kind of food will you have?"

Did you notice that in this conversation, Michael said:

"there is no set menu"

A set menu means that everyone will eat the same thing. So at Christmas dinner, there will be a lot of variety. Another word that is commonly used during the Holidays is "feast." A feast is a very large meal with lots of food. Another word that can be used is "banquet."

Christmas morning can be one of the most exciting times for a child. Many children like to look at or shake their presents to try to guess what they are. Let's read this conversation under the Christmas tree:

Mother: Johnny, don't open that present! You have to wait until Christmas.
Johnny: I'm not going to open it. I'm just listening to it.
Mother: If you shake it too much, you might break it.
Johnny: Is it made of glass?
Mother: I don't know but if you don't stop shaking it, it will break.
Johnny: Is it made of plastic?
Mother: You ask too many questions. Just put it back under the tree.

It is a custom to put Christmas gifts under the Christmas tree. Then on Christmas morning, everyone will open their gifts. "To peek at something" means to look at it when you aren't supposed to. For example:

"Don't peek at your present"

"Don't tear off the wrapping paper until Christmas"

Another activity for people at Christmas time is to go to a Christmas party. These parties are great because people have an opportunity to meet people they haven't seen in a long time.

Now read this conversation:

Aunt: Johnny, it's been such a long time since I last saw you.
Johnny: Hi, Aunt Jane.
Aunt: You've really grown a lot.
Johnny: Yeah, I grew 2 inches this year.
Aunt: What grade are you in now?
Johnny: I'm in the 7th grade.
Aunt: My how time flies.

If you haven't seen a person in a long time, you can use these sentences:

"I haven't seen you in a long time"

"Long time, no see"

"It's been ages, hasn't it?"

One more thing that people like to do on Christmas is to visit theirfriends or relatives. Of course, it's much easier if you call them first.

Read these example sentences:

"Thank you for stopping by"

"It was our pleasure"

"Thank you for coming over"

"It was no problem"

"Thanks for your visit"

"Your welcome"

Read this final conversation:

Michiko: Merry Christmas
Uncle Norman: Merry Christmas
Michiko: Here Uncle Norman. This is for you.
Uncle Norman: Oh, you shouldn't have.
Michiko: It's just a little something.
Uncle Norman: Do you want to come in the house?
Michiko: Oh, no. I'm sorry we can't. We have to get home.
Uncle Norman: Well, thank you for stopping by. And thank you for the gift.
Michiko: It was our pleasure.

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Building a House

Posted by: MichikoNakamura Thu, 22 Nov 2007 16:28:41 GMT

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Read this opening conversation between husband and wife:

Husband: Tammy, I think that our house is getting too crowded.
Tammy: Why do you think so?
Husband: Just look around at all this mess.
Tammy: I think you're right. What should we do?
Husband: I want to build an addition.

Sometimes we find that the place we live has become too small. Here are some phrases you can use:

"We are very crowded"

"Our house is getting too crowded"

or

"There's no room here for the 5 of us"

If you don't have any space, you could say:

"I have no breathing space here"

or

"I have no elbow room."

A lot of times we have things on the floor in our homes. It might be papers, clothes, or just junk. Before someone comes over, you might warn them with these sentences:

"I have too much junk in my house"

"My house is a mess"

or

"My apartment is cluttered"

Something that you add to your house is called an "extension" or "addition". If you have a big estate, your addition might be called a wing. Now, let's practice, everyone. For example:

"I'm building an extension to my house"

"How much would an addition cost?"

or

"The White House has three wings"

An architect is a person who plans and designs buildings and structures. There are different ways to use this word. For example:

"My uncle is an architect"

"That is a unique architectural design"

or

"Harry is studying architecture at UH"

Read this next conversation.

Customer: What's your estimate on the cost of construction?
Contractor: I'd say about $40,000.
Customer: That's a little high. I have to choose the best bid.
Man: Actually, that's a fair price. You can check around but I think that my estimate is the lowest.
Customer: All right. Take a look at these blueprints.
Man: We'll get started as soon as possible.

When you think about building an addition, you first have to get different estimates. That means how much they think the project will cost.

A bid is to offer a price that someone will pay or accept. You can use this word in a auction because people yell out prices they want to pay for certain items. It is also used in construction because people give you different prices. You can use this sentence:

"I'll choose the best bid"

Whenever you're making some kind of structure you will need blueprints. This is just the plans that show you the design of the place. It looks like a map but it's a drawing of the house in detail. Now, read this next conversation between husband and wife:

Husband: We're ready to start building the foundation.
Wife: When are the construction workers coming?
Husband: The contractor said they will be here around 8:30.
Wife: What are they going to do?
Husband: First they have to dig up the ground and clear the place away and make it ready for the foundation.
Wife: Oh, I want to watch.

In the conversation above, the first thing was to prepare the foundation. They had to dig up and clear away the place. "Clear away" means to remove something in order to make the place clear. You could also use "clear out" or "clear off". Construction work is sometimes very dangerous so you have to be careful.