• 1994cooking4.mp3
• 1994cooking1.mp3
• 1994cooking2.mp3
• 1994cooking3.mp3
• 1994cooking5.mp3

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"

• 1993christmas4.mp3
• 1993christmas5.mp3
• 1993christmas2.mp3

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?"

or

"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"

or

"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"

or

"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.

• 1995bargains5.mp3
• 1995bargains1.mp3
• 1995bargains2.mp3
• 1995bargains3.mp3
• 1995bargains4.mp3

Most people who love to shop, love to find bargains. They find a certain sense of satisfaction in finding a good deal. In Hawaii, one of the best places to look for bargains is at the Swap Meet. Read this sample conversation:

Frank: Where can I buy some inexpensive but interesting gifts?
Bill: Well, have you been to the flea market at Aloha Stadium?

In the conversation above, Frank wanted to buy some inexpensive gifts. Another way to say inexpensive is "cheap". It could have two meanings. The first meaning is that it doesn't cost much and the second is that it is low quality. Low cost is not always the same thing as low quality . That's why bargain hunting is so fun.

Sometimes people might call the "flea market" something else. They might call it the "the swap meet." Now, read this conversation at the Swap Meet.

Frank: Look at these T-shirts.
Bill: Yeah, they're really cool.
Frank: What do you mean cool?
Bill: I mean they are nice.
Frank: Yeah, I think so. I wonder how much they cost.
Bill: Why don't you go ask that man over there?
Frank: Excuse me, how much is this T-shirt?
Vendor: Those are 3 for $12.
Frank: So that means they are $4 each. That's pretty inexpensive isn't it?
Michael: Yeah, that's a bargain.

In this conversation, the man wanted to know the price of the T-shirt. He was concerned about the prices. He said:

"I wonder how much they cost."


Most of the items at the swap meet are not marked so you will have to ask. For example:

"How much is this T-shirt?"

"How much does it cost?"

or

"What's the price of this T-shirt?"





Of course the swap meet has more items than T-shirts. They have all kinds of things like jewelry, shoes, food and knick knacks. Knick Knacks are small items that usually donユt have any practical value.
Read this conversation:

Frank: Wow, I really like these shorts.
Bill: Yeah, they're a nice color.
Frank: Excuse me. What are these shorts made of?
Vendor: It's right here on the tag. 50% polyester and 50% cotton.

If you want to know what kind of material the clothing is, you can check on the tag. If there isn't a tag on the item of clothing, you can always ask the seller:

"What is this made of?"


If you want to answer, you could say:

"They're 50% polyester and 50% cotton."


If you want to find out the quality of material, you can ask:

"Do you think it will last?"

or

"Will it last a long time?"


You could also ask:

"How long will it last?"


The answer to this question will depend on the quality and how often the item is used. Of course there are other shopping questions.Read this conversation and see if you can hear them:

Frank: Look at that camel hair coat?
Bill: I've never seen anything like it. It's beautiful.
Frank: Where was it made?
Bill: Let see. It says it was made in Iraq.
Frank: Is the coat washable?
Bill: Yes, but you have to dry clean it.

Did you hear those questions?

"Where was it made?"

"Is it washable?"


Another word that is commonly used is, "hand me down.""Hand me down" is usually an item of clothing that an older brother or sister has outgrown and they give it to the younger sibling.

Read this conversation:

Frank: I really like that shirt on you. Is it new?
Bill: No, it's actually a hand me down from my older brother.
Frank: Do you mind wearing second hand clothes?
Bill: No, I don't mind wearing used clothes as long as they're still in good condition.

 
Read these example sentences.

"I really like that shirt on you"

"It's actually a hand me down from my older brother."

"This shirt is a hand me down from my brother"

"I like second hand clothing stores"

"This shirt is used"












A second hand clothing store can also be a thrift shop. In these stores, you can bargain also, especially if you find a defective item. A defective item means there is something wrong with it.

Read this conversation:

Customer: I'd like to buy this shirt but it has a small hole in it.
Clerk: That's OK. You can put a patch on it.
Customer: Can I get a discount?
Clerk: It's already been marked down once. I can't mark it down any more.
Customer: You probably won't be able to sell this shirt at this price. How about two shirts for $6.
Clerk: I'm sorry, I can't do that. Take it or leave it.
Customer: I guess I'll take this shirt.

In this conversation, the customer tried to get a discount on the shirt because there was a small hole in it. Read these example sentences:

"I'd like to buy this one but it has a small hole in it"

"Can I get a discount?"

"Can I get this at a lower price?"

"Can I have this at a reduced price?"


In the conversation above, the seller was not very flexible about the price. He said:

"Take it or leave it."


"Take it or leave it" means that if you don't want it, you can leave it. It really means that the seller is not willing to bargain any more. There are some words that mean that the price has been lowered. For example:

reduced , marked down, clearance, slashed prices, wholesale, prices, discount.

Read this next conversation between friends:

Frank: Where did you get that wall hanging? It's gorgeous.
Bill: I bought it at a craft fair.
Frank: How much did you pay for it?
Bill: It was $7.
Frank: Wow, you sure got your money's worth.
In the regular store that would cost about 15 dollars.
Bill: Really. I'm glad I bought it then.

If you get a good deal, we can say that you got more than your money's worth.

Shopping for bargains at the swap meet or at second hand stores can be fun. But there are some other places to find bargains too. For example, the classified section of the newspaper?

Read this conversation between husband and wife:

Husband: We really need to get rid of some of this stuff.
Wife: I know but how can I part with all of the things that I have collected over the years?
Husband: Why don't you just throw some of them away. You'll never use them anyway.
Wife: But what if I need to use it some day? Besides, some of this stuff has sentimental value.
Husband: Well, my rule of thumb is that if I haven't used something in two years then I get rid of it. I either throw it away or give it to someone.
Wife: Well I'll try.

For some people, it's hard to throw away old things like souvenirs, clothes and other things. It's usually because they have sentimental value. Read this example sentence:

"My rule of thumb is that if I haven't used something in two years, then I get rid of it"


In the classified section of the daily newspaper, you can find things to buy. You can also find good deals by checking the bulletin boards at such places as University campuses and laundry mats.

Now let's read another conversation:

Buyer: Hello, I'm calling about the TV you advertised. Is it still for sale?
Seller: Yes, it is. I still have it.
Buyer: Could you tell me a little bit about it?
Seller: Well, it's a 24 - inch, Sony, color TV. I've had it for 3 years and it's still in good condition.
Buyer: May I come over and see it?
Seller: Sure, you can come over any evening. My evenings are free. How about tomorrow night at 6:30?

In the phone conversation above, the caller was making an arrangement to see a TV that was for sale. If the seller still has the item, you can ask this question:

"Could you tell me a little bit about it?"




If the item is not sold, then you might want to go and look at it yourself. In that case, you could say

"May I come over and see it?"

or

"Can I come and look at it?"

• 1995air_travel1.mp3
• 1995air_travel2.mp3
• 1995air_travel3.mp3
• 1995air_travel4.mp3
• 1995air_travel5.mp3

Everyone has different reasons for traveling.  If you want to find out what people like about traveling, you can ask them this question:

"What do you like the best about traveling?"

Someone might use one of these sentences to answer:

"I like meeting new people"

"I like to visit the neighbor islands for relaxation"


Another question you can ask is whether or not they are traveling for business or pleasure. 

For example, you can ask:

"Is this trip for business or pleasure?"


After you decide your schedule for traveling, the next thing you need to do is buy the ticket.  You also have to call to reserve the hotel. When you look for a hotel, you should find one that has a reasonable price and is in a convenient location.


When you call the travel agent, they will check out your ticket request on their computer.  It might take some time so they usually ask to call you back.


Read this example:

Michael:  I'd like to buy a ticket to Tokyo, Japan.

Michiko:  I'll check some prices and get back to you.


If you want to reconfirm your flight, you can use one of these sentences.

"I'd like to reconfirm my ticket"

"I'd like to reconfirm my flight"


The travel agent may also ask you for more information such as your flight number and day of departure.  In the conversation above, the customer used this sentence:

"I'm on flight 47, leaving on February 1st"


When you want to pick up someone at the airport, you should call the airport first.  Read this conversation:

Clerk:  Hello, Flying Airlines, may I help you?
Customer:  Yes, what time does flight 57 arrive from Japan?
Clerk:  That flight is a little late.  It's due to arrive at 7:30am.
Customer:  Thank you.


In this conversation, Flight 57 was late.  So if you want to pick someone up, you'd better call the airport first.  For example:

"What time does flight 57 arrive from Japan?"

"When is flight 57 expected to arrive from Japan?"


When you go the airport, the first thing you will need to do is check in your luggage.  Another way to say "luggage" is "baggage" or "suitcase".  You will have to wait in line for a little while.  When you get to the front of the line, the reservationist will ask you for your ticket.  Then they will ask you some questions.


You have a choice of a window seat or an aisle seat.   A window seat is good if you want to have a good view.  An aisle seat is good if you need to walk around or go to the restroom a lot.  If you're traveling with other people, you will probably want to sit together.  You will need to ask the clerk this sentence:

"Can we have seats together?"





When you check in your luggage, make sure that you keep your carry-ons with you.  Carry-ons are the small pieces of luggage that you carry with you onto the plane.  Normally, you are allowed two carry-ons. They must be small enough to fit under your seat or in the overhead luggage compartments.  After checking your bags, you will pass through an X-ray machine with your carry-on.  You will need to put everything on the x-ray machine.  Now you're ready to go to your gate.  If the plane is late, you can ask the person at the desk:


"Is the plane leaving on time?"

                       or

"Is the plane going to be late?"


Now you're ready to get on the plane.  They will call for boarding of
your flight.  They might say:

"Flight #321 for Tokyo is now boarding at gate 43"


You will need to give the stewardess your boarding pass.  Once you are inside the airplane, you will have to store your carry-on luggage. There are two places you can store them; one is under your seat and the other is overhead in the luggage compartments.  Read this next conversation:

Passengar 1:  Do you need any help with those bags?
Passengar 2:  Yes, the overhead luggage compartment is full.  Can you find a place for this bag Passengar 1:  Sure. Oh, there's a space over here.  Let me help you.    Uh…  There you are.
Passengar 2:  Thank you.  You are very kind.
Passengar 1:  No problem.


If you want someone to help you with your carry-ons, just ask one of the flight attendants.  They will be more than happy to help you.  You can say:

"The overhead luggage compartment is full"

"Can you find a place for this bag?"


When you need help with your carry-ons, you could say one of these sentences:

"Can you help me with these carry-ons?"

"Can you give me a hand with these bags?"


When you are in the airplane, you should try to be polite to the flight attendants.  They have to work hard and not many people appreciate them.  If you can say  "thank you" and "please", it will make their work much more pleasant.  Read this example:

Michael:  Excuse me, may I have an extra blanket, please?
Michiko:  Sure, I'll be right back.

       (pause)

Michiko:  Here, you are.
Michael:  Thank you very much.


This passenger was very polite.  He said メpleaseモ and "thank you". Those two words are very rare for the flight attendant.  If you need to ask for a blanket, you can say:

"Excuse me, may I have an extra blanket?"

This sentence is very useful.  You can use it when you want to ask for anything.

Airplanes are famous for their delicious food.  When the food cart comes to your seat, you will be given a choice of two different kinds of food.  Read this example conversation:

Flight Attendant:  Would you like steak or seafood?
Passenger:  Deafood, please.
Flight Attendant:  Here you are. What would you like to drink?
Passenger:  I'll have apple juice, please.

After your long plane ride, you will be ready to stand up and walk around.  Sometimes people will become sick during the flight.

Michiko:  When I'm in the airplane, my ears become plugged up and they hurt.
Michael:  If you feel sick, you can tell the flight attendant.
Michiko:  I don't know what to say.


If the passenger becomes sick, they might use one of these sentences:

"My ears are plugged and they hurt"

"I feel nauseated"
















If you label your bags, it will be much easier to find them.  It will help to prevent your luggage from getting mixed up.

Read this conversation at the baggage claim area:

Passenger 1:  That's my suitcase. Excuse me, can I get through?  (aarrgghh) This suitcase feels heavier than when I left. I guess it must be from all of the souvenirs that I bought.
Passenger 2:  Excuse me, I think that's  my suitcase.
Passenger 1: Huh.  No, I don't think so.  The label says (pause) uhh,  Michael Depoe.  Oops, I'm sorry.   I made a mistake.

The following sentences can be used in many different situations.  For example, at the supermarket:

"Excuse me, can I get through?"

"Excuse me, I need to get through"

"Excuse me, would you let me through?"