CommDao Speak Easy Podcast 3

The third installment of my speaking and communication focused podcast: CommDao Speak Easy. This episode’s theme (food and humor) requested by Miwa.

This show includes:

• Opening Dialogue
• Key Phrases
• Take 2 (Sentence Variation)
• Pronunciation Practice
• Faux Pas of the Day

Remember:

• You can download the audio
• You can adjust the speed

Here are the show notes:

Opening Dialogue

Jon: Harry, I got no clue what I’m doing. The only good thing here is the garnish.
Harry: Don’t sweat it, mate. The key to cooking is simplicity.
Jon: Yeah, simple’s what I’m good at. Too bad it always turns out bland.
Harry: Tell you what, I know one incredibly easy add-on that you could add on.
Jon: Sauteed onions?
Harry: Sauteed onions…
Jon: Jinx! Ow!
Harry: You said jinx…

Key Phrases

~ got no clue: (verb) 

to have no idea, to not know

Example: I got no clue what to say to her. = I don’t know what to say to her.

• Also: have no clue
• Note: you can also use the past tense (i.e. had no idea, had no clue); however, when using “got” most people will say “have got no clue”

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~ to sweat it: (verb)

to worry, to not relax

Example: Don’t sweat it, be happy! = Don’t worry, be happy!

• Note: almost always used in the negative in order to have a positive meaning

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~ tell you what: (transition)

Let me tell you, How about this

Example: Tell you what, we can watch Magic Mike XXL instead of Ant-Man. = How about this, we can watch Magic Mike XXL instead of Ant-Man.

• Note: often used for offering advice or giving another option

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~ jinx (response)

a word used after two people accidentally say the same word at the same time

• Variation 1: “Jinx, buy me a coke.”
• Variation 2: silence, followed with a punch.
• The Best Jinx Rant

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Take 2

“Too bad it always turns out bland.”

• It’s a shame it always turns out bland.
• It’s a bummer it always turns out bland.
• It sucks that it always turns out bland.

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Oh, Faux Pas

Keep your conversations organic.

Don’t focus too much on vocabulary. Sometimes you’ll learn a really cool phrase, but try to force it into a conversation un-naturally. Don’t try to memorize scripts that you can use in conversation. Try to have an actual conversation. When you’re talking with someone, what do you actually want to learn about him or her? Then, make use of the vocab that you already know. Afterwards, you can try to learn some slang that would apply to the situation, but you need to try to have real conversation.

Even people from the US have this problem. They speak perfect English, but how many times have you had the same “How are you?” conversation over and over again…

Speaking perfect English is useless if you use it in boring communication. Break out of the routine.

Credits

Special thanks to:

DJi5Cream for the opening “Red Velvet – Happiness”

Kevin MacLeod for the transitions: “Schmetterling” and “Brandenburg Concerto No4”