Awhile back, Raddad requested that I show how people argue. I think he more or less wanted to learn the proper ways of how to debate. I’ll be paving the way towards that, but in the meantime here’s episode eleven of my speaking and communication focused podcast: CommDao Speak Easy.
This show includes:
- Opening Dialogue (Sample Conversation)
- Key Phrases (Vocabulary from the Dialogue)
- Take 2 (Sentence Variation)
- Pronunciation Practice
- Faux Pas of the Day (Explanation of Common Mistakes in Communication)
Remember: 1) You can download the audio 2) You can adjust the speed
Here are the show notes:
Opening Dialogue
Father: I got a call from your school today. They say you’ve been skipping?
Son: Tch, like you care.Father: And what is that supposed to mean? Son, I’m working my ass off, day in and day out, for you! So you can get an education–
Son: That you didn’t have. Yeah, yeah, you’ve told me. But Dad, what you want for me, isn’t what I want. You think you care, but you’re just selfish!
Father: I don’t like this attitude here, but if I’ve been misunderstanding this whole time, you can’t close yourself off. You got to talk to me. If it isn’t school, what is that you want to do?
Son: I’m going to quit school and become the greatest magician in the world!
Key Phrases
~to skip (verb)
to avoid; to not attend
Example: We decided to skip the movie. = We made the decision not to go to the movie.
- Related: to play hooky (this expression is usually used for school)
- Note: “to skip” can also refer to how someone walks
like you care (interjection)
you don’t care
Example: Oh, like you care.= You don’t care.
- Note: this is used very sarcastically in tone, just like “that’s a real shocker“
~ to work one’s ass off (verb)
to work REALLY hard
Example: I worked my ass off for that promotion.= I worked really hard to get that promotion.
- Note: watch out for the cuss word “ass”; can be substituted with “butt”
day in and day out (adjective)
all day, every day
Example: She was traveling day in and day out for her job.= She had to travel a lot (almost everyday) for her job.
- Note: usually used in relation with something that’s a duty (i.e. work, school- related); you can’t say “I’m on my smartphone day in and day out”
Take 2
“What is that supposed to mean?”
- What do you mean by that?
- What are you getting at?
- Just what are you trying to say?
Oh, Faux Pas
Don’t finish other people’s sentences.
Credits
Special thanks to:
DJi5Cream for the opening “Red Velvet – Happiness”
Kevin MacLeod for the transitions: “Schmetterling” and “Brandenburg Concerto No4”
Picture courtesy of Jin
The Conversation Coach 