Flaking Out

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

• ended up
• big deal
• casual
• actually

• flaking out
• show up
• lame
• pet peeve

• flake

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Different cultures approach the concept of social plans differently. Even within the US, people vary in their expectations of friends when it comes to making and following through on social plans.

Some people on our lives are known for flaking out. They say they’ll call you but they never do. They always say they’ll come to the show or the party or the bar, but they rarely show up.

Whether someone will be upset if you flake out depends not only on the person but also on the situation. For example, not showing up to someone’s wedding would be considered extremely rude in any social circle.

But if a group of friends is just going out for a drink after work, whether you show up or not may not be important. In general though, it is best not to make promises you can’t keep.

Listen to Marni and Mason talk about flakes and flaking out.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Marni

Mason

Marni:  You know, I have something really terrible to admit.

Mason:  What is it?

Marni:  I actually flaked out on a friend of mine to meet you here today.

Mason:  You did?

Marni:  Yes. I know. Isn’t that terrible?

Mason:  Did you tell them at all?

Marni:  I kinda made a really lame excuse. I was just, like, “Yeah, I just can’t show up. I’m jut not feeling well.” Do you feel honored though? I did that to meet you.

Mason:  Well, I mean, yeah, I guess. But I kinda have a really big pet peeve with flakes…

Marni:  Yeah.

Mason:  ... Um, ‘cause I know a lot of them. I found out this winter almost all of my friends are flakes.

Marni:  Really?

Mason:  Yeah, uh, I took a big trip and I had, at one point, like, 14 people that were gonna come. And six people ended up going.

Marni:  I would never flake out on someone if it was, you know, an event where I knew they had…

Mason:  It was, like, a big deal?

Marni:  Well, that and they had pre-paid or something like that. But if it’s just really casual plans. Sometimes I think it’s just better just to do what you feel is right.

Mason:  I got to thinking about it though and I realized why. Flakes are more fun. Because the reason they’re constantly flaking is they actually have all this fun stuff to do…

Marni:  Exactly.

Mason:  ... and they’ve got their choice of, like, “Oh, I could do this fun thing or that fun thing”...

Marni:  Well, thanks. I consider myself a fun person.

Mason:  ... and so sometimes your fun thing isn’t fun enough.

Marni:  Right.

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Lesson MP3

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