English, baby!

All Packed Up

Date: Sep 30 2008

Themes: Romance, Soap Opera

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Intro

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

background check

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

It’s hard to find the right balance when you’re getting ready for a trip. It feels so good to get on the plane with just a small, light bag. But at the same time, you need to be prepared. Who knows what the weather will be like. You better bring a jacket and shorts. Suddenly you’re lugging a bunch of heavy suitcases all over the place!

Marni and Beren are going to Las Vegas to meet Marni’s online boyfriend, John. It’s really hot in Las Vegas, so they don’t need a lot of clothes to stay warm, but it is the kind of place where you want to look cool. Watch Beren and Marni meet at the bus stop on the way to the airport and see what each of them packed.

3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.

Dialog

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

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

Marni

Beren

Marni: Hey!

Beren: Hey, what’s up?

Marni: Hey. You…We’re going to Las Vegas…

Beren: Yeah, totally. I’m excited. Are you?

Marni: I am, but I’m noticing you have nothing with you and I have this big, heavy bag…

Beren: I’m not gonna be sleeping. I don’t need pajamas.

Marni: Toothbrush?

Beren: No. I’ll just drink. The germs take care of themselves.

Marni: Drink the germs away. OK. Well, OK. I guess I feel a little overpacked now.

Beren: Well, what’s in there?

Marni: I just…you know, I’m meeting this guy, so I have outfits...Alright! I overpacked! I have a lot of excessive outfits…

Beren: It’s cool! Have you called him? Is he meeting us?

Marni: He’s meeting us. I did call him. I haven’t talked to him in about an hour.

Beren: Yeah. I’m stoked.

Marni: Are you excited?

Beren: I’m really excited. I’m glad I’m coming with you.

Marni: I’m very glad you’re coming with me.

Beren: I’m still a little nervous.

Marni: You’re nervous? I’m, like, petrified! I mean, I’m excited, but what if he’s crazy?

Beren: Yeah. I didn’t want to mention anything, but I did look up, like, did a background check.

Marni: You did? And?

Beren: It’s fine. It’s fine. I mean…

Marni: It’s fine? You’re telling me this now. We’re getting on a plane.

Beren: Yeah, it’s cool. I mean, he only has a felony. It’s discharged from his record. I mean it’s not technically a felony…they dropped the charges.

Marni: What happened?

Beren: You should talk to him about it. You should talk to him about it.

Marni: What? This doesn’t sound like a good way to start the trip.

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Discussion

When Beren walks up to the bus stop, Marni notices something strange. They’re going to Las Vegas and Beren doesn’t have anything with her! Marni has a big bag hanging around her neck.

Beren says she doesn’t need to bring anything to Vegas. She plans to party the whole time. She didn’t even bring a toothbrush because she thinks the alcohol will clean her mouth!

Since Marni is meeting her sweetheart for the first time, she wants to look good, so she brought some changes of clothes. She’s worried that she packed too much, but it seems like she packed the right amount. It only seems like a lot when you compare it with nothing!

Just before the bus arrives, Beren tells Marni that she looked into John’s past and that he was once charged with a crime. He wasn’t convicted, but Marni is still a scared.

How do you prepare for a trip? Do you tend to bring too much or too little?

Comments

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wwongsapun

Thailand

when I have a new plan, I’m excited and I will prepared for trip with a lot of outfit and anything that to help me up a look good. (LOL) I don’t care about to overpacked. I think, Have a lot of better than nothing.

rayson

China

risky or romance is unknow now
les vegas is a beautiful city… also a casino… and you can gamble there… maybe you can win lots of money .hehe

miffoo

Slovakia

I think traveling is very good way learning native English.

miffoo

Slovakia

I think traveling is very good way learning native English.

Nkjones19

United States

Why do you learning English?. I think maybe my English is not so good. I don't understand a word. I don't need a English. Will you please Help me with my English.

amoyanzi

China

English learning paradise here

yair_latino

Peru

good

saleen

Sweden

More than a wonderful references to our information

iamswq

China

what if i am the boy?

minah_letrik

Malaysia

they look awkward…

not good actress though…huhuhuu…

still, good for the beginner learner…

zeus2006

Turkey

less things, much enjoy :)

zeus2006

Turkey

Hey friends, I was thinking like you all about to meet online friends before not to meet my wife.If you don’t get some risk you confine oneself to your hand(or handful).

omidparsa2008

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I agree with you ,I don't like their prounonciation and the quality of the sound is not good enough too.

deepalijain

India

When i go some where for vacation..normally i pack so many thing for my self like outfits acceseries some thing like that…but for kid i don't take much things..in US you can not trust on weather so its better to take warm cloths with u…when u take nice outfits u feel good u feel like u came for vacation…so i think when go somewhere.u should be prepaired for everthing..

Totto

Sudan

They speak so fast. It seems like they dont even stress a word.

The amount of clothing someone packs depends on the how long their stay is. If they are going away for more than three days, they should pack some extra cloths. But if they are going to stay for just a day, they should not pack that much.

I do not believe in dating on line for someone ever knows what that person background is. Like John, marni did not know his background unitll her friends looked him up, and may be there is more. that is why I do not believe in online dating. It is just not safe at all.

ejjooem

United States

Las Vagas is in the list that i plan to visit.

I have no troble with their pronunciation and accents. If you are in America, there are a bunch of different accents. It is good to listen to different people. As we talk, we often repeat some of phrases.. it sounds natural to me, not like one in the textbook.

Viqi-w

China

Oh_{~Travel is wonderful…but I think we can't let the}

luggage to be a burdenhehe

littlejenny

Peru

Well I have never been in Las Vegas but going to meet a girlfriend or boyfriend for the first time is too dangerous anywhere. First, think about you really want to do and be careful with your actions!!! bye

shelley Liu

China

Yeah, I agree with Ozlemus. In my opinion, it's no reality and sense to meet online friends as the online friends are not reliable. It exsits some risks to do that except you have knew more about him. But it's better not meet and believe the online friends so as to be safe. As for the travel with packed, I think it's necessary to bring something you need, i.e. cosmetic bag, sun umbrella and glasses, beautiful clothes and some necessary medicine, especially camera cann't be missed because for me I will record and take everything I go through, and keep it beautiful memory.