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Slobs and Neat Freaks

Date: Jun 05 2009

Themes: Hobbies, Work

Grammar: Comparatives and Superlatives

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Intro

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

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

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Do you know what that smell is coming from your kitchen? If not, you might be a slob. If you’re a neat freak, on the other hand, the only odor coming from your kitchen is probably the nice chemical smell of bleach.

This is an exciting time of year for neat freaks, because it’s when many people do their annual spring cleaning. Spring is no fun for slobs who let their messes build up all year.

Do you think Dale and Devan are slobs or neat freaks? Listen to the dialog to find out.

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.

Devan

Dale

Devan: So my roommate is the biggest slob and it’s driving me crazy. She never does the dishes. I’m always picking up after her, and…I mean, maybe I’m a bit of a neat freak, but what about you? Would you say you’re messy or neat?

Dale: I…it depends on the mood. I mean, I’m a guy, and as a guy, sometimes you want to clean up and clean things up, and sometimes you wanna leave it the way things are. Really, it’s like, I don’t know. That’s kind of a hard thing to say, because sometimes I’m really eager to get things clean, sometimes I’m like, I’m not even gonna try.

Devan: I just can’t stand to just see dishes sitting in the sink. I can’t stand to see food not put away. It drives me crazy.

Dale: So you hate the build-up of dishes in the sink. What about the garbage can?

Devan: Oh, that’s the worst too. Like I want that taken out right away. I don’t even let it fill up the entire way before I take it out. What’s your least favorite chore to do?

Dale: Oh, my least favorite chore to do…cleaning the dust off the walls, I think. I think I don’t have the time or the effort to worry about stuff like that.

Grammar Point

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Discussion

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Devan is annoyed with her roommate, who’s a slob. Since Devan is a neat freak, it’s hard for her to live with someone who’s very messy. Dale isn’t a slob, but he isn’t always neat, either. He has a more casual attitude toward cleaning. If he feels like cleaning, he does it. Otherwise, he doesn’t worry about it.

Devan gets especially annoyed when messes build up. She likes to do the dishes and take out the garbage right away, instead of waiting until the mess gets out of control. Dale’s least favorite chore is dusting the walls. Dusting the walls sounds like the kind of thing only a neat freak would even think about. But Dale thinks that most neat freaks are women.

Are you more of a neat freak or a slob? What is your least favorite chore to do?

Comments

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Susy04

Costa Rica

I think is really very unconfortable to live with a slob person, and you really have to try change it until it gets out of control.

eru1071

United Kingdom

i'm not a slob, more close to neat freak. cleaning depands on my mood too. if want i do. my least favorite chore to do ironing, i can't do that good enough.

Colibri

Russian Federation

And I am no a neat freak, no a slob. I comepletely agree with Dale that it all depends on my mood. For example, I will not build up all my dishes and dirty clothes and trash, I will do it eventually. Sometimes I feel like doing it right now, but sometimes, especially after nice dinner or some tiring time, I can do it after, for instance, in a hour. I think it will not run away from me and I will not avoid it :). But still I like to live in clean private territory. What about my favourite chore – I feel like making bed all the time right after we got up, and it drives me crazy if it is not made.

Cool English Teacher

Brazil

Brazilian women are real neat freaks!!!

natalya

Azerbaijan

Probably, I am a neat freak. I don't like cooking, i prefer cleaning my kichen and to have it spotless.

winniemacau@yahoo.com.hk

China

I think i am kind of a slob . I hate to do chores but i like cooking . Sometimes my roommates ask me which one i would like to do , cooking or washing the dishes ? i tell her i prefer cooking . as a girl , i am supposed not to be that lazy and messy .

superstars

Turkey

If I have a free time,Im neat freaks

LIL

Saudi Arabia

well it was an intersting lesson

and i am very neat freak

i dont like to see anything messy

sultan

Yemen

some time i be slob & another time i be neat freaks… you can say according my mind...if im free or comfortable i ll help i cant do it alone…....by the way the servant ll do every things…..........

cristian.suasti

Mexico

just one observation, in the line:

If you say, “I am less happy at school than I am at home,” you mean that you am happier…

the correct way is: you ARE happier "are"

isn't it?

i don't know but after see this mistake i'm starting to doubt about this web site…

mavel

Philippines

i am a total neat freak! built up dirt drives me nuts. my husband calls me OCD lol.:-p

Julia.lee

United States

i'm neat freak .

kingsoo

China

not too slob and not too neat freak, that's the way normal person should be, or you just freak the people aroud you out.

songlin043@gmail.com

China

i am a slob. i actually don’t clean my house everyday. sometimes i feel so good and pleased, i am willing to do some cleaning such as washing my clothes, sweeping the floor, clean out my closet and so on. or some time when my friends visit my house,i could cleaning my house in advance to make a good impression on them.

ZeoShaw

China

to some people i am a neat freak,but to my mom,all the people around are slobs!~

tink3rb3ll

Germany

i'm neither. i dont know what is my least favourite chore to do but i suppose i do not leave stuffs meesy around!

YIC

Saudi Arabia

it's really hard to say, because the cleanines not assign to me :) . I'm assign to do all grossery, reading and all the taugh stuff. But i think if i was to these stuff i would be totally slob ,......................:)