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Kissing Up

Learn new work vocabulary and the present progressive tense.

Date: Nov 02 2010

Themes: Soap Opera, Work

Grammar: Present Progressive Tense

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Intro

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

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make fun of

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

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Everyone likes to be liked. But it only really counts if you’re just being yourself and people like you. If you try hard to be liked and do things you normally wouldn’t do, that’s called kissing up. And no one likes a kiss up.

Generally, people kiss up to people because they want something. You can kiss up to a business owner to try to get a job, or you can kiss up to a social group to try to seem cooler. Now that Marni is co-owner of the company where Dale works and is looking to save money around the office, he sees an opportunity to kiss up to her. Watch what happens.

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

Dale

Beren

Marni: This coffee is really good!

Dale: Yeah, yeah! It is really good! It’s Ethiopian. I found it on the internet in six minutes. Great deal! It’s the cheapest coffee I could find.

Marni: I am very impressed. Way to save the company money! I’m glad you’re taking the initiative there.

Dale: Thank you!

Marni: I’m impressed. I’m impressed, Dale.

Dale: I’ll keep saving more money somewhere!

Marni: You do that.

Beren: Oh my god! What are you talking about? Ethiopian coffee is not the cheapest. Why are you kissing up to Marni?

Dale: I’m not kissing up!

Beren: You totally are! What are you doing?

Dale: Kissing up? Kissing up? I mean, I’m… All I’m trying to do is trying to save the company money and I’m trying to please my new boss!

Beren: Well, you’re going out of your way to be dishonest to her just so she’ll like you.

Dale: But…

Beren: You already dated her!

Dale: I know, but that’s even the best part, I know her! So I know she likes this coffee! It helps me out, it helps the company out, it makes her feel good, makes me feel good, makes me look good…

Beren: You’re unbelievable.

Dale: Yeah, well…

Beren: Dude, Dale is totally kissing up to Marni.

Dale: You know, after thinking about that, I think I am going to cancel all those Christmas cards that are pictures of her and I. That would save us money…

Dale: I’m not kissing up!

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

Go Super to Listen

Dale bought some new coffee for the office. It tastes really good and he tells Marni that it’s the cheapest brand as well. She is impressed.

The only problem is that Dale is lying. It’s not the cheapest kind of coffee. He just told her that so she would like him better. Beren accuses him of kissing up to Marni and that’s exactly what he’s doing.

Beren sends a text to Jeff to tell him that Dale is kissing up to Marni. Jeff gets the text as he walks in to the office and makes a kissy face at Dale to make fun of him. Even though kissing up doesn’t have anything to do with actual kissing, Dale understands the joke and gets upset.

Do you know anyone who likes to kiss up? Have you ever done any kissing up?

Comments

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lynn629

China

Maybe sometimes somewhere what people did seems like kissing up their boss, but it may not be their real original intention, just seems like. Maybe kissing up is a good way to go over a certain bad situation. So it depends..

ahmedghieth9

Egypt

i detest that if i not love some on i cant be good with him and the opposite is right

Marcelolic

Brazil

No and I hate it…If I don't like someone,first I don't want to talk to this one,at all,even to kiss up or fawn!

bacal

Chile

I was not kissing up with my boss and I have a some problem with her and my job

rosendo

Mexico

mmm , well , i have kissing someone up , come on guys !! , everyone has done this , hehe

saludos.

DaeNg

Thailand

Sometime must try so much for kissing up because of self-preservation

afufu

China

I like to praise other people if they are really good, but I don't like to kiss up.

Sometimes kissing up is very useful and you'd better do it. Although I don't like it, I do it a lot. Sorry for that, and please forgive me.

ebarillas

Guatemala

sometimes we have to act that way because we need to keep our job or keep peace enviroment, unfortunately these are humans, don´t know how God still loves us

lizbeth borges

Brazil

Actually, is not good deal. We have to get our real valour, not kissing up, but doing our best in our work. Being competent in our duties. It means professionalism.

3amrood

Yemen

in the company witch i was work in , the maneger was so serious and so smart , he was not able kissing up , from anyone

Vinni Lima

Brazil

Hate people who do this. Its ridiculous, only shows the person doesn't have personality

Heck

United Arab Emirates

This is what people around me do, "Kissing Asses" to accomplish some goals, I don't think its bad since its a way for them to achieve what they want as they say "the ends justify the means" ; )