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Plant the Seed

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Date: Aug 02 2011

Themes: Soap Opera

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Intro

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

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People always like their own ideas the best. That’s why the best way to get someone to do something is to plant the seed.

In gardening, when you plant a seed, it sits in the soil for a while and then grows into a plant. Planting a seed in a person’s mind is no different. When you plant the seed, you don’t argue or directly address what you want. You just give subtle suggestions and hints. Then you wait. After a while, you’ll get what you want and the person who gives it to you will think the idea was theirs!

For example, if you want to work at a particular clothing store, you could dress nicely and go there often and compliment the store and the employees. You could talk to them about how it must be a fun place to work. You’ve planted the seed. Then, when they need to hire someone, they will ask you, without you ever having to apply.

Devan hopes her boyfriend Jason will ask her to marry him. Her friends tell her she needs to plant the seed. See what happens as she tries to show him what she wants.

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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

Devan

Jason

Wife

Husband

Marni: So, how are things going with Jason? Have you been able to plant the seed about how you want to get married?

Devan: Well, I tried dropping a few hints, but I haven’t really been able to get the point across.

Jason: I hate doing taxes.

Devan: Me too. You know, if we were married, we’d be able to file our taxes together. Wouldn’t that be easier?

Jason: Yeah, I never thought of that. You know what else would be cool?

Devan: What?

Jason: If we were pirates. I bet pirates don’t have to file taxes at all!

Devan: Yeah, probably not.

Jason: Argh!

Marni: Hmm, that’s not so good. What else have you tried?

Devan: Well, I thought maybe if we spent some time with some other married couples, he’d be able to see how great marriage really is. But that didn’t really work either.

Wife: Are you sure you want to drink that beer? You’re going to get fat if you keep drinking all that beer. Don’t you shrug at me! That’s it. You’re sleeping on the couch tonight.

Husband: Don’t ever get married.

Jason: Yeah.

Marni: Yikes.

Devan: I know. Then yesterday, I tried to get him to look at engagement rings with me, but he just didn’t get it.

Devan: Oh, look, jewelry store! Let’s look in here.

Jason: OK.

Devan: Look at that ring, isn’t that so pretty?

Jason: Um, yeah, it’s good.

Devan: Oh, I really like that one too.

Jason: They’re kind of shiny, you know?

Devan: Shiny?

Jason: Yeah. I guess I’m not a big jewelry guy. I’m glad you don’t care about that stuff, either.

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Discussion

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Marni and Devan are back at the salon. This time, there’s no business meeting. They’re talking about romance. Devan hopes to make her boyfriend understand that she wants to get married.

She tells Marni that she tried suggesting that taxes would be easier if they were married. Devan introduced her boyfriend to another married couple, but they seemed unhappy so it didn’t help her case. Finally, she stopped to look at rings in a shop window. After they left, Jason came back and looked in the window. Maybe he understands.

How do usually you get what you want? Do you plant the seed or ask directly?

Comments

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21 through 31 of 31
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Omar alsaqqaf

Yemen

usually I plant the seed to get what I want but there are some cases you can not get what you want unless you ask for it directly .or even by fight for it<<<<<

Nickå

Svalbard and Jan Mayen

Generally, I think planting the seed is easier if you’re dealing with a woman. They analyse things and think about them much more. You can say something subtle to a woman and it’s likely that she’ll read further into it. With guys, it’s usually more difficult. We miss the hints sometimes and, if we do pick up on them in the first place, we forget them pretty quickly. Firstly, you need to know who you’re working with before you can manipulate them into doing what you want. But, if you’re not skilled in the art of persuasion, just ask!

Vina Novalina

Indonesia

This title remind me about the sentences that i ever read before, ” Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers”, so nice line i guess ;)

habiba 18

Tunisia

usually when i want something i ask for it directly but in some cases i know that wont work so i plant the seed

psycycu43

Taiwan

I’m not a smart girl. so I never know the meanings when someone else plant the seed. AKA, I’d tent to directly suggest or tell the opinions.

Olya1106

Ukraine

It depend on situation. Sometimes I am to shy to said what I want and I’m trying to plant the seed.

narges

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

sometimes i plant the seed for someone who u know it doesn`t work say directly to her/him! to some people , u should do plant the seed!

but most of the time i say directly!

lize1

China

perfect

wwongsapun

Thailand

Wow! I know why Jason return to store…. I hope he will to buy some engagement ring for Devan :) I ever plant the seed with someone what I want something, But isn’t the best way , so the best way I will say directly for what I want something, I want to answer right away.