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Nicknames
Nicknames

Learn English with this nicknames English lesson

Date: Dec 13 2017

Themes: Friend

Grammar: Present Perfect Progressive

Intro

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

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People have been getting and giving nicknames for as long as people have had names. Nicknames are sometimes used because a person’s name is long or hard to say, so we call them something shorter. We might use Alex for Alexander, or Liz instead of Elizabeth. Nicknames can be used in an affectionate way, to show a person that we love them. Those nicknames are often common within a family or between a couple.

Nicknames can be used to shun people as well. If you were picked on or made fun of as a child, you might have had a nickname that made you feel terrible. Children and adults will bully each other by using rude nicknames, and unfortunately, it can be hard to get people to stop using them.

Is Marni giving Amanda an affectionate or a mean nickname? Read more in this English lesson about friendship.

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

Marni

Amanda

Amanda

Marni:  You know what? I’ve got a special nickname for you.

Amanda:  I’ve been waiting all day. What?

Marni:  Demanda, because you’re so demanding and your name’s Amanda. Get it?

Amanda:  I actually think that’s pretty hurtful, Marni.

Marni:  Really? I thought you loved inside jokes, and you could really take it. I thought it was funny!

Amanda:  You know, my whole life I was a minority and I felt like I was picked on. And apparently that never changes.

Marni:  I’m sorry. I just like to give everyone nicknames, you know? Like Shorty, and Scooter, and High Five!

Amanda:  I just want to feel accepted, I guess, and not be made fun of and given a label. The name’s Amanda.

Marni:  I certainly didn’t mean to shun you. I just thought it was kind of fun and funny.

Amanda:  I remember someone gave me that nickname when I was five, and I just haven’t been able to live it down.

Marni:  Well, I’m sorry about that. I guess I should have asked you if there was any history, you know?

Amanda:  And I guess you don’t realize how good you have it by being popular.

Marni:  I guess I should think about that. I certainly didn’t mean to pick on you. I’ll certainly spare your feelings, you know? Can I come up with another one, though, and run it by you?

Amanda:  Sure, Barney. Barnacle.

Marni:  Ooh. Ouch!

 

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Discussion

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Marni has the best nickname for Amanda. She thinks that Amanda is a little demanding, so she’s got it… Demanda! But while Marni thinks the nickname is clever and funny, Amanda feels differently. The name hurts her feelings and doesn’t make Amanda laugh at all.

Marni says that she’s sorry, and she explains that she gives nicknames to all of her friends. She didn’t want to hurt Amanda’s feelings. Amanda shares that when she was a girl, she was given the same nickname and was unable to live it down. It’s not something that Amanda can forget.

Even though Marni tells Amanda that she’s sorry, Amanda is so angry that she gives Marni the nickname Barney (or Barnacle). She wants to hurt Marni, too, and it works.

Have you ever called someone by a nickname that was unkind? Did you ever have a nickname given to you that was unkind? How did it make you feel?

 

Comments

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hanguy

hanguy

Cyprus

Actually my name is oğuzhan . Its a Turkish name .To pronounce this word is very difficult for people who do not speak Turkish . And I have been wanting from them  to call me only han . This is easier

03:55 PM Dec 13 2017 |

Carla Cristina Fagundes

Brazil

I think everybody have already had a nickname and it’s good when they are used in an affective way, but it hurts when you use someone weakness or physical features to call people.

01:19 PM Sep 13 2016 |

1 person likes this

saeedsirtex

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

OH MY god

12:36 PM Apr 10 2014 |

ttsuka

ttsuka

Japan


Kids often use physical features as cues for nicknames and they can be quite mean. Shorty is a typical one and Marni demonstrates her crass insensitivity by using it as an example of her nicknaming habit. Amanda surely knew how to fend off bullies and Marni received a lesson by being in Amanda’s shoes to realize how hurtful nicknames can be.

05:25 PM Feb 13 2014 |

sasan77

sasan77

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

””””””””””””””?”’/////////////

02:46 PM Jan 10 2014 |

leilahavaneh

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

my name is leila and my nickname is lil and sometimes call me lily.

07:30 AM Jan 09 2014 |

1 person likes this

sasan77

sasan77

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

sasan is best name

08:03 AM Jan 08 2014 |

sara1998

sara1998

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

you know , my friends and i always call each other by nick names but you non of us have problem with it!


one my friend’s last name is balesh abadi and balesh in persian means pillow so we call her balesh(pillow)!


my nick name is sar which in persian is a name of kind of bird like eagle and my name is sara and it suits sara!


:)

12:18 PM Jan 06 2014 |

hattomi

hattomi

Yemen

I never called ,I never had .


if any one here have a nickname for me ,just speak it out to me  


I’ll be thankful….

09:19 AM Jan 06 2014 |

1 person likes this

Eric_

Eric_

China

My nackname used to be “Big eyes boy”.......

01:54 AM Jan 06 2014 |

hennakenzo

hennakenzo

Lebanon

well, i called all my bestfriends by a nickname that i choose it but i had never hurt someone! 


actually i dont remember if someone gave me an unkind nickname because i dont care :) 

10:20 PM Jan 05 2014 |

dayu1

dayu1

Mexico

Well I used to be called “the cure” because when I was on high school I had a crazy hair, I guess it’s not a bad nick name but it depends in the way they say it, now my hair change so not anymore actually my friends calling me Dayu, because my name is dalia :) and I like it :)

05:41 PM Jan 05 2014 |

ff301

ff301

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Well,mine is Mahi!Cuz my name is Maedeh and this nickname fits with it…Also my English teacher sometimes calls me “fisherman” and that’s because my Persian nickname(Mahi)means “fish”!!!

11:30 AM Jan 05 2014 |

Zambuka

Zambuka

United States

actually everything depends on the way you pronounce it, or , if it’s addressed to you, the way to take it. a little of self-esteem and you can ignore everything)

04:22 AM Jan 05 2014 |

1 person likes this

willy1908

willy1908

Peru

In my school many partners used to give a nickname to everybody. Some of them were really clever, but others made persons feels really bad. For this reason I don’t like to give nicknames to someone, even though I thought that nickname is clever to that person.

03:43 AM Jan 05 2014 |

sanadamaru

sanadamaru

Japan

I don’t mind whatever nickname I was given. It’s a trifle thing.  

11:46 PM Jan 04 2014 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

finna.   there is a saying … the best perfumes come in small bottles . :))))

03:21 PM Jan 04 2014 |

finna.liu

finna.liu

China

i am short and less than 160cm, so my friend like to call me “small fen”. and i don’t like the nickname. The “small” always remind me the fact that i am short.  so i like to wear high-heeled shoes.   


T0T  i am so sad…

01:11 PM Jan 04 2014 |

1 person likes this

 julito

julito

Argentina

I feel sorry for Marni, it is clear that  it wasn´t her intention to pick on Amanda ;  they are friends  after all and    it wasn´t supposed  that Marni should have known that  Amanda has had an issue with this  nickname . Whenever i am giving nicknames (by my friends) i take it lightly ,  actually, some of them are very funny.

11:29 AM Jan 04 2014 |

iamteacherabi

Philippines

Nicknames can really be cute especially when someone has a very lonngg name. But it can also be bad if nicknames were used to mock others. 



03:46 PM Jan 03 2014 |

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