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Public Bathrooms
Public Bathrooms

Learn English meaning of ‘public bathrooms’

Date: Mar 11 2020

Themes: Health, Travel

Grammar: Tag Questions

Intro

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

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When you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go! But finding a public restroom isn’t always easy, and there aren’t many good alternatives. At most stores in the US, restrooms are for customers only, so you need to buy something in order to use the bathroom. It’s the same at most restaurants. You must buy some food or a drink if you want to use the bathroom.

The good news is that many public places in the US, like city parks and downtown areas, have public restrooms on the street. However, the flip side of this is that they aren’t usually very clean. Sometimes, the soap dispensers are empty, or there are no paper towels or toilet paper. But when it’s an emergency situation, these public bathrooms are very helpful.

Marni and Jessica are talking about their experiences with public bathrooms. Find out their opinions in today’s English lesson.

Dialog

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

Marni

Marni

Jessica

Jessica

Marni:  You know what’s the worst?

Jessica:  What?

Marni:  When you have to go to the bathroom so badly, and you just cannot find a public restroom.

Jessica:  It’s so true, and there aren’t very many alternatives.

Marni:  No. And I feel like we’re so lucky in the US because we have a lot of public restrooms. If you’ve traveled extensively, you don’t always get to places that have them.

Jessica:  Exactly.

Marni:  And then you realize… pretty lucky. Now, the flip side of that is that they are not always the cleanest places, are they?

Jessica:  I know! I always worry about my hygiene when I go in. I was in a public restroom the other day, and there were no soap dispensers and no paper towels.

Marni:  I understand. And sometimes, there’s a lack of privacy, like there’s not really doors, and the door doesn’t lock. But you know, when it’s an emergency, they’re your best resource.

Jessica:  I am glad we have options.

 

Grammar Point

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

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Marni and Jessica agree that public bathrooms have advantages and disadvantages. They are not usually clean places, and Jessica worries about her hygiene whenever she uses a public restroom. Also, because they are public, these bathrooms are often missing necessary supplies, like soap and paper towels. And they don’t always give people enough privacy.

However, Marni and Jessica also think that, in an emergency situation, a public bathroom is a wonderful resource. Not every country has restrooms for people to use when they are traveling around town. Marni thinks people in the US should feel lucky because they have the option to use public restrooms, and Jessica agrees with her.

Do you have many public bathrooms in your country? Are these bathrooms clean or dirty?

 

Comments

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bora_78

bora_78Super Member!

Turkey

If I feel like uncofortable at the outside .I use public restroom whether it’s clean or not. Because healthy is important

01:31 PM Mar 11 2020 |

1 person likes this

GWTA

GWTASuper Member!

Germany

We live in a rural area, so we don´t have many public bathrooms. But we have a lot of forest. :-)

10:48 AM Mar 11 2020 |

1 person likes this

willy1908

willy1908

Peru

It’s true. Sometimes in some places of my city, there aren’t public restrooms enough. However, I try to avoid public restrooms.

03:13 AM Apr 12 2019 |

GWTA

GWTASuper Member!

Germany

I live in a rural area. There are no public bathrooms. But we have fields and forest. I always have toilet paper with me.

07:42 AM Apr 10 2019 |

ml2000

ml2000Super Member!

Canada

The washroom in a coffee shop is a good choice as it is considerably clean compared to public washrooms. Besides, it provides soap and clean toilet paper at all times. All you need is buy a cup of coffee after using their washroom.     

06:40 PM Apr 09 2019 |

1 person likes this

ml2000

ml2000Super Member!

Canada

In Canada, you can complain about that to the city if you notice that the soap dispenser is empty and/or toilet paper is out in a public restroom because the city is supposed to keep the public restroom clean and ensure people can wash their hands clean with soap.  

06:21 PM Apr 09 2019 |

1 person likes this

Bushra_6666

Saudi Arabia

I need learn skills writeing

10:18 PM Apr 29 2016 |

1 person likes this

Bushra_6666

Saudi Arabia

Hi I’m first time

10:14 PM Apr 29 2016 |

1 person likes this

houda111

Morocco

I had never used a resstroom on the street near city parks or downtown.But those of bus staions ,train depots and restaurants are well-maintained in Morocco.I think restrooms in universities and public schools are neither clean nor private here;because they belong to public sector

09:16 PM Apr 13 2016 |

1 person likes this

Ksh

Ksh

Iraq

We have many bathroom in iraq but they are not very clean cos the careless of peoples when they use it

02:47 PM Mar 21 2016 |

1 person likes this

fcf515

fcf515

Taiwan

   The cleaness of public restrooms depends on their locations. For example, the public restrooms in an MRT station are usually well-maintained while those in parks are not. One of my resources when is an emergency is McDonald’s. 

08:46 AM Mar 18 2016 |

1 person likes this

tjyuan

tjyuan

China

We have many public bathrooms in China. The public bathrooms’s hygiene are more badly than America. I think when you have emergency situtation clean bathroom or dirty bathroom are all perfect.

10:56 PM Mar 16 2016 |

IMOdraude

Brazil

Here in Brazil you can find some public restrooms, depending on the city you are.


In some crowded places, like subway stations or bus stations you can find available restrooms, but they charge you a small amount of money (something like US$0.25 or even less).


On the other hand, some public restrooms are used by homeless and they sink wash themselves. That’s why I think in few places the use of restroom are charged.


BUT, this is not what usually you’ll find in Brazil! Average restrooms are public and clean!

03:54 PM Mar 16 2016 |

inspiration16

Croatia

Theres no many public bathrooms in my country. In some cityes maybe a couple of, but there are not in a good condition.

03:20 PM Mar 16 2016 |

julito1

julito1

Argentina

We don´t have so many public rest rooms , and if during an emergency you find one, God help you, I know what Jessica went through when she coudn´t found toilet paper and soup. So disgusting…. But when you got to go, you got to go. Restaurants allow the public to use the toilet, but this is not free. At least, as you are running to the loo, loudly make sure to order a coffee for you ( the cheapest beverage)hahahaha

01:10 PM Mar 16 2016 |

TaninS

TaninS

Turkey

there are a lot of public bathroom in the city i live. i cannot say that all is clean i am afraid. and they missing necessary supplies like soap and paper towels. additionally, they are not free of charge here.  an authorized serve you a few cologne and paper towels after you ended it and take a payment from you.

12:06 PM Mar 16 2016 |

1 person likes this

De_Yash

De_Yash

India

Yes , but not much are there.


Public restrooms are just okay.

09:08 AM Mar 16 2016 |

1 person likes this

IranStrong

IranStrong

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

yeah i am agrre with joao corre ja because my country is Islamic and we don’t have public bathrooms.


07:49 AM Mar 16 2016 |

1 person likes this

hermitlady

China


Yes . I think I am very lucky that there are many public bathrooms where I live and work.



I go to work by foot every day. I need pass through a residential area and a large park. I can see three public bathrooms on my road. I seldom go into them. But it is very clean and private when I go in.  only that there is no soap and towel paper. In spite of this, it is very useful when one need it. So in general, I can carry some paper and wipes with me and prepare for the emergency situation.



In some large entertainment venues and restaurants, the bathrooms equip with relatively complete. Because it is the part of their service.


03:52 AM Mar 16 2016 |

joao correia

Brazil

There are not public bathroom in my city where I live. But I know that in somewhere that there are so dirty restroom without privacy and no soap dispenser, no paper tower too. it’s so bad because the people that are in street needs to use restrooms.

01:40 AM Mar 16 2016 |

1 person likes this

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