Conversion,
Hi. My name's Greg, and I'm originally from Denver, Colorado, but my family moved to Arizona when I was about 3, so I grew up in there. I graduated from high school about three years ago, and I am currently attending a university in my city. I'm a junior, and I am majoring in economics with a minor in Spanish. I also work part time as a cashier at a grocery store. Life is really busy, but I enjoy hiking, reading, and hanging out with friends in my free time. When I graduate, I want to work for a company in this area.
Vocabulary,
- originally (adverb): in the beginning, in the first place
- My mom is originally from a small town in Texas. - currently (adverb): now, at this time
- She is currently working as a server at a restaurant. - attend (verb): go to
- I want to attend a school near my family. - junior (noun): third-year student
- He is only a junior, so he has another year to graduate. - major in (verb): have as one's main field of study
- I'm thinking about majoring in restaurant and hotel management. - cashier (noun): a person who receives and pays out money at a store
- Kathy found a job as a cashier at a restaurant. - grocery store (noun): supermarket
- My brother works full time as the manager of a grocery store. - hang out (verb): spend time with, socialize
- We usually hang out with friends after school.
IDIOMS,
- "hit it off" = get along well, become friends
- - "After the first couple of letters, I knew we would hit it off because we had so many things in common."
- "nothing to write home about" = not exciting or interesting
===============================================================
- - "My trip was nothing to write home about. I didn't have much fun, and it was kind of boring."
Topic 2: Train Tickets
Conversation,
Man: Uh, where am I? Tsk, hum . . .
Woman: Excuse me. Do you need any help?
Man: Nah, I . . . I'm just looking . . . well . . . [Okay . . .] Uh, well, actually . . . yeah. Um . . . I want to go to the science museum, but I've been lost for the past few hours, and I can't make heads or tails of these ticket machines.
Woman: Ah, well, just press this button. [Oh, yeah] And from here, it's a dollar fifty.
Man: Okay.
Woman: Then, get on the train at platform number 4.
Man: Alright. Oh, and how often do the trains come around this time of day?
Woman: Usually, they come about every six minutes.
Man: Okay. And where do I get off the train?
Woman: Get off at State Street Station, three stops from here.
Man: Okay. I got it. Thanks for your help.
Woman: No problem. Good luck.
Vocabulary,
- nah: informal for no
- Nah. I don't want to go, but thanks for asking. - not make heads or tails of (idiom): not be able to understand something at all
- I can't make heads or tails of this train map. - platform (noun): the place next to the railroad tracks where you wait for a train
- Please meet me on the platform 15 minutes before the train is scheduled to leave. - get something (verb): understand something
- Most of the time, she doesn't get what the teacher says. - no problem: used after someone thanks you for your help, similar to "You're welcome"
- A: Thanks for helping me buy a train ticket.
- B: No problem.
IDIOMS,
- "catch a train" = get on a train
- - "I'm planning on catching the train at 3:10, so I don't want to be late."
- "hold up traffic" = slow traffic
- - "The train tends to hold up traffic when it crosses this busy road in the morning."
