Cultural notes

You can learn a lot about American culture by watching television and going to the movies. At the present time, films in the U.S. are still very popular, despite stiff competition from cable television and video rentals.

As in many countries, movies in the U.S. are rated as to their suitability for certain audiences:

G, means for general audiences

PG, means Parental Guidance

PG13, means stronger Parental Guidance (i.e., not suitable for children under 13)

R, means restricted to 18 years of age and older

X, means adults only

Food and drinks are sold at concession stands in American movie theaters. You will probably pay a good bit more for these items than you would in a grocery store. Many theaters in the U.S. have as many as six different mini-theaters under one roof. Thus, when you buy a ticket you will need to tell the ticket seller what film you wish to see.

Many large shopping malls in the U.S. now have a movie theater. You can combine shopping with entertainment, if you so desire.

Action

CASHIER: How many?

YOU: One ticket please.

CASHIER: That will be $6.00.

NARRATOR: You enter the theater and give your ticket to a ticket taker who tears it in half.

NARRATOR: (Cont'd.): You keep one half and he keeps the other.

NARRATOR (Cont'd.): At the concession stand, you find candy, popcorn, and drinks.

NARRATOR (Cont'd.): The hot popcorn smells delicious. You decide to try some.

CLERK: What can I get for you?

YOU: Popcorn, a Coke, and some of those chocolates there.

CLERK: You mean Milk Duds?

YOU: Yes, that's right, a box of Milk Duds.

CLERK: Do you want Classic Coke, Diet Coke, or Cherry Coke?

YOU: Uh..., Classic Coke, I think.

CLERK: Would you like butter on your popcorn?

YOU: Yes, thank you.

NARRATOR: She hands you your refreshments.

CLERK: Here you go. That'll be $4.50, please.

NARRATOR: You pay for your popcorn, coke, and candy, and go into the theater.

NARRATOR (Cont'd.): You can't believe that your refreshments cost almost as much as your ticket.

Lesson 9 «Shopping at the Mall»

Vocabulary

approaches, she (to approach)

Some other ways to express this idea include "to come up to" and "to come over to." (E.g.: "A salesperson comes up to you"; "A salesperson comes over to you.")

ate, you (to eat, past)

attractive (adj.)

because (conj.)

boy (noun)

The terms "boy" and "girl" usually apply to individuals up until the "age of maturity" or "adulthood." "Babies" or "infants" progress to "toddlers" (upon walking) and then on to "little boys" and "little girls." As kids enter grade school, they are sometimes referred to by their grades (e.g., "I have a kindergartner at home."/"She has a third-grader and a sixth-grader."). When boys and girls reach the age of "puberty" and "adolescence," they are usually called "young men" and "young women." Now into their teens, boys and girls are called "teenagers" up until the time they reach eighteen when they are considered "adult men and women."

children (noun, pl.)

The singular form of "children" is "child." "Kid(s)" is a common slang word for "child(ren)."

color (noun)

Here is a list of basic colors you should know: "white," "black," "red," "orange," "yellow," "green," "blue," and "purple."

daughter (noun)

display (noun)

easy (adj.)

fade (inf., to fade)

family (noun)

When you speak of your "family," you may be speaking of the person (or people) with whom you live, most often "related" by blood or marriage. One's "extended family" might include "close" or "distant relatives" as well as "close friends." The concept of a "nuclear family" refers to "parents" and their "children" living under one roof, with possibly a "pet," such as a "cat" or a "dog," a "bird" or a "fish" (many Americans consider their pets as members of their family).

friends (noun, pl.)

Regarding the concept of "friends," degrees of social and personal intimacy are often conveyed by different terms. An "acquaintance" is someone you have met and may not know very well. A "colleague" or "associate" is someone with whom you work. A "friend" can become a "good friend" or a "close friend" when you invite him/her into your personal circle of friends. A "best friend" is perhaps your "closest friend." A "friend" in the romantic sense may be a "girlfriend" or "boyfriend," a "lover," "companion," or "partner," or, if you are married (or live like you are), a "spouse," "wife," or "husband."

gifts (noun, pl.)

Another related word is "presents." A gift bought while on vacation or during a trip is a "souvenir."

girl (noun)

guess, I (to guess)

The construction "I guess" is often used in place of "I think" when indicating the likelihood of doing or knowing something. The strict meaning of "to guess" is "to conjecture" or "wager" ("I guessed the right answer to the question,").

how about? (id. exp.)

When proposing ideas, one often uses the formula "How about...?", meaning "What do you think about...?" (e.g.: "How about going to that new Chinese restaurant?")

husband (noun)

In the U.S., a wife may jokingly or sarcastically refer to her husband as "The Old Man" just as a husband may refer to his wife as "The Old Lady." These may also be included in a list of "terms of endearment" such as "honey," "darling," "sugar pie," "sweety," "sugar plum," "snookums," "love," "sweet," "honey bunch," "sweety pie," "baby," "cookie," etc.

jewelry (noun as adj.)

Some common items of jewelry include "rings," "bracelets," "watches," "earrings," and "necklaces" made of "gold," "silver" or another "precious metal" with "precious stones" or "gems" such as "diamonds," "emeralds," "rubies," "opals," and "amethysts."

light (adj.)

When differentiating between shades of color, use the adjectives "light" and "dark." (E.g.: "They want a dark blue sweater"; "She bought a light red dress.") Note that the adjectives "light" and "dark" precede the color.

medium (adj. used as noun)

Sizes in the U.S. are different than those of other countries. Many travel guides contain conversion charts, which you can consult. In the case of T-shirts, you'll normally have a choice between "small," "medium," "large," and "extra-large." "Small" would be for children; "medium" for adolescents and some adults; and "large" or "extra-large" for most adults.

more (adv.)

navy blue (adj.)

over there (adv. phrase)

possibly (adv.)

salesperson (noun)

In order to correct a bias toward gender in language, many terms regarding one's profession once formed with "-man" as part of the word now use the word "-person" or "woman" such as "salesman" >> "salesperson," "chairman >> chairperson," "policeman" >>"policewoman."

shirt (noun)

A woman's "shirt" is often called a "blouse" or "top."

shouldn't (modal aux., contr., "should not")

shrink (inf., to shrink)

sizes (noun, pl.)

son (noun)

stroll, you (to stroll)

Depending on your pace, you can take a leisurely "stroll," a brisk "walk," an arduous "hike" or "trek" in the woods or mountains, an aerobic "jog" through the park, or an all-out "run" in a competitive race, such as a "marathon."

T-shirts (noun, pl.)

to the left (adv. phrase)

Similar expressions include "to the right," "straight ahead," "right behind you," and "over there."

washable (adj.)

Some terms related to clothing include "washable" (can be washed in a "washing machine"), "dry clean only" (take to a dry cleaner), "will not fade" (will keep its original color) and "will not shrink" (will not lose its original size).

window shop, you (to window shop)

Similar to "window shopping," entering a store just to look around is called "browsing." If someone "wanders" aimlessly through stores with no intention of buying anything, that person may be "loitering," an illegal activity.

Story:

After the movie, you leave the theater and go into the mall. You're not very hungry because of the refreshments you ate. You window shop as you stroll through the mall. Finally, you go into a department store. You hope to find some gifts for family and friends. You see some attractive T-shirts on display. A salesperson approaches.

Cultural notes;

There are many ways to shop in the U.S. Many Americans frequent large, enclosed shopping malls in the suburbs of bigger cities. Some of these malls are enormous. They contain restaurants, department and specialty stores, and sometimes movie theaters.

In large cities, there are downtown shopping districts, although most shoppers go to discount department stores in the suburban areas.

While shopping in a department store, a salesperson will often come up to you and ask if he/she can help you find something. If you prefer to be left alone, you can say: I'm just looking.

If you need help, the salesperson will show you the items you are interested in. Many times there are sales or discounts. You will probably see signs to this effect. Never try to bargain in a department store. In the U.S., bargaining over a price goes on only at flea markets and yard sales. Americans also haggle over a price when buying a very expensive item, such as a house or car.

Action:

SALESPERSON: Are you being helped?

YOU: No, I'm not. I'm looking for gifts for my children, possibly T-shirts.

SALESPERSON: For a girl or a boy?

YOU: Both. I have a son and a daughter.

SALESPERSON: What sizes do you need?

YOU: I guess I'll need a large for my son and a medium for my daughter.

SALESPERSON: How about the color?

YOU: I think I'll get a light green shirt for my daughter and a navy blue one for my son. Are they easy to take care of?

SALESPERSON: Yes, they're machine-washable and shouldn't fade or shrink very much.

YOU: Fine, I'll take the two shirts.

SALESPERSON: How about something for your husband?

YOU: Not right now. I'm going to look some more. Where's the fine jewelry department?

SALESPERSON: Right over there, to the left.

Lesson 10 «Meeting an Attorney»

Vocabulary:

adopted (adj.)

as soon as (conj.)

begin, you (to begin)

bulk (noun)

"Bulk" refers to the "largest portion" of Aunt Stephanie's estate.

chair (noun)

claim (inf., to claim)

come home (inf., to come home)

descendants (noun, pl.)

Notice the negative construction "...she had no direct descendants." You could also say "She didn't have any other descendants."

direct (adj.)

discuss (to discuss)

each (adj.)

else (adj.)

enjoyed, she (to enjoy, past)

This lesson will look closely at the use of the simple past tense in English. Pay attention to the examples in this dialogue (i.e., "was," "thought," "had," "knew," "enjoyed," etc.).

envelopes (noun)

Articles usually associated with "letters" and the "mail" include "stationery," "stamps," "postage," "address," "return address," and "mailbox."

especially (adv.)

fell in love, she (to fall in love, past)

One may "fall in love" with a person or a place.

few (adj.)

fond (adj.)

give, I'll (to give, fut.)

immigrating (pres. part., to immigrate)

inheritance (noun)

An inheritance is received by an "heiress" (f.) or an "heir" (m.)

invites, he (to invite)

lady (noun)

The use of the word "lady" can be construed as complimentary (as in "she was a fine lady") or slightly pejorative (as in the ill-mannered "Hey, lady. Move it!") Some people prefer using the term "woman" to "lady" because of the slightly negative connotation of the former.

meet, you (to meet)

"Meet" here in the sense of "to fulfill" or "accomplish."

odyssey (noun)

Similar words include "trip," "journey," "excursion," "expedition," and "voyage."

often (adv.)

open! (imp., to open)

places (noun, pl.)

promptly (adv.)

requirements (noun, pl.)

San Francisco (prop. noun)

sealed (adj.)

seat (noun)

seems, it (to seem)

Another way to express "That seems easy enough" is to say "That appears (to be)...."

shakes, he (to shake)

Two people can "shake hands," called a "handshake," when they first meet. A person who is cold or afraid sometimes "shakes" or "trembles."

shows, he (to show)

sit down, you (to sit down)

small talk (noun)

"Small talk" is sometimes referred to as "chit-chat," and deals with general subjects like how one is doing and the weather.

stated (adj.)

strange (adj.)

Other ways to say that something is "strange" include the following adjectives: "odd," "unusual," "bizarre," "uncommon," "peculiar," "irregular," and "abnormal."

thought, she (to think, past)

treasure hunt (noun)

A "treasure hunt" is a game that both children and adults can play. The game usually involves groups of people who must gather items on a list. The first group to successfully collect the items wins a prize.

trouble (noun)

To say that something is "worth the trouble" implies that there will be a great payoff upon completion of a task. You will hear the expression "Is it worth it?" (meaning "Is it worth the trouble?").

visit (inf., to visit)

wanted, she (to want, past)

You will find new constructions in this dialogue using verbs that you're probably already familiar with such as "to meet some requirements," "to settle in a place," "to fall in love with something or someone," "to be fond of something or someone," "to want someone to do something" (as in "She wanted you to visit."), and "to be worth the trouble."

was, she (to be, past)

Washington (prop. noun)

Sometimes it is necessary to distinguish between the state of Washington and Washington, D.C. Many people say "Washington State" when referring to the state. People also call Washington, D.C., the U.S. Capital, "D.C." (as in, "I'm going to D.C."). "D.C." stands for "District of Columbia."

well! (interj.)

will (noun)

A "will" is sometimes referred to as someone's "Last Will and Testament."

worth (adj.)

Upon completion of this course, you will discover just how much Aunt Stephanie's estate is worth to the protagonist of the story.

borrow money from Mom."; "Will Mom lend it to me?")

Story:

You arrive promptly at 10 a.m. the next morning for your appointment with Mr. Young, the lawyer. The receptionist asks you to have a seat. Five minutes later Mr. Young comes out and shakes your hand. He invites you into his office and shows you to a chair. You sit down. After a few minutes of small talk, you begin to discuss business.

Cultural notes:

In the U.S. there are probably more lawyers per capita than in any other country in the world. Americans go to lawyers to get divorced, to establish their wills, to sue others or to protect themselves from someone who is suing them, and to seek counsel in case of allegations of civil or criminal wrongdoing.

It is not unusual for a person to leave part or all of their estate to a long-lost or distant relative. Sometimes there are special conditions that must be satisfied before any money is paid, as we see in this dialogue.

However, for a deceased person to ask someone to relive her youth by traveling to the places she once lived does seem rather strange.

Acton:

MR. YOUNG: Your Aunt Stephanie was a fine lady. She certainly thought a lot of you.

MR. YOUNG (Cont'd.): As you may know, she had no direct descendants, so she wanted to leave you the bulk of her estate.

YOU: I can't believe it. She didn't come home to visit very often.

MR. YOUNG: Well, it's right here in her will. You can claim your inheritance as soon as you meet the stated requirements.

YOU: What requirements?

MR. YOUNG: After immigrating to the U.S., your aunt fell in love with her adopted country. She was especially fond of Atlanta, Washington, Chicago, and San Francisco.

MR. YOUNG (Cont'd.): She wanted you to visit some of the places that she enjoyed so much.

YOU: That seems easy enough. Anything else?

MR. YOUNG: Here are sealed envelopes with instructions about each place.

MR. YOUNG (Cont'd.): When you arrive in Washington, for example, open that one. Then you'll know what to do.

YOU: This is all very strange.

MR. YOUNG: Yes, it's strange, but worth the trouble, I think. When you finish your "treasure hunt" and return to Atlanta, I'll give you your check.

NARRATOR: You leave the attorney's office and return to your hotel room. It's time to plan your odyssey through the U.S.

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