English, baby!

JIMMY MAK'S

Date: Dec 11 2000

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

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

Zach is trying to coordinate a plan to get some people together to go to a music club called Jimmy Mak’s. He is going to pick up Erin and meet his old high school friend, Kierstin and her boyfriend Walter. As he is talking to Erin, Kierstin calls. There are two conversations in this lesson. So listen to the first one a few times then move on to the second.

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.

Zach

Erin

Kierstin

Zach: Did you get my message that my friend, Kierstin and her boyfriend are going to go down, um, to Jimmy Mak’s. And there’s, like a funk band playing there.

Erin: Mmm hmm. Is there a cover charge?

Zach: I don’t know. I mean, I could treat you.

Erin: Well I just feel bad because I know things are tight now.

Zach: Nah, don’t worry about it.

Erin: What time? I’m tired. My legs are tired. The last few days, standing at the Christmas Tree lighting thing and then standing for like an hour for the dinner last night and all day today we were, like walking around.

Zach: Yeah. Well, um…

Erin: I’m just, like, drained. I feel like I could take a nap.

Zach: I told her, like, around 9:00.

Erin: Mmm hmm.

Zach: And it could even be later than that.

Erin: Well, I mean that could be kinda fun…just for a little while…I don’t wanna…if we go I don’t wanna be out really late.

As Zach is talking to Erin, Kierstin calls to see what’s up.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO PART 2

Zach: Hello?

Kierstin: Hey Zach?

Zach: Hey!

Kierstin: It’s Kierstin.

Zach: Amazing!

Kierstin: Why?

Zach: Umm, because I just was talking to Erin just now about tonight. So, it was just amazing timing.

Kierstin: Good timing. Cool!

Zach: What’s going on?

Kierstin: Um, well we just got back from a movie, we’re hanging out and we’re going to go eat dinner in a little bit. And um, you know, I just wanted to see if everything was still set for tonight.

Zach: Word!

Kierstin: Word up!

Zach: Are you going to go have Ethiopian food?

Kierstin: Yeah, we’re going to go have Ethiopian food. You guys are welcome to join.

Zach: Um, I don’t think that’s going to be possible, but I think we’re down to come meet you at Jimmy Mak’s.

Kierstin: OK. Sounds cool. Hey what time does it generally start there, like 8? 9? 10? Whatever?

Zach: Man, I don’t know. I’ve only been there one time. Um, what movie did you see?

Kierstin: We saw

Unbreakable. Bruce Willis.

Zach: Was it good or…what

Kierstin: Yeah. I mean, it’s not high action. It’s a little bit more intellectual and it’s an interesting story. We’ll tell you all about it tonight.

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3

Go Super to Ask Ebaby! teachers your questions!

The iTEP^® test

Sponsored by

Schedule an iTEP^® test and take the official English Practice Test.
Take Now >

Discussion

There’s not too much slang in these conversations, but it’s very good for listening practice. The conversations are natural and so you may have to listen a few times to catch words. Notice how Erin, Kierstin and I say uh, and like a lot. Also we say “kinda” when we want to approximate something. It’s especially prevelant in the last part of the conversation witn Kierstin. “It’s kind of a funk kind of a thing…” It means we aren’t really certain. Also, notice how erin says, “Mmm hmm.” It is a non-verbal acknowledgement that means “I understand” or “yes.” Another common non-verbal like that is the “mm MMM mm,” with the MM rising in the middle. It’s a casual way of saying, “I don’t know.” Usually you would shrug your shoulders while saying it. In the conversation, Erin is tired. She had a long day of shopping and a tiring day yesterday. She is considering whether she wants to go out. Kierstin, on the other hand, is in town only for a few days and so she is excited. Zach is in the middle trying to coordinate things. Listen to how their voices sound different. Good luck! —Zach