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Drinking and Driving

Date: Feb 01 2008

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.

Part of what makes drinking so much fun is that it impairs your judgment. When you’re drunk, you do things you might not normally do, like dance until you’re covered in sweat or talk to that person you’ve always liked.

Of course, that absence of fear can hurt you too. Even people who know that drunk driving is wrong sometimes find themselves driving drunk because when it comes time to decide if they’ve had too many, they’re, well, drunk. They need sober people around them to stop them from getting behind the wheel. It’s hard to put your foot down and not let your friends drive drunk, but think of how many lives would be saved if people did that more often.

Beren, Devan and Marni are hanging out and having some beers. Devan has had way too many, but she’s trying to drive home anyway. Watch what happens…

3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.

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.

Devan

Beren

Marni

Devan: Let me tell you guys something.

Beren: What?

Devan: You guys are like my best friends. Like I’ve never…in my whole life known…

Marni: Somebody’s had too much to drink.

Devan: I gotta go. I’ll see you guys later.

Beren: Bye!

Marni: Wait, wait, wait.

Devan: I’m gonna go home.

Marni: You’re not driving, are you?

Beren: Dude, don’t be a buzzkill. She can drive. She’s fine. I’ve seen her drive drunker.

Devan: C’mon Beren, let’s go.

Marni: No no no no no. It’s not OK. You’re not going anywhere. Give me your keys.

Devan: What do you mean? I’m going.

Marni: Give me your keys.

Devan: No.

Marni: I will drive you home.

Devan: I can drive.

Beren: Seriously, you’re so square. Just let us be.

Marni: Oh, because I want you guys to live, I’m so square? C’mon!

Devan: What is your deal?

Marni: My deal is I’m not letting you drive home. You’re wasted.

Devan: Let’s go.

Marni: No no no no no. I’m taking your keys. I am taking your keys. Give them to me!

Devan: It’s cool.

Marni: It’s not cool. I am taking your keys.

Devan: Look. I…

Marni: Got them! Not going anywhere.

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Discussion

You know you’re pretty drunk when you start telling all your friends how much you love them. Well, you should know you’re drunk at that point. But as soon as Devan finishes telling Beren and Marni that they’re the best, she gets up to leave.

Marni is surprised that Devan would try to drive and Beren yells that it’s OK. She tries to make Marni feel uncool for trying to stop Devan.

Marni tries everything. She even offers to drive Devan home herself, but there’s no convincing her, so she takes her keys. Beren and Devan are upset in the moment, but they’ll thank her later.

What would you have done if you were in Marni’s position?