One Upping

Intro

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

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• gangbusters
• crackalackin
• brag
• lofty

• run into
• a little while
• put your best foot forward
• rivalry

• one upping
• let on

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

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When you run into someone you haven’t seen in a little while, you usually want to put your best foot forward. No matter how things are going for you, you want to make it seem like things are going at least fairly well, especially if you have a bit of a rivalry with that person.

This week on the Ebaby! soap opera, Mason is just doing his job, cleaning the office of Devan’s company, when he runs into Marni in the hall. What is she doing at their office? Marni was so mad after Devan decided not to hire her that she went ahead and started a very similar company that also helps exchange students find dates. Whatever Marni’s reason for being there, Mason had better not let on that Devan is freaking out about how much better Marni’s company is doing than hers.

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.

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

Mason

Marni

Mason:  Whoa!

Marni:  Oh. Hi.

Mason:  Uh, Marni.

Marni:  Hi Mason. How are you?

Mason:  I’m good. What are you doing here?

Marni:  Uh, I actually had to lease some space in this building. My company is going gangbusters so we had to get more space.

Mason:  Really?

Marni:  Yeah. How are you guys doin’? How’s the Dream Date?

Mason:  Uh, oh…It’s date-tastic. I mean, you know, things are poppin’, crackalackin, sky’s the limit, glass ceiling is being pushed, actualization is occurring. It’s great. Everything’s awesome.

Marni:  Good to hear stuff’s…Good for you. Awesome.

Mason:  Yeah, yeah. What kind of visitor-ship do you have? Like, one thousand members or so?

Marni:  We are, like, about to exceed a million.

Mason:  Yeah.

Marni:  And we keep gaining more members. I think our average is like two thousand new members a day.

Mason:  Right. We’re at least one more than whatever it is that you have.

Marni:  Oh, wow!

Mason:  I just know that.

Marni:  Yeah. And you know what the crazy thing is? I actually…I don’t mean to brag, but…I actually was just given another award. We’ve won, like, several awards for how, you know, our website is just connecting people around the world and it’s actually bringing around people of all different nationalities.

Mason:  That’s interesting. Interesting. Yeah.

Marni:  And, you know, I’m kind of hoping to kind of bring about world peace, but that’s a lofty goal so…

Mason:  Yeah. Huh. Well.

Marni:  Yeah.

Mason:  I mean, you know, you can’t get a Nobel this year so…

Marni:  Not this year, but…

Mason:  Sorry about that. Well, that’s awesome. Good for you, you know. I’m glad you’re not too depressed that we’re constantly kicking your butt at what you do.

Marni:  Well…

Mason:  Anyway.

Marni:  I don’t know that you’re kickin’ my butt, but…

Mason:  I’m just, you know…Hey. It’s cool. There’s no reason to be jealous. Let’s just leave friends.

Marni:  Absolutely.

Mason:  Friends.

Marni:  Friends.

Mason:  Mm-hm. I’ve got some stuff to clean this way.

Marni:  OK. You get back to that. Good to see you.

Grammar Point

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Lesson MP3

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