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This Doesn't Look Good

Date: Dec 08 2009

Themes: Soap Opera, Work

Grammar: Present Progressive Tense

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Intro

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

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

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Sometimes, if a business is about to go under, the boss will keep the employees in the dark until the very end.

Everyone knows that Devan’s company isn’t doing as well as Marni’s company, but there’s no reason to think it’s going out of business. At least, not until the office furniture starts disappearing. See how Dale and Jason react to finding some furniture in the hallway.

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.

Dale

Jason

Dale: Hmm. Ah, Jason.

Jason: Yeah.

Dale: The copier is not plugged in.

Jason: Oh yeah. We’re gettin’ rid of it.

Dale: Uh, OK. How are we gonna make invoices? Are we gonna write in triplicate and hand write it?

Jason: We’re going paperless since we’re, like, a tech, green company.

Dale: And I’m kinda confused. Why is Devan’s desk outside?

Jason: She said she’s getting rid of her desk. She’s gonna sit on the yoga ball just to improve her posture…

Dale: Ah.

Jason: ...at work.

Dale: OK. This…Wow. This is really interesting how the changes are. Aren’t you kind of worried about it? Or do you know if there’s any…

Jason: I think it’s cool. I think we’re just, you know, upgrading, you know, getting some new stuff, like, stepping into the twenty-first century a little bit more.

Dale: I guess I’ll have to adjust, but I don’t think this bodes too well.

Jason: What do you mean? What do you think is going on?

Dale: I don’t know. You tell me. I just…I can’t feel it. The desk and the copier…Kinda scary, but I guess it’ll do.

Jason: OK.

Dale: Just a little scary. Don’t know what to do.

Jason: Maybe I should ask Devan if everything is alright with the company.

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Discussion

Go Super to Listen

Dale notices that much of the office furniture is sitting in the hallway. This worries him. Is the office closing? Is the company going out of business?

Jason says that he thinks the company is just getting some new furniture. They don’t need a copier because they don’t want to use paper anymore to help the environment.

It hadn’t occurred to Jason that anything could be wrong. But Dale’s alarm concerns him. Do you think Dale and Jason’s jobs are going to be OK? Would you worry if your company suddenly started getting rid of its furniture?

Comments

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burcinyo

Turkey

going under ….

burcinyo

Turkey

i think their company is go under.but their boss can talk with them before chaincing the furniter…this can be work…

girafinha

Japan

good guess ca_brazil! i like ur idea..!

Ca_Brazil

Brazil

if i were Jason i would worried about my job. maybe he didnt feel it because he's Devan's boyfriend.

noguti

Brazil

well… something is definitely happening… bosses don't take the office's furniture out for nothing

DigitalStorm

Mexico

i think the company is going under..they're trying to cut the operational cost by not using the copier machine which cost them a lot in electricity bill (maybe), or they're really enjoy the government program called "Go Green :P

angelina_01

United States

Hi everyone… WHAT'S UP

iwori

Japan

Everyone fears to lose one's job or change one's life drasitcally.

And it can't be helped that the head try to keep financial crisis from employee, but I think we have right to know what is happening to our company.

trongdu

Germany

it's normal at my coutry. i had to do work at the company before.

Everyone and my manager said very good and i can to improve my skill.

My manager said we can to changer the world. But one day My company been go under. The times crisis economic. I don't know my future. hehhehe

dustbin

China

"i hope you are studing hard every day."

i get it.

Green-eyed

Russian Federation

ala4fadeel, as I know the verb understand can't be used in the present progressive tense, it's just a rule… so the sentence should be written like this: He doesn't understand English

ala4fadeel

Sudan

Can any one tell me what's wrong with this sentence:

He isn’t understanding English.

rosendo

Mexico

not always things go good !!!

Ahn Soo-hyun

South Korea

There are always hardships in our life, but we can overcome them. Cheer up!!!

Have a happy Tuesday.

clutchmann

Hungary

I think I would worry if it happened similar process in our company. There is a financial crisis nowadays. I think certain job does not exist. Everybody have to be afraid of losing job. Am I pessimistic?

mickee85

Philippines

In some business, employees can notice if the business starts to collapse even if you are not assigned in an accounting office. When things or office stuff started to lose gradually then that's a sign of bankrupcy I guess:)

ADRIANELA

Mexico

JAJAJA Change his desk for sitting in a Yoga ball??? What a excuse!!! Definitely something is not ok in that company. Whereas, it can't be assumed that the company is going out of business just because there is some furniture in the corridor.

However, employees always know when something is not righ… it's just a 6th sense that all employees developp at an office… But Dale shouldn't be too paranoic.

alexa1

Saudi Arabia

i agree with you

julywidiawati

Indonesia

I hope Dale and Jason's jobs are going to be OK, but I'm not sure of it. Of course I would be worry if my company started getting rid of its furniture, it could be the company try to minimize the outcome budget, that means maybe something going on with the company finance or something like that.