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.
Traditionally, when American couples go out on a date, the man pays for everything. But that’s not always how it goes. Sometimes the woman will treat, and sometimes, they’ll split the cost, or go dutch.
When it comes time to pay for a meal or some drinks, it can be a little confusing if one person plans to go dutch and the other doesn’t. It’s common for friends to go dutch, and some couples like to do it, too. But if they haven’t been out before, there’s no way of knowing. See what happens when Jeff and Ella get the check after dinner.
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.
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Waitress |
Jeff: That was quite enjoyable!
Ella: Yeah! Great decision. I like this place a lot.
Waitress: Here’s your bill.
Ella: I’m so full!
Jeff: That was great. It was worth every penny.
Ella: I’m glad we got dessert.
Jeff: Everything else is going good?
Ella: Yeah! Just…just getting tired of the way things get changed up at work a little bit, but…what are you going to do.
Jeff: Yeah. So, what’s the damage? That’s not bad. I was thinking we’d go dutch on this?
Ella: What… what’s that?
Jeff: Split it down the middle? [def ]Fifty-fifty[/def]?
Ella: Perhaps…
Jeff: You’re fine with that?
Ella: Yeah… super chill.
Jeff: What’s chill for you is chill for me!
Ella: Yeah… totally.
Waitress: Just split it down the middle?
Jeff: Oh yeah. We’re going dutch tonight.
Waitress: Great!
Ella: Yay, dutch…
Jeff: Perfect!
Ella: Hello? Hey, oh my gosh. So, I’m still on my date here, and we had to go dutch. You know, like, split down the middle? Yeah! What the heck? He’s a lawyer! Is he cheap, or something? I don’t understand. Like, with Mason, I never had to pay for anything. He, like, paid for my student loans, like, there was no question. Like, what’s the deal here? What’s going on? Oh God, he’s coming back. Gotta go.
Jeff: Alright! What’s up? What do you say?
Ella: Oh, all good! Yeah!
Jeff: On to the rest of the night!
Ella: Yeah!
Jeff: Let’s do it!
Grammar Point
Go Super to learn "Present Progressive Tense" from this lesson
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Discussion
Jeff and Ella have a nice dinner together. When the check comes, she carefully pushes it toward him. Eventually he picks it up, looks at it, and suggests they go dutch and split the bill.
Ella agrees to go dutch, but clearly isn’t very happy about it. You can tell she doesn’t usually go dutch because Jeff has to explain to her what the phrase means. The phrase comes from Dutch doors, which open in the middle.
While Jeff is inside the restaurant for a moment, Ella calls a friend to complain about what just happened. She is reminded of Mason, who spent money on her freely when he was trying to date her.
Who pays when you go out? In what circumstances do you think is it appropriate to go dutch?
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