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.
People always like their own ideas the best. That’s why the best way to get someone to do something is to plant the seed.
In gardening, when you plant a seed, it sits in the soil for a while and then grows into a plant. Planting a seed in a person’s mind is no different. When you plant the seed, you don’t argue or directly address what you want. You just give subtle suggestions and hints. Then you wait. After a while, you’ll get what you want and the person who gives it to you will think the idea was theirs!
For example, if you want to work at a particular clothing store, you could dress nicely and go there often and compliment the store and the employees. You could talk to them about how it must be a fun place to work. You’ve planted the seed. Then, when they need to hire someone, they will ask you, without you ever having to apply.
Devan hopes her boyfriend Jason will ask her to marry him. Her friends tell her she needs to plant the seed. See what happens as she tries to show him what she wants.
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.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() Wife |
![]() Husband |
Marni: So, how are things going with Jason? Have you been able to plant the seed about how you want to get married?
Devan: Well, I tried dropping a few hints, but I haven’t really been able to get the point across.
Jason: I hate doing taxes.
Devan: Me too. You know, if we were married, we’d be able to file our taxes together. Wouldn’t that be easier?
Jason: Yeah, I never thought of that. You know what else would be cool?
Devan: What?
Jason: If we were pirates. I bet pirates don’t have to file taxes at all!
Devan: Yeah, probably not.
Jason: Argh!
Marni: Hmm, that’s not so good. What else have you tried?
Devan: Well, I thought maybe if we spent some time with some other married couples, he’d be able to see how great marriage really is. But that didn’t really work either.
Wife: Are you sure you want to drink that beer? You’re going to get fat if you keep drinking all that beer. Don’t you shrug at me! That’s it. You’re sleeping on the couch tonight.
Husband: Don’t ever get married.
Jason: Yeah.
Marni: Yikes.
Devan: I know. Then yesterday, I tried to get him to look at engagement rings with me, but he just didn’t get it.
Devan: Oh, look, jewelry store! Let’s look in here.
Jason: OK.
Devan: Look at that ring, isn’t that so pretty?
Jason: Um, yeah, it’s good.
Devan: Oh, I really like that one too.
Jason: They’re kind of shiny, you know?
Devan: Shiny?
Jason: Yeah. I guess I’m not a big jewelry guy. I’m glad you don’t care about that stuff, either.
Quizzes
Lesson MP3
The iTEP® test
-
Sponsored by
Discussion
Marni and Devan are back at the salon. This time, there’s no business meeting. They’re talking about romance. Devan hopes to make her boyfriend understand that she wants to get married.
She tells Marni that she tried suggesting that taxes would be easier if they were married. Devan introduced her boyfriend to another married couple, but they seemed unhappy so it didn’t help her case. Finally, she stopped to look at rings in a shop window. After they left, Jason came back and looked in the window. Maybe he understands.
How do usually you get what you want? Do you plant the seed or ask directly?
Comments
Japan |
China |
Mexico |
China |
Russian Federation |
Egypt |
Viet Nam |
China |
Egypt |
Jordan |
Viet Nam |
Egypt |
China |
Egypt |
Egypt |
Iraq |
Ukraine |
Sudan |
China |
Germany |