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Work It Out

Simple Past Tense

Date: Jul 03 2012

Themes: Friend, Soap Opera

Grammar: Simple Past 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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When we last saw our friends, Devan and Jason were getting married. But all parties come to an end, and then it’s back to work, and back to all the people and things that bother you there.

Of course, it doesn’t have to be that way. If someone bothers you, there’s usually a way you can work it out. When you work it out, it means you fix a problem or come to an agreement. Find out how things have changed around the office lately.

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.

Jeff: This thing is broken again. I’m calling Devan.

Ella: No! They’re on their honeymoon.

Jeff: Come on. She’s the only one who knows how to fix this. Yeah, Devan? Can you hear me? Devan? It’s Jeff. Uh, yeah, my computer’s frozen.

Devan: What’s frozen?

Jason: Frozen margaritas!

Jeff: My computer. I think it’s frozen.

Devan: Jeff, I can’t fix your computer from here. You’re going to have to work this one out on your own.

Jeff: Yeah. Bye. Oh man, I have no idea how to fix this problem.

Mason: Oh, I can take a look at that for you, buddy.

Jeff: Oh yeah?

Mason: Yeah.

Jeff: Thanks, bud.

Ella: Buddy?

Mason: Hey, are we still on for poker tonight?

Jeff: Yeah.

Ella: This is not OK. Um, I thought you guys hated each other.

Jeff: Uh, we worked it out.

Mason: Yeah, when I got a girlfriend, we totally became friends.

Ella: Jeff, he’s totally trying to destroy you. I mean, he’s just trying to get into your computer. He’s going to bring this whole company down.

Mason: Fixed.

Jeff: Alright!

Mason: Later, bro.

Jeff: Ella, what is your problem? Mason and I realized we don’t need to fight anymore. We worked it out. Can’t you just be happy for us? Like, you know, no more office wrestling.

Ella: No. I don’t trust either of you. Something’s going on. I don’t know if it’s you or him, but it’s gonna destroy this company. I just know it, and I don’t wanna be here when that happens, OK?

Jeff: Boo!

Ella: Ah! Stop it!

Grammar Point

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Discussion

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Jeff’s computer is frozen and he doesn’t know how to fix it. Ella tries to stop him, but he calls Devan on her honeymoon anyway. She tells him he will have to work it out on his own.

Mason offers to help Jeff with his computer. They call each other “buddy” and “bro” and are very friendly. Ella is confused. They usually hate each other!

Ella suggests that Mason is trying to break Jeff’s computer. She doesn’t trust him. He could even destroy the whole company! Just then, Mason announces that the computer is fixed.

Jeff explains to Ella that since Mason got a girlfriend, they don’t fight over her anymore. They worked it out. But Ella still doesn’t trust Mason.

Do you believe that Jeff and Mason are friends now? Have you ever had a problem with someone and then worked it out?

Comments

samirah

Saudi Arabia

i think Jeff and Mason buried the hatchet .anyway, i am always on the out with people , but it does not last for long because i turn a blind eye to some words. iam sure they deal with me in the same way,i think it is important to be tolerant especially when it has some thing to do with ill-tempered .

La Princesse de la vie

Egypt

yeah, I think that Mason and Jeff finally realized that they are grown up and mature that they mustn’t fight each other anymore. I think that Ella is unhappy because they won’t fight over her again, but Mason seems true with his new girlfriend and he doesn’t have to fight with Jeff ever since. They worked their problem out.Once I had a problem with a friend and it was worked out or it was rather forgotten over time.

yifangwang

China

In my opinion,having some problem with our friends is the common thing in our life.The more important thing is how we deal with those problem.A good and efficient way sloving them will help us lead a easier and more enjoyable life.So,why not choose a way ourselve and our friends both like to get our friendship as smoothly as before.Pls remember,enjoy your life and friendship!

sofree

China

Yea what not, it’s just a show. :) When I was in school, but not now, I try to resolve problems not people….

Surik7

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

i learned the meaning of work it out from one of the high school musical songs!!!!! they finally work their problem out!!!of course in all movies all the problems will be solved at last…...

mim_dica

India

nice one

ErinDong

United States

its great they became friends! working it out makes everything better!!! i remember i used to not get along with my friends. it didnt feel too good. now that i am all back together, everything started going smoothly again.

sanaa2000

Egypt

Sorry I didnt know them to give my opinion,but it happens alot.I have alot of friends alhumdullah,& I had aproblems with some of them at the start of our relation.But then we be agood friends alhumdullah.Anyone deserves another chance i think.im amuslim & our religion recommends that.

Favisan

Ireland

keep your friends near you, and your enemies as near as possible. :p

Joy900

Japan

Baset : very well !!!!!!

The Last Joke

Yemen

JOY :

In fact , Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending. Nothing could be closer to the truth. But before you can begin to work out this problem with her you have to stop doing the things that have been holding you back.

How do you work this problem out with her ?

Stop running from your problems : i mean : Face them head on. No, it won’t be easy. We aren’t supposed to be able to instantly solve problems. That’s not how we’re made. In fact, we’re made to get upset, sad, hurt, stumble and fall. Because that’s the whole purpose of living – to face problems, learn, adapt, and solve them over the course of time. This is what ultimately molds us into the person we become.

Joy900

Japan

Baset : good job !

I have one more Q :

I have a problem at work with someone !

How do I work this problem out with her ?

The Last Joke

Yemen

Joy :

It work out like this :

Let (y) be the number of workers it would have taken.

(8 workers)(6 hours) = ( 2 hours )y

48 worker-hours = 2y hours

24 = y

24 workers

Joy900

Japan

Baset :

I have a problem at work with this :

If 8 workers can build a room in 6 hours, how many workers would it have taken to do it in 2 hours?

I mean : How do I work this problem out with it ?

naser_dma

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

My idea is same Ella that mason want to destroy the company and isn’t friend with Jeff too. yes I had problem already with one of my relative but with paasing the few years we could worked it out on our own .

dreadslayer

Turkey

buddy u should’ve work it out on your own :). dont get help from your enemies :D

Irene Forever

Ukraine

I like the quote from Henry Ford: “ I believe God is managing affairs and that He doesn’t need any advice from me. With God in charge, I believe everything will work out for the best in the end. So what is there to worry about.”