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ASAP

Learn English with this babies English lesson

Date: Mar 05 2013

Themes: Soap Opera

Grammar: Phrasal Verbs

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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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We live in a fast-paced world. With computers and mobile phones, we have instant communication and access to all sorts of information in seconds. We are not interested in waiting.

In fact, we don’t even have time for full words anymore. Acronyms, or words made of the first letters of the word of a phrase, are becoming more common all the time, because sometimes, you need to say what you’re trying to say ASAP.

ASAP stands for “as soon as possible.” Usually, you pronounce each individual letter, “A-S-A-P,” but if you’re in a big hurry, you can say it like a word, “asap.” It’s used in business, when your boss needs something ASAP. Or if your friend is upset, you can tell her you’ll come over ASAP and help.

Even though we do lots of things ASAP these days, sometimes it’s better to wait and do things slowly. In this English lesson, find out what Mason wants to do ASAP and why his wife Amanda wants to wait.

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.

Mason

Amanda

Marni

Mason: Oh my gosh, this is so cool! It’s like a real little person right there. Hi Dawn! Hi Dawn!

Amanda: She’s super cute, Marni.

Marni: Thanks. I think her cuteness is having to make up for my own lack of cuteness these days. No sleep and baby spit-up don’t exactly have me looking my best.

Mason: What? Marni, you look great. I mean, you look like a real mom.

Amanda: Yeah Marni, you look great. Does spit-up stain?

Marni: Yeah, I know. I’m still wearing my maternity clothes so I can keep my regular clothes in good shape. So I’ll take them out again when she’s a little older. Hopefully I’ll still fit into ‘em.

Amanda: Why wouldn’t you?

Marni: Baby weight.

Amanda: Right.

Marni: Well, I think I better get going. Any luck, she’ll sleep on the way home, and I’ll be able to get a shower in. Bye, guys!

Mason and Amanda: Bye, Marni!

Amanda: Bye, Dawn!

Mason: Oh my gosh. That is so amazing. Dawn is amazing. And Marni? She was like, glowing!

Amanda: Yeah. Is that what it is? Cause I was thinking maybe it was a little baby snot here, and here.

Mason: I can’t wait until that’s us, sweetie.

Amanda: Uh huh. Yup. Me too.

Mason: No, really. I think we should probably think about having kids sometime soon.

Amanda: How soon?

Mason: ASAP!

Amanda: When you say that, what do you mean by ASAP?

Mason: I mean as soon as possible, sweetie! I mean, we’re not getting any younger, right, and I don’t want to be the parents that are carting wheelchairs and walkers to their kids’ Little League game. I want to be the guy out there coaching Little Stevie’s team! Or Little Stephanie’s!

Amanda: You don’t even like baseball. What are you talking about?

Mason: Sweetie, that’s not the point. It’s just, I’m saying, we’re not getting any younger.

Amanda: I know. But you know, there’s all these exciting things going on with the company, Greta’s coming on board, we’ve all these new subscribers, my new role as president here. I just don’t want to have to sacrifice any of this for the sake of…

Mason: Sacrifice stuff for the happiness of our future child? I mean, what are you saying?

Amanda: I don’t know. I just, I need some time to think about it, and now is not a good time. I need to get these quarterly reports out ASAP! OK? So just ssh!

Mason: She’ll come around. Sssh. Sssh.

Grammar Point

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Discussion

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Marni has come in to the office to introduce her new baby, Dawn, to her former co-workers. Both Mason and Amanda think that Dawn is very cute, especially Mason. He is starting to think that babies are the coolest thing ever.

Amanda, on the other hand, is a little worried. She notices that Marni has spit-up all over her clothes. She’s concerned when Marni mentions not being able to fit into her old clothes because of weight she’s put on.

After Marni leaves, Mason is ready to talk to Amanda about the two of them having babies. He wants to start very soon. In fact, he wants to start as soon as possible, or ASAP. Amanda isn’t sure. There are a lot of good things going on in her work life, and she doesn’t want to mess that up by having a baby too soon. It seems as if this issue might bring about some tension in Mason and Amanda’s relationship.

Can you think of a time when a friend or partner wanted to do something ASAP, but you wanted to wait? Do you think acronyms like ASAP are an effective way to communicate ideas?

Comments

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jordyenglish

United States

very helpful

aBEER

Egypt

its a good word when u really mean it if we just saying it all the time it will be meaningless

Crizsearch

Indonesia

I like the word ASAP and I think it’s always fine to use this acronym, kinda slang….. informal communication is just right, just the way it should be, people are getting use to it :D

Amanda doesn’t really like to have KIDS.

korikos

Turkey

ASAP is very simple to use. I use and I suggest.

Akberet

Eritrea

I like this word

kowatch

Hungary

I only use some acronyms on online chat. I think people shouldn’t use them during a conversation, they can only save a few seconds with them.

tk040652

Germany

Hello,
nice little story. But I think, the agronym “ASAP” shouldn’t actually be used in private talk.

I remember it from my time as an editor at an American based magazine. It’s okay for business, but I think it sounds a bit unpolite when talking to friends.

But after all, it depends on how someone says it (in German: “Der Ton macht die Musik…”)

Cheers, Thomas

david yun

South Korea

Well.. My job is to teach students, and my students, they use a bunch of acronyms when talking to me. At first, I didn’t what they were talking about, but later i couldn’t figure it out. Anyway, I think, in some cases, we need to use those words to communicate effectively.

david yun

South Korea

Mariluz Ramirez

Colombia

Just when we are texting, I thing we must not use them when we talk with some one, like you are my ””BFF”.

alcide

Italy

WHEN YOU MUST HAVE MANEY FROM SOMEBODY…. WHEN DO YOU WANT THOSE MANEY? ASAP

DaeNg

Thailand

As soon as possible when you take someone to hospital. ASAP it means as soon as possible. :)

Nikkis

India

I do like this lesson.I have recently started learning English with available free videos like http://youtu.be/cu_aijvijnE

sbutur

Turkey

If you take a serius warning on plane like engine failure the system gives this message” LAND ASAP”

Ngubo Sixtus

South Africa

i do like this lesson.

glassy heart

Saudi Arabia

Oh yeah it happens every day,when mom come from her work to home.she call me to help her in preparing lunch at the kitshen ASAP for the rest on way hungry family ,i ever wanted to wait so we all can take anap for awhile befor eating then going to bed after long day at school or work..yes we live in a fast packed world. So,of course using Acronomy is effective in many ways..also when righting fast imprtant notes , for examble at work or during college lectures..bythway thanks for the vedio i liked it,,^_

julito

Argentina

Obviously, Amanda is not bent to start a family ASAP. This is not uncommon in the corporate world where women hold important positions as executives . Being a mom is a round the clock dedication ,sometimes at the cost of having to postpone a succesful career in the corporate ladder. Surprisingly, Amanda didn´t even try to cuddle Marnie´s baby, was she so afraid of being spit up by Dawn ? .It is true, moms of new born babies sometimes don´t have time to take a decent shower or brush their teeth, so time-consuming is nurturing a new born baby. Congratulation to Marnie.

3emma3

Iraq

sometimes it is imporatant to do things ASAP because time is running out. but actually i rarely do things ASAP.

Englishty

Egypt

I feel sorry for Marni, obviously she is so exhausted but there’s no need to worry all moms have to experience it and they get over it ASAP once the baby gets little old. I think acronyms are normal these days since everything is so fast but for me i don’t like it, using these acronyms so much makes us get away from the original language so watch out.

giskaka

Congo, Democratic Republic Of The

I want to have my own house ASAP ! I want to get a new job ASAP ! I want many good things happen in my life ASAP ! If what you really want and need in your life can happen ASAP it’ll be very good !!!!