Learn English with this romance English lesson

Intro

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

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• make a fool of oneself
• a keeper
• keep that on the down low
• break the spell

• into
• best thing since sliced bread
• game
• athletic

• itinerary
• outdoorsy

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

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Before 1928, if you wanted to use bread for a sandwich, you had to cut it yourself. But that year, a machine was created to cut bread into slices. Sliced bread was sold in stores for the first time, and it soon became extremely popular. It became so common, that in today’s grocery stores, you have to look carefully for bread that isn’t already sliced.

Because sliced bread was an incredible new food that everyone loved, people started using the expression the best thing since sliced bread. If a person calls a new toy, or a tool, or even an idea the best thing since sliced bread, that means that the toy, tool or idea is something that everyone will love. It means that it is amazing and original, just like bread that doesn’t need to be cut with a knife.

Jeff tells Lily and Rafael about his new girlfriend Alexis. He shares all of the things that make Alexis special to him and an amazing person that he enjoys spending time with. Put together, these things make her the best thing since sliced bread to Jeff.

Will Lily and Rafael also think that Alexis is the best thing since sliced bread, or will they think that Jeff is crazy? Find out in this English lesson about falling in love.

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.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Lily

Jeff

Rafael

Lily:  So, Marni tells me you’ve been dating a lot of women.

Jeff:  That’s true. But it’s actually only one woman now.

Lily:  Oh, really? So, why don’t you tell us about her?

Jeff:  Well, her name is Alexis. We met about a month ago at a party, and we’ve been spending quite a bit of time together.

Rafael:  All right. So when you say quite a bit of time, do you mean every day?

Jeff:  Well, you know. We hang out a few times a week.

Rafael:  Nice. What’s she into?

Jeff:  You know, that’s the thing. She likes everything. If she hasn’t done something yet, she’s totally game to try it. She’s the best thing since sliced bread.

Lily:  What kinds of stuff do you do when you go out?

Jeff:  I don’t know. Last weekend we went rock climbing. The one before that, we tried out some underwater basket weaving.

Lily:  Wow.

Jeff:  Yeah.

Rafael:  So, is she really athletic? It sounds like she’s very outdoorsy.

Jeff:  No, not really. But she’s not afraid to try anything new. See what I’m saying? She just jumps right in there without worrying about making a fool of herself.

Lily:  That’s great! I can understand why you would say that she’s the best thing since sliced bread.

Rafael:  She sounds like a keeper. So, when are we going to get to meet her?

Jeff:  Well, I don’t know. That’s the thing. I’m kind of enjoying keeping Alexis on the down low. So, we’ll see. I’m taking it slow. See where it goes.

Lily:  I totally understand that. You don’t want to break that spell that you guys have over each other yet. Right?

Rafael:  Yeah, I understand that, too, but eventually you’re going to have to let us meet her.

Jeff:  Well, yeah. You know, maybe it will happen. Hey, I’ve got to go. I’ve got a date.

Lily:  With Alexis?

Jeff:  Yeah.

Rafael:  What’s your itinerary today?

Jeff:  Roller skating. See you guys later!

 

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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