English, baby!

Dial It Back

Learn English with this limits English lesson

Date: May 20 2014

Themes: Friend, Romance, Soap Opera, Work

Grammar: Adjectives

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Intro

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

Go Super to Listen

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

Go Super to Listen

Music can be made louder or softer by touching a button, but it hasn’t always been that way. To change the volume on one’s radio or CD player, a person used to have to turn a round dial. Turning it to the left made music softer, and turning it to the right made music louder.

If someone is being loud or even just acting up, he or she might be asked to dial it back. A mother might ask her noisy children to dial it back so she can rest. A teenage girl might ask her friend to dial it back if she’s acting silly in front of a boy the girl likes. A guy might tell his brother to dial it back if it seems like his brother’s going to get into a fight with someone.

Dialing it back usually makes a situation calmer or quieter. Sometimes it’s used as an order, and sometimes it’s offered as advice. It really depends on what’s happening, and who’s talking to whom!

Why is Gary telling Brian that he needs to dial it back? Learn more in today’s English lesson about office romance.

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.

Marni: So, you want to rent out our conference room?

Gary: We don’t need a lot of space. It’s just getting old, working out of my basement. Coming here feels more professional.

Brian: Hey, Lily! Remember me? It’s Brian.

Lily: Hey.

Brian: Hi. This is my business partner, Gary.

Lily: Oh, hi.

Gary: Brian’s told me a lot about you.

Lily: Really? That’s interesting. So, what are you guys doing here?

Marni: Well, Brian and Gary want to rent out our conference room for their office.

Lily: The conference room? Really? Isn’t it kind of cramped in there?

Brian: Well, it’s small, but we really don’t need that much space. We’re actually starting a new website.

Gary: It’s called Starscoop.com. It’s kind of like People Magazine but not so much of the fashion and gossip. We’re telling the true stories of celebrities, artists, musicians, actors, and so on.

Brian: Yeah. Attractive photos, honest interviews. That’s our motto. You know, we’re not the paparazzi.

Marni: But you guys wouldn’t pass up an exclusive scoop on a really wild story, would you?

Lily: Oh, like the next crazy thing that Miley Cyrus does, for example.

Gary: Well, that would be hard to pass up, but our goal is to keep it classy.

Brian: Yes, definitely. Speaking of classy, that is a classy outfit you’re wearing there.

Gary: Dial it down a little.

Brian: I’m just giving her a compliment.

Lily: Thanks.

Marni: Lily, have you had a chance to work on those monthly reports yet?

Lily: You know, I have not. I will get right on that.

Brian: It was good seeing you again, Lily.

Lily: You, too.

Marni: Well, I think we can work something out with the conference room. When did you guys want to move in?

Gary: Tomorrow?

Marni: That might be a little soon. I’ll tell you what. Give me a few days to get it cleaned out, and I’ll call you. OK?

Brian: Fantastic.

Marni: Great.

Brian: Hey, Lily, you should really check out my profile. I changed it since you gave me that advice. I think it looks a lot better now. I’ve changed my name. I’m no longer “lovemonkey.” I am “monkeylover.”

Lily: Congratulations. Take care.

Brian: OK, yeah, you…

Lily: You take care.

Brian: Thanks. You as well.

Marni: I’ll be in touch.

Brian: It was a pleasure.

Gary: Thank you. Dude, I told you to dial it back a little. Are you trying to freak her out, “monkeylover”?

Brian: I have no idea what you’re talking about.

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

Go Super to Listen

Marni is meeting with Brian and Gary. They’re starting a new business, and they’re interested in renting out the conference room in the offices of AmericanDreamD8.com. Brian and Gary are starting a website about celebrities called Starscoop.com. They feel that even though the conference room is small, it’s better than working in Gary’s house.

Lily comes in and Brian jumps up to greet her. He asks if she remembers him, and he introduces Lily to Gary. Brian also tells Lily that she looks nice, and Gary tells him to dial it back a little and act more cool. It’s obvious to everyone in the room that Brian has a crush on Lily.

What makes you excited? Do you know when it’s time to dial it back, or do your friends have to tell you?

Comments

DarcyConnely

Pakistan

English language is very important in this modern world so if you progress any field then you firstly know about the Efficient learning tips then you do anything in our daily life. This way is good to know about the English firstly we know about the English and also we listening the music.

ahmet55

Germany

Well. When my adrenalin dosses inside my body rise up a little bit more than usual I feel excited. Recently when I received my iBt result on 29 April with taking accepted score in coffinet I suddenly jumped up and let out a loud voice which was really odd for other users. Now, when I think about it i suppose I had to dial it back on that moment. More than often I could manage my feelings and enthusiastic sense but rarely it’s very hard to control it. For example at important football matches I completely take down my excitement with no effort and just look cool. Honestly it’s not so hard for me to dial myself back and I don’t need somebody else to cut down my feelings.

hattomi

Yemen

sometime I mean to be acting unnaturally, you know getting more crazy and excited about anything, but of course with poeple I know that they know I’m pretending SO I don’t have to dial it back with those kind of friends :p ,, but I really know when I have to dial it back ,,I’m very cautious don’t worry about me :p

rosendo

Mexico

when you feel in love of someone you cannot stop dialing it back if u are in front of she/he.

most of the time people around u tell u that u are acting like fool , but u cannot pass up to this situation bcs u are completed into. XD !!

Mr. Learner

Peru

@jef_maiko, the same goes for me xD

jef_maiko

Brazil

What makes me excited is when I arrive to the beach and see good waves. I get a lot excited. I’m a engineering studant and sometimes at the college I start to speak loud in the halls, so I percive it’s time to dial it back, because I can mess up the classes…...

praedos

Germany

Lovemonkey fans.

S&W

China

Oh,God Brian,you are sooooo cute.”Monkey Lover” Why do love monkey that much ? Anyhow,you got my support.hehe

Jasonlongo

Congo, Democratic Republic Of The

This is such good lesson I’ve ever learnt, today’s special ! Dial it back… I just back up engishbaby.com to go ahead !

Eric_

China

Oh come on…..

Last time you were Lovemonkey, now you change to Monkeylover…. That’s funny….hehe :)

Mr. Learner

Peru

Well .. Whenever I’m speaking with my friends, I get excited. Sometimes my friends tell me to dial it back; howvever, I usually try to keep my cool :)