Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in
 
A Dime a Dozen
A Dime a Dozen English, baby! Video Lesson

Learn English with this everyday English lesson

Date: May 27 2014

Themes: Celebrity, Hobbies, Soap Opera, Work

Grammar: Plural vs. Possessive "S"

Intro

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

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

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

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

A dime is the name for a US coin that is equal to ten cents. Ten dimes (or 100 cents) is the same as the US dollar. And one dollar will not buy you very much in today’s world! You can’t even buy a cup of coffee for a dollar.

The word dozen simply means a group of twelve (12). Eggs are usually sold “by the dozen,” for example, but you can buy anything by the dozen. If you ask for a dozen of anything, people know that you want twelve.

Now that you understand how much one dime could buy you, it’s easy to understand that if you can buy twelve things for a dime, each of those items is very inexpensive. They are probably not unique, but common and easy to find. In fact, you can probably find them all over your city or country. Because they are everywhere, we say they’re a dime a dozen.

This expression also describes people in some situations. You could say that actors are a dime a dozen in Hollywood because there are so many people who want to be movie stars. Or that runners are a dime a dozen in a big race. People and things are a dime a dozen when there are so many of them that it would be hard not to find one!

Why does Jessica say that people like her are a dime a dozen? Learn more in today’s English lesson.

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.

Log in to Listen

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

Rafael

Rafael

Lily

Lily

Jessica

Jessica

Jeff

Jeff

Rafael:  Hey, Lily.

Lily:  Hey, guys! What brings you to the office?

Jessica:  We were out getting some sandwiches, and I asked Rafael to show me Marni’s office. I guess it’s your office, too.

Lily:  Yeah.

Jeff:  And mine.

Rafael:  Basically, all of my friends work in the same place. It’s very convenient.

Jessica:  Lily, that bracelet is gorgeous. Where did you get it?

Lily:  It’s from Guatemala, actually. These things are a dime a dozen in the markets down there. This little old Guatemalan woman actually taught me how to make them. I was thinking about starting a new one tomorrow.

Jessica:  No way. They’re gorgeous.

Lily:  Do you want to learn? I could teach you.

Jessica:  Really?

Lily:  Yeah.

Jessica:  That would be amazing.

Rafael:  I’ll give you our address. But we should get back for our 1:00 class, right?

Jessica:  Right, yes. I will call you later, Lily.

Lily:  Awesome.

Jessica:  All right. Bye.

Lily:  Bye!

Lily:  My work is usually pretty mellow, but the other day, this guy came in and complained about his profile.

Jessica:  What did he want you to do about it?

Lily:  I don’t know. But I gave him some pointers. He and his buddy are actually coming to rent out part of our office to start up this new celebrity website thing.

Jessica:  Shut up. Are you serious?

Lily:  Yeah. Why?

Jessica:  Well, I love teaching yoga, but I have always wanted to work as a journalist. I wonder if they have any open jobs.

Lily:  It’s kind of a small company, but they might want an intern.

Jessica:  You think so?

Lily:  I can always ask.

Jessica:  I bet people like me are a dime a dozen, though. They must get ten calls or emails a day.

Lily:  They could say no, but they could say yes, too.

Jessica:  That’s true. Lily, I’m going to go work on my resume right now.

Lily:  OK. You do that! Another time?

Jessica:  Absolutely. Yes. All right, I’ll see you soon. Bye!

Lily:  Bye!

 

Grammar Point

Go Super to learn "Plural vs. Possessive "S"" from this lesson Go Super!

Quizzes

Go Super to take Quiz Go Super!

 

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3 Go Super!

The iTEP® test

  • Schedule an iTEP® test and take the official English Practice Test.

    Take Now >

Discussion

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

Jessica and Rafael visit the office to see where Marni works. They talk with Jeff and Lily, and Jessica notices Lily’s beautiful bracelet. Lily tells Jessica that she can teach her how to make her own bracelet, so the two of them make plans to get together.

Later at her apartment, Lily shares what working at AmericanDreamD8.com is like with Jessica. She tells Jessica about Brian and Gary, and how they’re going to use part of the office to work on their website, StarScoop.com. Jessica wants to know more, especially if there are open jobs with this new company. Lily learns that Jessica has always wanted to work as a journalist, even more than as a yoga teacher!

Lily offers to ask Brian and Gary if they’re looking for an intern. Jessica is excited by this idea, but she’s a little worried that she is a dime a dozen. Even so, Jessica goes home to work on her resume.

What kinds of things are a dime a dozen where you live? Have you ever felt like you were a dime a dozen?

 

Comments

Log in to Comment

sunny_ling88

China

Sometime, it’s diffcult that I want to find someting in the other place, but they are a dime a dozen in their origin area.

09:17 AM Jun 04 2014 |

Mr. Learner

Peru

Photographers in my society are a dime a dozen.

09:34 AM May 31 2014 |

waterbender

Belarus

actually don’t like people who are a dime a dozen. Everyone should be a Person, should have his own point of view. It’s awful in my opinion when u’re like a grey shadow in the crowd. 

10:18 PM May 27 2014 |

praedos

praedos

Germany

I’ve felt like a dime a dozen with girls.

01:28 PM May 27 2014 |

becirickySuper Member!

South Korea

When I was in military service, I felt myself a dime of dozen. It was not important what i could do. Everyone did same kind of works that mostly cleaning and training. When my seniors discharged and i was one of the highest solders then i could teach how to do the things to juniors. and I felt that i was a person needed for all of them.

12:37 PM May 27 2014 |

S&W

S&W

China

Oh,Lily i like your bracelet.You are so talent to make it by yourself.It goes well with you

11:21 AM May 27 2014 |

2 people like this

Likes (18):

See all >

Share this lesson:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Bebo
  • Share on Myspace
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email this to a friend
  • Share on Sina

Post Ebaby! lessons on your blog:

Ebaby! Cast