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Slow on the Uptake

Learn English in this lesson about 'Slow on the Uptake'

Date: May 03 2016

Themes: Friend, Hobbies, Romance, Soap Opera

Grammar: Future in the Past

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Intro

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

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obvious

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

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Some people can guess the whole plot of a movie within the first few minutes. But for others among us, it takes a while to understand. We might not guess a surprise plot twist, or we might be confused by the ending of the film. We might even need someone to explain the plot to us afterward! People who are slow to understand things are sometimes called slow on the uptake.

You’ve probably had a moment or two when you were slow on the uptake. It’s OK… everyone does! Maybe, you got overwhelmed in class, and it took you some time to understand the lesson. Maybe, someone invited you to a party, but you did not understand what they were saying. It’s especially easy to be slow on the uptake when you’re studying a second language!

Andy is a little slow on the uptake in today’s lesson. Watch the video to find out why… and what about!

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.

Andy_H: I really didn’t know what was going to happen at the end of the film. I didn’t expect that he was going to be dead the entire time!

Sheila: Really? Wow, you are slow on the uptake, aren’t you, Andy? It was so obvious. No one saw him the entire film except his dad. You didn’t notice that?

Andy_H: I guess not.

Sheila: Anyway, goodnight all.

Kelsey: Goodnight.

Andy_H: I don’t know, I didn’t think it was that obvious. Have you seen the Sixth Sense?

Kelsey: No, but I guess I don’t have to now.

Andy_H: Oh! I am so sorry!!!

Jordin: Kelsey, do you think I can grab a ride home with you?

Kelsey: Of course.

Jordin: Thanks. I just need to grab my things.

Andy_H: Do you watch many movies?

Kelsey: Not really. I like them, but there are so many. I get overwhelmed when I try to decide which one to see.

Andy_H: Totally. I know exactly what you mean. I’m the same way, so I just watch them all.

Kelsey: Really? So, you could recommend some to me?

Andy_H: Oh, sure. Absolutely.

Kelsey: Great! Actually, what are you doing this weekend? Why don’t you find a movie I’d like and then take me to it.

Andy_H: OK. Yeah, I mean sure, OK.

Kelsey: Great! See you later!

Jordin: Date night, huh?

Andy_H: What? No. Wait, really?

Jordin: She just asked you out.

Andy_H: Is that what just happened?

Jordin: Wow, you are a little slow on the uptake.

Andy_H: I guess I am…

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

Go Super to Listen

The team just watched a movie with a surprise ending. Andy did not expect the plot twist, but it seems like everyone else did! Shelia thinks he is slow on the uptake. Andy asks Kelsey if she watches a lot of movies, but she says that she does not. She gets overwhelmed by trying to choose a movie. Kelsey asks Andy if he can suggest some movies for her to watch. In fact, maybe, he can choose a movie for them to watch together.

Andy agrees to go to a movie with Kelsey. He thinks it will just be a fun outing between friends. However, Jordin thinks Kelsey just asked him on a date! Andy is confused. Is that what happened? Maybe, he is a little slow on the uptake!

Are you slow on the uptake sometimes? Do you like movies with surprise endings?

Comments

Nataliorlova1

Russian Federation

Yes I like move with surprise endings more than other… It’s so exciting when you don’t know what happens in the end… You try to guess it.. Sometimes I guess sometimes I’m little slow on the uptake )

Sami Aswad

Iraq

Yeah sometimes I’m really slow on the uptake especially with girls !! Yeah I do like movies with surprise ending they r my favorite;)

Annjoseph

United Kingdom

This is very useful according to me. Because my students are suffering to read and write english. So this vocabulary learning is very useful to them. You explained it very clearly and in a simple way. I gave a work to my students to speak something about how to write a good research paper but I felt very sad. Because they can’t speak even a single word. Thank you for this post

Visit: http://essaysmaster.com/blog/How-To-Write-A-Good-Research-Paper_51.aspx

MehmetKaragul

Turkey

Yes I am slow on the uptake sometimes. Actually not sometimes, so often. I am not a very social peson. So I am slow on the uptake when it comes to socialising and understand some situations. I am like Sheldon Cooper sometimes :) I can’t tell if someone is joking or serious someimes. It can be overwhelming.

In the other hand, I amnot slow on the uptake when watching a movie. I can guess the ending. Not all the time but generally. And yes, I like films with surprise ending, especially if it’s a happy ending.