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Throw in the Towel
Throw in the Towel English, baby! Video Lesson

Learn English meaning of ‘throw in the towel’

Date: Dec 06 2016

Themes: Hobbies, Music, Soap Opera

Grammar: Be Able To

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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Sometimes, a project or activity can drive you crazy. Maybe, you are trying to write an essay for school, but you have writer’s block. You can’t think of any good ideas, and you just aren’t feeling it. Or perhaps, you are trying to concentrate on a project for work, but you just can’t come up with any new thoughts. What do you do in situations like this? Do you keep working, or do you throw in the towel?

When someone throws in the towel, they stop trying. They give up. Sometimes, this is a good idea. Taking it easy and getting your mind off of your work can be healthy for your mind. Often, people will spontaneously think of new ideas while they are relaxing. However, you might throw in the towel and never return to your work. This is dangerous because you may never finish your project.

Kelsey has been working so hard to remember her song. Is it time for her to throw in the towel? Find out in today’s English video 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.

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

Kelsey

Kelsey

Jordin

Jordin

Kelsey:  I had a dream that I couldn’t remember, in the dream, what I was singing about. I had a dream it was the 1980s…. This is driving me crazy!

Jordin:  What’s wrong, Kelsey?

Kelsey:  I don’t know, I just can’t write this song. I think I’m going to throw in the towel.

Jordin:  I’m sorry, is there anything I can do to help?

Kelsey:  I don’t know. I think I have writer’s block. It was such a great song in my dream, and I just couldn’t remember it. Then, I thought I’d write a song about not being able to write a song, and I still can’t come up with anything!

Jordin:  How do you usually write songs?

Kelsey:  Well, they just sort-of come to me.

Jordin:  Hmm… Maybe, it’s because you’re trying too hard.

Kelsey:  Yeah, maybe. I still think I’m going to give up. I’m not feeling it.

Jordin:  Ah, Kelsey, don’t throw in the towel, yet.

Kelsey:  I don’t know, I don’t think I can do it this time. I think it has to come spontaneously. I think I’m trying too hard.

Jordin:  Maybe that’s true, but I still don’t think it’s a good idea for you to give up. Maybe, you can just take it easy for a little while and forget about it.

Kelsey:  Forget about it?

Jordin:  For a little while. And then maybe, if you concentrate on something else, you’ll come back to it, and it’ll just come to you!

Kelsey:  OK, that makes sense.

Jordin:  You’re thinking about the song again, aren’t you?

Kelsey:  No! I mean… yeah, kind-of…. OK, how do I get my mind off the song?

Jordin:  Movie?

Kelsey:  Perfect!

THE END

 

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

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Kelsey has been trying to remember the song from her dream for a long time. She tries to play it on her guitar, but it isn’t working. In fact, it’s driving her crazy. Jordin asks if she can help. She asks Kelsey how she usually writes songs. Kelsey tells her that her songs are usually spontaneous. She doesn’t try very hard to write them.

Maybe, that’s why Kelsey has writer’s block. She’s trying too hard. Jordin suggests that she relax and take it easy. Maybe, if she stops concentrating on the song, it will come back to her later. Kelsey agrees, but now she doesn’t know how to get her mind off of the song. Jordin suggests that they go watch a movie. It’s the perfect idea!

Did you ever have writer’s block? What do you do to get your mind off of something?

 

Comments

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Manol

Manol

Syrian Arab Republic

When you want something so badly it doesnt work no matter how hard you try to get it just like that so.it is better to throw it in the towel and try something else becasue you waste ur time and may be that thing will come to you later or may be not just go on.

08:21 PM Dec 06 2016 |

AliShahrivarian

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

It’s very easy to throw everything in the towel but is it correct?!


sometimes you come up with some ideas that might change your life forever; Business plans, Programming new apps, Inventing new things. But it’s hard to say that the whole ideas are clear and completely arranged in that time. If you try to gather all the requirement for that thought at the same time you’ll lose everything about it. In my opinion challenging mind to bring everything together isn’t a good idea; You only get confused and whole ideas will leave your mind.


What I do in this situation:


1. I will write my thoughts. i.e., a game development plan, it’s car game, it’s rival mode, it has several maps …


2. I will Get my mind of it if I have written all of the thoughts.


3. After sometimes (hours, days, weeks or months; it depends on you) when I come up with new things about that I will go back to step one and before writing new things I will review my first notes.


4. Finally if I felt that my ideas got a structure I will start it. (In my way I always start my Software Development with base plans then I’ll extend them with future ideas.)


I always get best result from above steps. Just do it and you will feel it. If you keep thinking of some thought that never gonna be complete you will lose other thoughts and most importantly, your current time.

11:00 AM Dec 06 2016 |

1 person likes this

saradong1986

China

I needed to write the final report of 2016 and the plan of 2017, but during the working time, i just can’t concentrate at all, so i throw in the tower, left the office after i finished working, and went shopping a little bit to get my mind off of my paperwork which gave me lots of pressure in these day. i got back to office when it just come to me. and i really enjoyed the alone office time with high efficency, but without any chaos and minitoring from boss…

06:06 AM Dec 06 2016 |

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