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Up and Running

Learn English meaning of ‘up and running’

Date: Apr 25 2017

Themes: Party, Romance, Soap Opera

Grammar: Past Progressive Tense

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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.

Go Super to Listen

If you are like most people, there are mornings when you don’t have the energy to get out of bed. You just want to sleep, and you don’t want to get ready for the day. On the other hand, you probably also have mornings when you pop out of bed. You are full of energy, and you can’t wait to start your day. You are up and running from the very beginning.

When a person is up and running, they are excited and ready for the next thing. A machine is up and running when it is working well. Of course, people’s energy level changes during the day. You might start the day awake and excited, but you could begin to fall asleep after lunch. You’ll need to get your blood pumping so you can be up and running for the rest of the day.

Andy needs to be up and running so he can surprise Sheila when she arrives for her party. Find out if he can stay awake in today’s English soap opera.

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

Kelsey

Dominique

Andy_H: I didn’t think I was so tired….

Kelsey: Andy. Andy. Andy! Andy!!!

Dominique: He just fell asleep again! Wait, this is fun.

Kelsey: He has to wake up. He’s going to need to be up and running by the time Sheila gets here. You know how much energy she has.

Andy_H: Ah! What the…?!?! Dominique, you’re going to pop all the balloons!

Dominique: You need to wake up.

Kelsey: Sheila is going to be here soon!

Andy_H: OK. You’re right. OK, here we go! I’ve got to get my blood pumping. Wait!

Dominique: What?

Andy_H: I just remembered I had a dream.

Kelsey: Another Andy dream story?

Andy_H: This is a good one. It’s about Sheila.

Kelsey: I don’t think we have time to hear one of your stories about your dreams, Andy.

Andy_H: It’s a short one. And it’s about Sheila. And it’s awesome. And I will tell you and then do 20 jumping jacks. And then, I’ll be up and running.

Dominique: Fine. What was your dream about?

Andy_H: OK! So, I was sleeping on the couch there, right? And then I heard the doorbell ring. I woke up, and then… the door… slowly… opened. It had to be her. It must be her! Ah!

Dominique: Time to get up and running, Andy. Jordin’s almost here, and Sheila will be here soon!

Andy_H: Hey… wait… Was I just telling you guys a story about my dream?

Kelsey: No, you sat down at the table and fell asleep.

Andy_H: Ah, man! I’m so confused. I had this awesome dream where…

Dominique: This is no time for one of your stories about your dreams, Andy.

Kelsey: Yeah, you need to wake up and get ready!

Andy_H: OK. All right. Let’s do this!

TO BE CONTINUED

Grammar Point

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Discussion

Go Super to Listen

Andy sits down with Dominique and Kelsey, and he falls asleep right away. Dominique thinks it’s fun to wake him by popping balloons. Andy wakes with a scream. However, he knows that he needs to get ready to see Sheila again. He gets up, and then remembers that he had a good dream… or is he still in the dream…?

He begins talking about the dream. He sees Sheila wearing a beautiful dress and smiling at him… or is it Jordin? Andy’s brain is confused. Is he in love with both of them?!?! Suddenly, Dominique pops another balloon, and Andy really wakes up. He asks if he was telling them about his dream. However, Kelsey says that he just sat down and fell asleep.

Have you ever had a dream that felt real? Do you like to pop balloons?

Comments

allenzhaojl

China

I do jumpin’ jacks to get me up and running.

WHAT ABOUT YOU GUYS?????

NuriaRuiz

Spain

Yes, I had dreams that felt real. All dreams felts real until you wake up :).

And I like pop balloons in some situations, and not in others.

hermitlady

China

Yes. I have many dreams every night. Oh, so many dreams that I would think everyone may have two worlds , one is day and another is night. I like all the worlds. The two worlds is so different that sometimes I would think I have two lives always or I am two persons. It is funny.

In the night world, I lived in the past time when I was a child , a student. there were many my child playmates who were ever companying me in my whole childhood. And also there were many my classmates who ever studied with me in my primary and middle and high school-times. I dreamed clearly their appearance ,their voice, their smile and their words. Oh, it has past about for decades. And all I have not contacted with them since I graduated.

Yes, that dream which I had in the night were felt real.

I don’t like to pop balloons. I hate the voice when the balloons were popped.