ESL Podcast 548 – Working for an Impossible Boss

Mr. Mann: Why are all these people milling around doing no work? Laura! Youre in charge when Im out of the office and youre incompetent ! Laura: Mr. Mann, we need to talk in private. Lets go into your office. Mr. Mann: What is this about? Laura: Mr.

ESL Podcast 546 – Having an Open House

Kyoko: Were not supposed to be here. I think we should leave and let our real estate agent hold the open house without us looking over her shoulder . Ernie: Were not looking over her shoulder. I just want to sit in this car to see how many people go

ESL Podcast 406 – Participating in Internet Discussion Grou

Dale: I didn't know you read that forum . What's your screen name ? Jessie: It's jessiegirl, but I don't post very often. I like to lurk and follow the different threads , but I prefer to keep a low profile . Dale: Really? I post all the time. I just

ESL Podcast 523 – Having Trouble Making a Decision

Lorenzo: Have you bought a new television yet? Katia: No, Im still looking at consumer reviews and weighing my options . Im not sure yet what size I want or what features I need. Im keeping my options open for now. Lorenzo: I thought your old TV stop

ESL Podcast 621 – Picking a Fight

I was sitting at my local bar waiting for my friends to arrive to watch the game. Two guys sitting a few seats away kept giving me strange looks, and one of them said, What are you looking at ? I looked around to make sure that he was speaking to me,

ESL Podcast 418 – Getting Bad Service

Buck: Im never going to that coffee house again! Star: Why? What happened? Buck: Its the third time in a week that Ive had lousy service. I dont expect five-star treatment , but I do expect service industry employees to be at least civil . Star: What

ESL Podcast 217 – Lost and Found

Airport employee: Hello, Portland Airport, Lost and Found. Lucas: Hello. I was a passenger on a SunCal Airlines flight yesterday and I think I left my keys on the plane. Airport employee: I see. To claim the item, you have to fill out a claim form. W

ESL Podcast 613 – Being a First-Time Parent

Zuly: Hello. Ricardo: Hi, Zuly. How are you? Zuly: Oh, Ricardo, its you. Im doing okay. How are you? Ricardo: I wanted to call and congratulate you on the birth of your new baby. Zuly: Thanks a lot. Carla was born three weeks ago, and she was 8 pound

ESL Podcast 611 – Having an Overbearing Father

Dad: Where are you going? Eva: Out. Dad: Out where? Eva: Dad, Im nearly a grown woman. You dont need be so overbearing . You give me the third degree every time I leave the house. Dad: As long as you live under my roof , youll live by my rules. Now,

ESL Podcast 353 – Describing the Taste of Food

Steve, my new boyfriend, decided to cook dinner for me. I was really excited, that is, until I tried his cooking. Steve: What do you think of the soup? I thought: This is so bland, and what are these little lumpy things in the soup? Of course I didnt

ESL Podcast 551 – Scheduling a Medical Appointment

I needed to make an appointment with a doctor so I called my health plan s phone number for new patients . Before I could schedule my appointment, I had to listen to several recorded messages to be routed to the right medical office. The recording sa

ESL Podcast 549 – Using a Camera

Ingrid: I dont mind lending you my camera for the trip, but first, let me show you how to use it. Deng: No need to do that. I took a photography class in high school, and I pretty much know all there is to know about taking pictures. Ingrid: Wasnt th

ESL Podcast 331 – Washing Clothes

Mina: What happened here? Is the washing machine not working? Arlo: What do you mean? Mina: Why are all of your white T-shirts now pink? Arlo: That just happens. Sometimes they turn pink, gray, or another color, depending on which clothes I put in a

ESL Podcast 262 – Missing the Tour Group Bus

Kelly: Where is everybody? Man: Excuse me? Were you talking to me? Kelly: Oh, no. I was just talking to myself. Our tour group was supposed to rendezvous here at five oclock for our return trip to the hotel. But theres no trace of the bus and I dont

ESL Podcast 514 – Describing Old and New Clothes

Ellen: What are you wearing to the party? Hiro: Your guess is as good as mine . Ellen: Lets look through your closet and Ill help you pick something out . Hiro: Okay, but I have to warn you. I have a pretty limited wardrobe . Ellen: Lets see, these b

ESL Podcast 336 – Going Out of Business

Julianne: Im really glad to be back in Macville. What happened to the market that used to be here? Helio: Oh, it went belly up . It struggled for many years. The owners tried to downsize and reduced the space they were renting, but they had to throw

ESL Podcast 334 – Hiding from the Police

I read an article in the newspaper this morning about a man who had been on the lam for 12 years. He was wanted by the police because they believed he had committed a murder. But before the man could go to trial, he bolted and left the country. He ha

ESL Podcast 516 – Naming and Appointing Officials

Goran: Who do you think will be appointed to succeed Ramon on the board? Anne: I dont know whom theyll pick to fill the position, but I know who the candidates are. The higher ups have been quietly vetting three people to make sure they dont have any

ESL Podcast 340 – Office Competition

Okay, everybody. Listen up. Were approaching the end of the month. Unless youre new here, you know that we are in competition with our rival, the East Coast office, to have the most sales this period. At the beginning of the month, we pulled ahead an

ESL Podcast 338 – Refusing an Invitation

June: Did you get an invitation to Kellys party? Roberto: Yes, I did. Im going to send my regrets. How about you? June: Im trying to find an excuse not to attend, without Kelly taking offense. Roberto: Couldnt you just tell her that you have another