5/29 Sing

DIALOG>> I'm a terrible singer.

A: Do you like to sing?

B: No! I'm a terrible singer.

A: Really? You have a nice voice.

B: Singing is totally different.

A: How bad are you?

B: I have no sense of rhythm.

* have no sense of rhythm: 박자 감각이 없다, = tone deaf

RESPONSE>> Do you like to sing? When and where do you sing most often? Who are you normally with when you are singing? 

I love to sing every now and then because it is a nice way to relieve stress.
* relieve stress: 스트레스를 해소하다
ex> I think of you every now and then.
ex> What do you do to relieve stress?

In my head I think I sing pretty well but my friends tell me that I get carried away easily.
* get carried away: 정신이 팔리다, 오버하다, 도취되다
ex> Don't get carried away and talk about your personal story.

I like to copy singers down to the last detail, mimicking their hand gestures and facial expressions.
* down to the last detail[inch]: 아주 세밀한 부분까지도
* mimic: 흉내내다
ex> The monkey in the cage mimicking tourists.
ex> She tells her friends everything down to the last detail.

I sing most often at karaoke rooms.

In Korea it is very common for colleagues to go out for dinner together after work and then go to a karaoke room.
* go out for dinner: 저녁 먹으로 가다

It's the perfect opportunity to bond with your fellow workers and let your guard down.
* let one's guard down: 경계심을 늦추다, 편하게 지내다
ex> It's the perfect opportunity to meet famous people.


@ She has a high-pitch (voice).  그녀는 목소리 톤이 높아.
I'm so jealous of people who sing well.

1. Exercise is a good way to relieve stress.
2. I got carried away and bought too much stuff while I was grocery shopping.
3. We planned everything down to the last detail.
4. Children can easily bond with their mothers.

5/28 Shopping Habits

DIALOG>> We can get good deals.

A: I need some new clothes.
B: Really? Do you want to go shopping?
A: Sure. When do you want to go?
B: How about this weekend?
A: Sounds like a plan. Where do you want to go?
B: Let's go to an outlet mall. We can get good deals there.
* sounds like a plan: 괜찮을 것 같은데
* get good deals: (물건을) 싸게 사다


RESPONSE>> Let's talk about your shopping habits.

I wouldn't say that I'm a shopaholic, but I must admit that I do have a weak spot for shopping.
* have a weak[soft] spot for: ~에 약점이 있다.
ex> Parents have a soft spot for their children.

I probably go once a week on average, shopping mainly for clothes and shoes.

I don't buy luxury designer brands as I can't afford them.
* luxury designer brand[label]: 명품 브랜드
ex> She always wears luxury designer brands.
ex> I can't afford to buy a new car right now.

I like to stick to reasonably priced brands because I think they provide better value for money.
* better value for money: 가격 대비 좋은 (상품) 가치
ex> I have to stick to the plan.
ex> The online shopping mall offers better value for money.

The purchases do add up though and sometimes I end up totally overshooting my budget.
* overshoot one's budget: 예산을 초과하다
ex> You have to be careful not to overshoot your budget.

I'm trying to cut back on my spending these days.
* cut back on one's spending: 지출을 줄이다
ex> They decided to cut back on their spending.

Underground shopping malls are the best place for great bargains.

I'm pretty good at haggling for prices.
* haggle for prices: 가격을 흥정하다
* great bargain: 탁월한 거래[구매], 싼 흥정

I end up getting more discounts than other people.


@ You do too much impulsive buying.  넌 충동 구매를 너무 많이 해.
I couldn't get my eyes off them.  이것을 보고 눈을 뗄 수가 없었어.

1. All my friends have a weak spot for shopping.
2. I'll stick to my initial plan.
3. The computer provides better value for money.
4. My mother told me to cut back on my spending.

5/25 Phone Calls

DIALOG>> I can't believe you are saying this over the phone.

A: Oh, my god! Did you just say you want to break up?
B: Yeah, I don't think it's going to work between us.
A: I can't believe you are saying this over the phone.
B: I thought saying this to your face would be harder.
A: I think we should meet and talk about this.
B: No, I've already made up my mind.


RESPONSE>> Tell me about a memorable (phone) conversation you had with someone. Why was that conversation so special?

My mother rang me up one time when I was in high school.
* ring up: 전화를 걸다, make a call
ex> She rang me up in the middle of the night.

It was unexpected because my mother rarely calls me, especially during the day.

I knew something wasn't right straight away due to the tone of her voice.
* straight away: 즉시
ex> She said something wasn't right.

She had called to break the news of my grandmother's death.
* break the news: 소식을 알리다
ex> I'm sorry to break the sad news to you.

I was shocked because I had seen her just  the week before.
ex> I was shocked by her sudden death.

I can remember the conversation like it was yesterday.

I was speechless for a long time and I remember asking my mom over and over whether she was okay.
* be speechless: 할 말을 잃다
* over and over: 계속해서

It was all too much for me to take in and I just burst into tears.
* take in: 받아들이다, 소화하다
* burst into tears: 눈물을 터뜨리다
ex> He couldn't take in what happened to him.
ex> She burst into tears when she heard of her friend's death.

I tried my best to comfort my mom during the funeral.


@ I'll give you a ring later on.  내가 나중에 전화할게.

1. I'll ring you up when I have the time.
2. I can't wait to break the news to everyone.
3. It was too big an incident for a kid to take in.
4. She suddenly burst into tears.

5/24 Computer Games

DIALOG>> I can't stop playing.

A: What are you playing?
B: It's a new role playing game that's just out.
A: Is it fun?
B: Oh, you bet! I can't stop playing.
A: Try not to get too hooked on it.
B: I think I already am. All I think about is this game.
* be out: 나오다, 출시되다
* get hooked on: 중독되다


RESPONSE>> What are some ways to prevent kids from playing computer games excessively.

Excessive gaming can lead to poor academic performance at school.
ex> Excessive gaming is a big problem among teenagers.

It can also encourage bad behavior as many games are violent.
ex> The game was banned because it could encourage bad behavior.

It isn't possible to do away with computer games completely but parents can take several approaches to help kids play games less.
* do away with: ~없이 살아가다

One simple method is to impose a limit on how long their children can play computer games.
* impose a limit on: ~에 제한을 두다
ex> My mother imposed a limit on the amount of money I could spend a month.

If these rules are enforced strictly, excessive gaming can be stopped at once.

However, it doesn't really solve the root of the problem.
* the root of the problem: 문제의 근원
ex> We need to solve the root of the problem.

Kids usually play games because they have nothing else to do.
ex> I hung out with friends because I had nothing else to do.

Finding something else for them to do like sports or arts is a better long term solutions to the game addiction problem.
ex> The youth center helps students find long term solutions to game addiction.

@ Be careful not to become addicted to computer games.
컴퓨터 게임에 중독되지 않도록 조심해.

1. I am worried about my son's poor academic performance.
2. You should not encourage bad behavior among students.
3. We found a solution to the root of the problem.
4. The government imposed a limit on how much conglomerates can invest in their affiliates.

5/23 TV Shows

DIALOG>> Is there anything interesting on?

A: Is there anything interesting on?
B: No, I'm just channel-surfing.
A: Wait! What day is it today?
B: It's Monday.
A: Shoot! My favorite drama is on today. What time is it now?
B: It's 11. Isn't that on at 10? It's already over.
ex> The new show will be on from next week.
ex> If there's nothing interesting to watch, I just channel-surf.


RESPONSE>> How did your preference for TV shows change over time?

I have watched TV for as long as I can remember.
* for as long as I can remember: 아주 오랫동안
ex> The book has been there for as long as I can remember.

The first shows I watched were cartoons when I was a kid.

I became more interested in dramas and sitcoms throughout middle and high school.

I also watched a lot of the live music programs.

In college, I barely watched TV because I was out most of the time.
* barely: 거의 ~하지 않다

Now, I'm more into news programs, mainly because I like to know what's going on in the world around me.
ex> I'm more into reading books than watching TV.

News programs are the total opposite to dramas because they cover events that have actually happened in real life.
* the total opposite to: ~와 정반대
* cover: 다루다
ex> My sister is the total opposite to(of) me.
ex> She looks much better in real life.

I also like watching comedy shows and reality shows on TV.


@ The movie is based on a real story.  그 영화는 실화를 다루고 있어.
That was a killer movie!  정말 끝내주는 영화였어

1. My family was on TV last year.
2. I channel-surfed all day long.
3. His idea was the total opposite to mine.
4. She looks much younger in real life.

5/22 Pets

DIALOG>> Do you have any pets?

A: Do you have any pets?
B: I've had a cat for two years.
A: Really? I thought you liked dogs.
B: I do. I love them, but cats are great too.
A: Do your family members like cats as well?
B: My mom used to be scared of them, but she gets along fine with our cat now.
* cat/dog person: 고양이/개를 좋아하는 사람
* get along with: ~잘 어울리다


RESPONSE>> Talk about an incident you had with your pet.

I've only had goldfish as pets at home because I'm allergic to animal fur.
* be allergic to: ~에 알레르기가 있다
ex> Some people are allergic to peanuts.

I sometimes even get rashes if I'm around cats or dogs for too long.
ex> I got rashes after I ate the cheese.

Goldfish are quite easy to keep as pets because they stay in the fish tank and don't make a mess at all.
* make a mess: 엉망으로 만들다, 어지럽히다
ex> He made a mess in the kitchen while he was cooking.

One thing to bear in mind is that you should feed them every day.
* bear in mind: keep in mind, remember, 기억하다

The only problem I ever had with my goldfish before was when some of them died one after another.
* one after another: 잇따라, 차례대로
ex> I've been making mistakes one after another today.

It was because the water got dirty and because there wasn't enough air in the tank.

This incident taught me a lesson that keeping pets comes with a big responsibility.
* teach someone a lesson: 교훈을 주다
* come with a big responsibility: 큰 책임이 따르다
ex> She taught me a lesson that I've never forgotten.
ex> All privileges come with responsibility.


@ You have to put your dog on a leash.
개는 줄에 묶어야 해.
* leash: (개를 묶어 두는) 가죽끈, 줄

1. I'm allergic to seafood.
2. She got rashes because of the cat.
3. My dog always makes a mess in my room.
4. They arrived at the scene one after another.

5/21 Jogging

DIALOG>> I'm going for a run.

A: Are you going to work out?
B: Yeah, I'm going for a run.
A: Where to?
B: I normally do several laps around the park.
A: Do you go for a jog every day?
B: I try to. It's my way of keeping in shape.
* go for a run (=go for a jog): 달리기를 하다
ex> Why don't you go for a run with me?


RESPONSE>> Tell me about an incident that stands out related to jogging. Why was the incident so memorable?

I recently ran in a marathon.
* ran (in) a marathon: 마라톤에서 달리다.

I don't usually enter competitions, but this was a big run for charity organized by a large sportswear company.
* for charity: 자선을 목적으로
ex> Do you know who will enter the competition?
ex> There are many sports events for charity.

I didn't want to lag too far behind the leaders in the race.
* lag too far behind: 크게 뒤쳐지다
ex> She is very worried because her son lags far behind his peers.

I worked out extra hard in the weeks leading up to the event.
* leading up to: ~쪽으로 이끌다
ex> She studied extra hard in the days leading up to the exam.

On the day of the marathon, I actually had butterflies in my stomach when I was warming up.
* have butterflies in one's stomach: 매우 긴장하다
ex> I had butterflies in my stomach at my own wedding.

There was nothing at stake but I just felt nervous.
* at stake: ~이 걸려있는

As soon as the starting gun fired, my nerves settled in and I ran at a steady pace till I reached the finish line.
* settle in: 안정되다
* run at a steady pace: 비슷한 페이스로 달리다
ex> They set off and ran at a steady pace.

I finished 80th in the race and received a souvenir t-shirt as a gift.


@ I need to buy a new pair of running shoes.
운동화를 새로 사야겠어.

1. I like to enter sport competitions.
2. I admit that I lag far behind him.
3. He had butterflies in his stomach before the race.
4. I'm going to go for a run in the evening.