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ASAP English, baby! Video Lesson
尽快

Learn English with this babies English lesson

Date: Mar 05 2013

Themes: Soap Opera

Grammar: Phrasal Verbs

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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We live in a fast-paced world. With computers and mobile phones, we have instant communication and access to all sorts of information in seconds. We are not interested in waiting.

In fact, we don’t even have time for full words anymore. Acronyms, or words made of the first letters of the word of a phrase, are becoming more common all the time, because sometimes, you need to say what you’re trying to say ASAP.

ASAP stands for “as soon as possible.” Usually, you pronounce each individual letter, “A-S-A-P,” but if you’re in a big hurry, you can say it like a word, “asap.” It’s used in business, when your boss needs something ASAP. Or if your friend is upset, you can tell her you’ll come over ASAP and help.

Even though we do lots of things ASAP these days, sometimes it’s better to wait and do things slowly. In this English lesson, find out what Mason wants to do ASAP and why his wife Amanda wants to wait.

我们生活在一个快节奏的世界中。有了计算机和手机,我们可以进行即时通信,能够在几秒钟内访问各种信息。我们不想等待。

事实上,我们甚至不再有时间说出完整的词语。缩略词,或者说短语单词首字母组成的词,变得越来越常见,因为有些时候,你需要尽快将要说的话说完。

ASAP 代表“as soon as possible”(尽快)。通常,你可以发出每个字母的音“A-S-A-P”,但是如果你非常匆忙,就只能说得像是一个单词“asap”。在公司中,你的老板需要尽快得到某物时就是使用这个词。或者在你的朋友心烦意乱时,你可以告诉她,你会尽快赶过去帮助她。

虽然现在,我们会尽快做很多事,但是有些事最好等等,并缓慢进行。在这节英语课中,看看梅森想要尽快做什么,以及为什么他妻子阿曼达想要等等。

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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.

Mason

Mason

Amanda

Amanda

Marni

Marni

Mason:  Oh my gosh, this is so cool! It’s like a real little person right there. Hi Dawn! Hi Dawn!

Amanda:  She’s super cute, Marni.

Marni:  Thanks. I think her cuteness is having to make up for my own lack of cuteness these days. No sleep and baby spit-up don’t exactly have me looking my best.

Mason:  What? Marni, you look great. I mean, you look like a real mom.

Amanda:  Yeah Marni, you look great. Does spit-up stain?

Marni:  Yeah, I know. I’m still wearing my maternity clothes so I can keep my regular clothes in good shape. So I’ll take them out again when she’s a little older. Hopefully I’ll still fit into ‘em.

Amanda:  Why wouldn’t you?

Marni:  Baby weight.

Amanda:  Right.

Marni:  Well, I think I better get going. Any luck, she’ll sleep on the way home, and I’ll be able to get a shower in. Bye, guys!

Mason and Amanda: Bye, Marni!

Amanda:  Bye, Dawn!

Mason:  Oh my gosh. That is so amazing. Dawn is amazing. And Marni? She was like, glowing!

Amanda:  Yeah. Is that what it is? Cause I was thinking maybe it was a little baby snot here, and here.

Mason:  I can’t wait until that’s us, sweetie.

Amanda:  Uh huh. Yup. Me too.

Mason:  No, really. I think we should probably think about having kids sometime soon.

Amanda:  How soon?

Mason:  ASAP!

Amanda:  When you say that, what do you mean by ASAP?

Mason:  I mean as soon as possible, sweetie! I mean, we’re not getting any younger, right, and I don’t want to be the parents that are carting wheelchairs and walkers to their kids’ Little League game. I want to be the guy out there coaching Little Stevie’s team! Or Little Stephanie’s!

Amanda:  You don’t even like baseball. What are you talking about?

Mason:  Sweetie, that’s not the point. It’s just, I’m saying, we’re not getting any younger.

Amanda:  I know. But you know, there’s all these exciting things going on with the company, Greta’s coming on board, we’ve all these new subscribers, my new role as president here. I just don’t want to have to sacrifice any of this for the sake of…

Mason:  Sacrifice stuff for the happiness of our future child? I mean, what are you saying?

Amanda:  I don’t know. I just, I need some time to think about it, and now is not a good time. I need to get these quarterly reports out ASAP! OK? So just ssh!

Mason:  She’ll come around. Sssh. Sssh.

 

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

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Marni has come in to the office to introduce her new baby, Dawn, to her former co-workers. Both Mason and Amanda think that Dawn is very cute, especially Mason. He is starting to think that babies are the coolest thing ever.

Amanda, on the other hand, is a little worried. She notices that Marni has spit-up all over her clothes. She’s concerned when Marni mentions not being able to fit into her old clothes because of weight she’s put on.

After Marni leaves, Mason is ready to talk to Amanda about the two of them having babies. He wants to start very soon. In fact, he wants to start as soon as possible, or ASAP. Amanda isn’t sure. There are a lot of good things going on in her work life, and she doesn’t want to mess that up by having a baby too soon. It seems as if this issue might bring about some tension in Mason and Amanda’s relationship.

Can you think of a time when a friend or partner wanted to do something ASAP, but you wanted to wait? Do you think acronyms like ASAP are an effective way to communicate ideas?

 

Comments

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jordyenglish

United States

very helpful

03:48 PM May 12 2014 |

aBEER

aBEERSuper Member!

Egypt

its a good word when u really mean it if we just saying it all the time it will be meaningless 

09:17 PM Mar 26 2013 |

1 person likes this

Crizsearch

Crizsearch

Indonesia

I like the word ASAP and I think it’s always fine to use this acronym, kinda slang….. informal communication is just right, just the way it should be, people are getting use to it :D 

Amanda doesn’t really like to have KIDS

04:43 AM Mar 21 2013 |

korikos

Turkey

ASAP is very simple to use. I use and I suggest.

01:44 PM Mar 20 2013 |

Akberet

Akberet

Eritrea

I like this word


 

11:46 AM Mar 12 2013 |

kowatch

kowatch

Hungary

I only use some acronyms on online chat. I think people shouldn’t use them during a conversation, they can only save a few seconds with them.

04:23 PM Mar 11 2013 |

tk040652

tk040652

Germany

Hello,
nice little story. But I think, the agronym “ASAP” shouldn’t actually be used in private talk.


I remember it from my time as an editor at an American based magazine. It’s okay for business, but I think it sounds a bit unpolite when talking to friends.


But after all, it depends on how someone says it (in German: “Der Ton macht die Musik…”)


Cheers, Thomas

02:39 PM Mar 11 2013 |

2 people like this

david yun

South Korea

Well.. My job is to teach students, and my students, they use a bunch of acronyms when talking to me. At first, I didn’t what they were talking about, but later i couldn’t figure it out. Anyway, I think, in some cases, we need to use those words to communicate effectively.

11:23 PM Mar 07 2013 |

david yun

South Korea

Well.. My job is to teach students, and my students, they use a bunch of acronyms when talking to me. At first, I didn’t what they were talking about, but later i couldn’t figure it out. Anyway, I think, in some cases, we need to use those words to communicate effectively.

11:23 PM Mar 07 2013 |

Mariluz Ramirez

Colombia

Just when we are texting, I thing we must not use them when we talk with some one, like you are my ””BFF”.

09:12 PM Mar 07 2013 |

alcide

Italy

WHEN YOU MUST HAVE MANEY FROM SOMEBODY…. WHEN DO YOU WANT THOSE MANEY? ASAP

11:23 AM Mar 07 2013 |

DaeNg

DaeNg

Thailand

As soon as possible when you take someone to hospital.  ASAP it means as soon as possible.  :)


 

07:11 AM Mar 07 2013 |

Nikkis

Nikkis

India

I do like this lesson.I have recently started learning English with available free videos like http://youtu.be/cu_aijvijnE

08:02 AM Mar 06 2013 |

sbutur

Turkey

If you take a serius warning on plane like engine failure the system gives this message” LAND ASAP

04:40 PM Mar 05 2013 |

Ngubo Sixtus

South Africa

i do like this lesson.

04:36 PM Mar 05 2013 |

glassy heart

Saudi Arabia

Oh yeah it happens every day,when mom come from her work to home.she call me to help her in preparing lunch at the kitshen ASAP  for the rest on way hungry family ,i ever wanted to wait so we all can take anap for awhile befor eating then going to bed after long day at school or work..yes we live in a fast packed world. So,of course using Acronomy is effective in many ways..also when righting fast  imprtant notes , for examble at work or during college lectures..bythway thanks for the vedio i liked it,,_

03:57 PM Mar 05 2013 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

Obviously, Amanda is not bent  to start a family ASAP. This is not uncommon in the corporate world where women hold important positions as executives . Being a mom is a round the clock  dedication  ,sometimes at the cost of having to postpone a succesful career  in the corporate ladder.  Surprisingly, Amanda didn´t even try to cuddle Marnie´s baby, was she so afraid  of being spit up  by Dawn ?  .It is true, moms of new born babies sometimes don´t have time to take a decent shower  or brush their teeth, so time-consuming is nurturing  a new born baby.  Congratulation to Marnie.   

12:28 PM Mar 05 2013 |

3emma3

3emma3

Iraq

sometimes it is imporatant to do things ASAP because time is running out. but actually i rarely do things ASAP

11:03 AM Mar 05 2013 |

Englishty

Englishty

Egypt

I feel sorry for Marni, obviously she is so exhausted but there’s no need to worry all moms have to experience it and they get over it ASAP once the baby gets little old. I think acronyms are normal these days since everything is so fast but for me i don’t like it, using these acronyms so much makes us get away from the original language so watch out.

10:16 AM Mar 05 2013 |

giskaka

Congo, Democratic Republic Of The

I want to have my own house ASAP ! I want to get a new job ASAP ! I want many good things happen in my life ASAP ! If what you really want and need in your life can happen ASAP it’ll be very good !!!!

10:06 AM Mar 05 2013 |

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