Why Legos Happen to Be so Expensive

Why Legos Happen to Be so Darn Expensive

Lesson 21.
Extra Work.

Audio name on I-tunes and the I-pod: "Why Legos are So Expensive".
Audio name on your CD: "Why Legos are so Expensive.mp3".

Exercise.
Listen to this Report from the National Public Radio  and answer the questions the questions down below.

Vocabulary.

Bring up. Verb.

Stumble. Verb.

Sue. Verb.

Questions about Context.

1. What makes Legos so special?

2. What type of business decision did they come up with which happened to be very important?

3. What did Lego learn by making such business decision?

Script:

Find the script at http://englishvillemexico.blogspot.com/2010/12/scripts-lesson-21.html .

Congestion Based Pricing

Congestion Based Pricing.
Lesson 22.
Extra Work.


Audio name on I-tunes and the I-pod: "California toll lanes up to $9.mp3" from 0'24'' to 5'02''.
Audio name on your CD: "California lanes up to $9.mp3".

Exercise.
Listen to this Clark Howard show which was on the air just recently and answer the questions down below.

Idiomatic Expressions.

Automatic transponder

Breathless excitement

Bumper to bumper traffic

Car pool lane

Congestion Based Pricing

Freeway speeds

Lexus lanes

My eyes Popped out of my head

Sit in traffic

Stuck in traffic

Questions about Context.

1. Explain how the Riverside freeway in Orange County works.

2. How much did it cost Clark to ride the Riverside Freeway a few months or years ago? How much did it cost at peak hour just recently?

3. Explain Clark’s example that justifies paying a high toll at the road.

Airport Shuttle

Airport Shuttle.

Lesson 16.

Audio name on I-tunes and the I-pod: "ESLPod635 airport shuttle.mp3".
Audio name on your CD: "ESLPod635 airport shuttle.mp3".

Questions about context?
How are they getting to their hotel? What were the options available?

Vocabulary,
Double check. to make sure.
Airport transfer.
Shuttle. small vans tjat pick you from the airport.
Nix. Verb. say no to it. reject.
Limo. limousine.
Be out. be impossible.

relish. enjoy, look forward


Useful Expressions.

Hindsight is 20-20. this is a saying which means that it's easy to know the right thing to do after something has happened.
an arm an a leg. too much.20-20. perfect vision.
Give a call.
On its way.

Courtesy shuttle.
Red-eye. flight overnight.

Stories about Customer Service

Stories about Customer Service

Lesson 15.

Audio name on I-tunes and the I-pod: "KWWL #032 Early Bird or Night Owl?.mp3".
Audio name on your CD: "KWWL #032 Early Bird or Night Owl?.mp3".

Story #1 (Art, a listener, shared a experience about customer service in a restaurant.)

From 9:45 to 11:04

Vocabulary,

Blow off. Verb. Ignore,
Hors d'oeuvre.
Maitre d'. Noun.
Rectify. Verb.
Unresponsive. Adjective.
Walk away. Verb.

Story #2 (at check in Portland airport)

From 11:30 to 14:42

Vocabulary,

Counter. Noun.
Cramp. Verb. Confine.
Crown. Noun.
Exceptional. Adjective.
Gal. Noun.
Infant. Noun.
Line up. Verb.

Peanuts. Noun.
Ruby. Noun.
Slippers. Noun.
Stick through. Verb.

Tag. Noun.
Wrist.

Useful Expressions

Conveyor belt.
Get to know.

Sing someone's praises.
Stirrer sticks.

Stitch together.

Peanut Crown

Story #3 (early bird or night owl):
From 22:20 to 28:19
Vocabulary:
Grouchy. Adjective.
Grumpy. Adjective.
Wholeheartedly. Adverb.

Idiomatic Expressions
Run someone ragged. To make someone very tired.

Questions about context
Story #1:

What happened at the restaurant?
How much did Art end up paying at the restaurant?
What did Art do about it?

Did the manager make a decision about the incident? What did he do?

Story #2:

What was the first instance of exceptional service when Sam was still a baby (Mario was involved)?
What was the 2nd one (Shelby was involved)?

Story #3:

Describe what Mike and Chris are like in the mornings.
Describe what was Mike's life in college.
What happened with Mike during those four nights in a row?

Air Travel: Checking in to a Flight

File: BEP 1856 - Air Travel: Checking in to a Flight.mp3

Questions about Context:

1. What is Robert concerned about regarding his suitcase?

2. Where does Robert want to sit? And why?

3. Why does the ticket agent recommend him to go through security immediately?

Script:

Check the script at http://englishvillemexico.blogspot.mx/2010/04/scripts-lesson-16.html .

Bespoke Suits

Bespoke Suits.

Lesson 11.

Activity.
Read the story (Bespoke Suits.pdf), listen to the news report (Davidson and 4000DllrsSuit.mp3) and solve the exercise.

Exercise.
Come up with ideas to make his job more profitable or explain why you think it's not worth it.

Having an Open House

Having an Open House.
Lesson 15.

Audio name on I-tunes and the I-pod: "546 - Having an Open House.mp3".
Audio name on your CD: "546 - Having an Open House.mp3".

Questions about context?
What is this couple doing outside their home? Why?
What's the signing sheet for?
What is the stager doing while these guys are outside?

What is “Home Staging” and How Does it Help Sell My House?

by Lori Matzke

“Home staging” is not a new term, but for many homeowners and real estate agents the concept of “professional home staging” is shedding new light on how to promote a home in the real estate marketplace.  In past years, homeowners were left to their own discretion as far as preparing for home showings. Though they could occasionally rely on an agent for instructions, more often than not real estate agents were just as perplexed at working out the details as the homeowner.

While agents are experts in the field of selling and closing, many are not design savvy.  Agents usually know exactly what factors can help sell a home. It’s just not always easy to get a home into selling condition in a timely manner without some sort of experienced assistance.

Professional home stagers are practiced in the art of preparing a home for resale. They work with the “flow” of a home, eliminate clutter, edit and arrange furniture, and even assist in enhancing curb-appeal.  With the aid of a professional home stager, your house can make a notable first impression on potential homebuyers.

Definition found at realestateabc.com.

Vocabulary.
Square Footage. 1 square foot = 0.09290304 m²
De-clutter. to simplify or get rid of mess, disorder, complications, etc.

Script.
Find the script at http://englishvillemexico.blogspot.com/2010/04/scripts-lesson-15.html .