#0689 – Listening to a Political Speech, - Ang, mater, ESL Podcast McQuillan Jeff mp3+PDF

#0689 – Listening to a Political ...

#0689 – Listening to a Political Speech, - Ang, mater, ESL Podcast McQuillan Jeff mp3+PDF

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English as a Second Language Podcast
www.eslpod.com
ESL Podcast 689 – Listening to a Political Speech
GLOSSARY
to talk out of both sides of (one’s) mouth
– to say different things to different
people; to present different opinions about a single thing when speaking with
different people
* Libby often talks out of both sides of her mouth, telling one person she plans to
go to college while telling another person she plans to get a job.
to fight for the little guy
– to try to improve the situation for poor or powerless
people; to do or say things that will help people who do not have very much
power or influence
* Nancy has dedicated her life to fighting for the little guy, working for nonprofit
organizations that help the world’s poorest people.
champion
– someone who leads a cause; someone who is recognized by others
by fighting for other people’s rights or needs
* Who was the greatest champion for women’s right to vote in American history?
politician
– a person who works in politics; someone who works in the public
sector and must be elected to his or her job
* If I hope to work in politics, I need to improve my public speaking skills.
sincere
– truthful, honest, and direct, without hiding anything
* Please accept our sincere thanks for your hospitality.
double-talk
– a way of speaking that can have more than one meaning, used to
confuse or mislead people
* We won’t listen to any more of your double-talk. Please answer the question.
to not trust (someone) any farther than (one) can throw (him or her)
– a
phrase used to show that one does not trust someone at all and thinks he or she
is very untrustworthy and unreliable
* You’re going to loan money to Desiree? I wouldn’t trust her any farther than I
can throw her, and there’s no way I would lend her even a little money.
to cut
– to reduce or decrease
* They’re cutting expenses by taking the bus instead of driving.
to pull (something) off
– to be able to do something successfully, especially
when it seems very difficult or impossible
* Ahmed is a full-time student, works 30 hours a week, and takes care of his
younger sister. How do you think he pulls it off?
1
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these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.
English as a Second Language Podcast
www.eslpod.com
ESL Podcast 689 – Listening to a Political Speech
campaign promise
– something a politician promises to do while trying to be
elected and asking people to vote for him or her
* One of Akihiro’s campaign promises was to double funding for education, but
after he was elected, he realized it would be impossible.
to renege
– to take back a promise; to not do what one has promised to do
* But you promised to take him to the ballgame! You can’t renege again.
same old, same old
– referring to something that is ordinary, normal, and
expected, happening the same way it has always happened
* A: What did your boss say when you asked him for a raise?
B: It was the same old, same old. He said there isn’t room in the budget, but
maybe there will be next year.
to put up with
– to tolerate; to continue to live with something that is unpleasant
or undesirable
* They live next to a pig farm, but I don’t know how they can put up with the
smell.
to run for office
– to try to be elected for a position or job; to ask people to vote
for oneself; to participate in elections as a candidate
* Hayashi is running for office because he thinks that’s the best way he can make
real changes in his community.
not on your life
– a phrase used to show strong refusal or a complete lack of
interest in doing something
* A: Do you want to go bungee jumping with me next weekend?
B: Not on your life! I would be too scared.
to sit back
– to observe something, but not become involved or participate
* A: Aren’t you going to tell the kids to stop fighting?
B: No, let’s just sit back and see what happens.
to dig (one’s) own grave
– to do something that will have negative
consequences for oneself in the future
* You can do that if you want to, but it’s a bad idea. You’re digging your own
grave.
2
These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2011). Posting of
these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.
English as a Second Language Podcast
www.eslpod.com
ESL Podcast 689 – Listening to a Political Speech
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
1. What does it mean for the politician to be “talking out of both sides of his
mouth”?
a) He’s saying conflicting things.
b) He’s speaking too quickly.
c) He’s speaking in a second language.
2. According to Ramis, what does the politician propose to do?
a) He will eliminate taxes.
b) He will increase taxes.
c) He will reduce taxes.
______________
WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?
to cut
The verb “to cut,” in this podcast, means to reduce or decrease: “Fierce storms
cut the supply of fresh oranges.” The phrase “to cut (someone) off” can mean to
stop providing financial support: “His parents cut him off once he graduated from
college.” The phrase “to cut (someone) off” can also mean to change lanes while
driving very quickly, immediately in front of another car, so that the other driver
has to apply the brakes: “Did you see how that car just cut me off? He could have
caused an accident!” The phrase “to cut (something) short” means to end
something earlier than planned, usually before it has finished: “The workday was
cut short due to a power outage.” Finally, the phrase “to cut both ways” means to
have advantages and disadvantages: “Lowering taxes can cut both ways: people
have more money to spend, but there are fewer government services.”
to sit back
In this podcast, the phrase “to sit back” means to observe something, but not
become involved or participate: “The manager wants to sit back for a few days
and see what happens before making any decisions.” The phrase “to sit back”
can also mean to sit down and relax: “I want a vacation where I can just sit back
and relax on the beach.” The phrase “to sit tight” means to not move or to not
take any action: “Please sit tight for just a few minutes and wait for your turn.”
Finally, the phrase “to be sitting pretty” means to be in a very good situation,
comfortable and possibly with a lot of money: “He sold his Internet business for
almost $2 million, and now he’s sitting pretty.”
3
These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2011). Posting of
these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.
English as a Second Language Podcast
www.eslpod.com
ESL Podcast 689 – Listening to a Political Speech
CULTURE NOTE
Political Debates
In the United States, many political “candidates” (people who are running for
office) participate in “debates,” which are official opportunities for people to
present their differing opinions on one or more issues. Most political debates are
“televised” (shown on television), often “live” (showing actions when they are
actually happening; not shown from a recording).
The debaters must agree to follow the rules that establish the “format” (how
something appears and is organized) of the debate. The rules vary among
debates, so it can be difficult to “generalize” (make a statement that is true for
every situation). For example, the U.S. presidential election debates do not allow
the candidates to ask each other questions, but this is allowed in other types of
debates. Each debate also “allots” (gives; assigns) a specific amount of time for
the responses on each topic.
A debate has a “moderator,” or a person whose job is to guide or control the
debate. The moderator presents the “prompt,” or the statement or question that
the debaters are supposed to react to. The moderator also indicates whose turn
it is to speak, and for how long. If the debater “exceeds” (goes over) the allotted
time, the moderator will “cut him or her off” (interrupt to make someone stop
speaking).
In general, the moderator presents the prompt and then one debater has an
opportunity to speak. Then the second debater has an opportunity to speak.
Then there may be an opportunity for “rebuttals,” where each debater has an
opportunity to react to what the other debater has said, but this is usually for a
much shorter period of time.
______________
Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – a; 2 – c
4
These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2011). Posting of
these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.
English as a Second Language Podcast
www.eslpod.com
ESL Podcast 689 – Listening to a Political Speech
COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT
Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 689: Listening to a
Political Speech.
This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 689. I’m your host, Dr.
Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in
beautiful Los Angeles, California.
Our website, you know it, it’s eslpod.com. You know also that you can become a
Learning Guide member to help support this podcast and to help you improve
your English even faster. Go to our website for more information.
This episode is called “Listening to a Political Speech,” when a politician,
someone in the government typically, gives an address – a speech to a group of
people. Let’s get started.
[start of dialogue]
Kylie: Can you understand a word he’s saying?
Ramis: I doubt if anyone can. He’s talking out of both sides of his mouth. First
he says he’s fighting for the little guy, and then he says he’s a champion for
businesses.
Kylie: I thought he’d be different, but he’s just like any other politician.
Ramis: He looks sincere and he sounds sincere, but when you actually listen to
what he says, it’s nothing but double-talk.
Kylie: You’ve got that right. I wouldn’t trust him any farther than I could throw
him. Now what is he saying?
Ramis: He says that he can cut taxes and increase government services. Now
how do you suppose he could pull that off?
Kylie: He can’t. These are just campaign promises. Once he gets into office,
he’ll renege on every one of those promises.
Ramis: Year after year it’s the same thing – broken promises and the same old
same old. Why do we put up with it?
5
These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2011). Posting of
these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.
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