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Todd's Party

Todd tells Katia about weekend barbecue and invites her to come.
Todd: What are you doing on Saturday because a friend of mine is having a big dinner, like a big party that a lot of my colleagues are going to go to, it's like a big holiday dinner.

Katia: Really, is it this Saturday?

Todd: It's this Saturday yes, it's on the eleventh.

Katia: Actually I don't believe I have any plans. Where is it going to be?

Todd: It's in a town called Usa, it's not that far from here. I'm going to take the train because I want to drink because we'll have wine and beer at the party so I won't drive. But I think the train will take about an hour and a half which is kind of too bad because it's only a forty minute drive.

Katia: It might be worth it. Who is going to be there?

Todd: Mainly it's going to be English teachers, people that I work with but they are going to be bringing their wives and husbands and children and friends. There's actually going to be a few students like yourself, a couple of graduate students, so it should be fun. Then we're going to have turkey and ham and desserts.

Katia: It sounds like the food is going to be quite good. And why is this exactly? Are you celebrating something in particular or is it somebody else's birthday?

Todd: Well no actually it's going to be the Thanksgiving dinner but we missed Thanksgiving because we all live overseas, we all teach obviously away from our countries so we do this every year but it's not an American thing or a Canadian thing, it's everybody. So there's going to be British people and Australians and people from India, so it's kind of a big international party.

Katia: It sounds quite exciting but do you think it would all right if I can bring somebody else along?

Todd: Oh yeah, you can bring as many guests as you like. Well let me take that back. You can bring a couple of guests, I think. I'm sure that it would be OK. But I think it's a pot luck, you're supposed to bring some food.

Katia: OK, OK. Let me think because I will need to take the train. It takes about one hour, I'm not too sure. At what time did you say it's going to be?

Todd: Actually it starts in the afternoon at about two o'clock and it should end by maybe seven or eight.

Katia: OK. Let me think about it.

Todd: Sure.

Katia: Would that be all right?

Todd: Yeah, I don't want to pressure you or anything like that. It's just an offer but if you change your mind just either email me or give me a call and I'll let them know that you're coming.

Katia: OK and I'll write it down this Saturday.

Learn Vocabulary from the Lesson

be worth it

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It might be worth it.

When something is worth it, that means we benefit from it.  Notice the following:

  1. Taking the course was worth it.
  2. It's expensive software.  I hope it's worth it.

let me take that back

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You can bring as many guests as you like. Well let me take that back. You can bring a couple of guests.

When we want to change something we've just said, we say "let me take that back."  Notice the following:

  1. Let me take that back.  I love your new hairstyle.
  2. Let me take that back.  I really didn't mean it.

in particular

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Are you celebrating something in particular or is it somebody else's birthday?

The term 'in particular' is similar in meaning to 'specific'.  Notice the following:

  1. Are you looking for something in particular?
  2. Are you looking for something specific?

Let me think about it

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OK. Let me think about it.

We use the phrase 'let me think about it' when we need time to make a decision.  Notice the following:

  1. It's nice, but let me think about it.
  2. Let me think about it and get back to you.

pressure

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I don't want to pressure you or anything like that.

When we pressure someone, that means we try to get them to do something they don't want to do.  Notice the following:

  1. They pressured him into quitting.
  2. Stop pressuring me!

Vocabulary Quiz

worth it • take back • particular
think about • pressure
  1. I can't think of anyone in .
  2. All the money we spent for the trip was .
  3. I want to that comment I just made.
  4. Don't let anyone you into joining.
  5. Let me it before I make a decision.
Answer the following questions about the interview.

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