WARM-UP VIDEO FOR EXPRESSIONS

Instructions. Research shows that people often say frequently used expressions very fast, and so they can be difficult to catch. Listen and fill the gaps with frequently used three-word expressions.

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Exercise. Complete each gap with suitable words and expressions you hear from the video.

INFLUENCE THAT THE WORKSHOP HAS HAD, FOR GOOD OR BAD. I THINK THERE ARE (1) ………….. VERY BAD IMITATIONS OF IT OUT THERE IN THE WORLD. AIRPORT WALKING DOWN THE RAMP. SO, I -- MY PARENTS WERE REPUBLICAN AND, LIKE (2) ………….. PEOPLE IN 1966, THOUGHT THAT THE WAR WAS A POLICING ACTION THAT >> SO, CHEEVER CONDUCTED THE CLASS LIKE A COCKTAIL PARTY. (3) ………….. LIGHT CONVERSATION WITH VERY BROAD NEW ENGLAND "A's." HE WOULD SAY, "THERE'S A CERTAIN >> [ LAUGHING ] OH, MY GOD. >> AND (4) ………….. MY BRILLIANT MIDWESTERN CLASSMATES WERE TERRIFIED OF NOT ONLY HIM BUT OF TALKING GEMINI, SO I FELT RIGHT AT HOME. (5) ………….. THE BEGINNING OF, AGAIN, A GREAT FRIENDSHIP AND A GREAT LASTING CONNECTION. >> BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE REALLY ARE THINGS STANDING IN THE WAY. AND (6) ………….. THINGS THAT I TRY TO DO FOR MY PRESENT STUDENTS IS SAY, "WHAT IS HOLDING YOU BACK?" AND IF YOU CAN'T WAIT, MAYBE YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT WHAT YOUR -- WHY (7) ………….. DO THIS AND WHAT PARENTHOOD REALLY MEANS." AUTHORSHIP ALSO HAS ITS RIGHTS WORLD, IT'S A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT. (8) ………….. FIND YOURSELF JUSTIFYING, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" THIS, 'CAUSE I TOOK FICTION CLASS AS AN UNDERGRAD. (9) ………….. IF I COULD HAVE DONE A STORY A WEEK. BUT YOU HAD A -- THERE WAS A >> YOU MENTIONED SOME OF THE THINGS YOU TELL YOUR STUDENTS. (10) ………….. YOUR PHILOSOPHY OF TEACHING HAS CHANGED AT ALL OVER THE YEARS, I MEAN, AND THEN WITH WORK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO IS YEARS AHEAD. AND THIS IS (11) ………….. PARADOXES OF BEING A NOVELIST IS A NOVELIST IS BORN AT 40. >> AND IT'S REALLY TRUE. I MEAN, THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR BEING A NOVELIST ARE (12) ………….. HAVE HAD YOUR HEART BROKEN AT LEAST THREE TIMES IN THREE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS AND SURVIVED IT, AND I DON'T WANT TO SAY (13) ………….. HAVE BROKEN A FEW YOURSELF, BUT WE'VE ALL DONE THAT ACCIDENTALLY AND ON PURPOSE. AND (14) ………….. BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DIE. AND THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS AND I WENT TO FUNERALS FOUR DAYS A WEEK. (15) ………….. A HORRIBLE TIME, AND I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SURVIVE. BUT I CAME OUT OF THE REFINER'S THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING WITH US TODAY. >> (16) ………….. PLEASURE. >> ALLAN GURGANUS' MOST FAMOUS NOVEL IS "OLDEST LIVING

Key: Look at the key and say aloud the script from the video to improve your English.

INFLUENCE THAT THE WORKSHOP HAS HAD, FOR GOOD OR BAD. I THINK THERE ARE (1) (A LOT OF) VERY BAD IMITATIONS OF IT OUT THERE IN THE WORLD. AIRPORT WALKING DOWN THE RAMP. SO, I -- MY PARENTS WERE REPUBLICAN AND, LIKE (2) (A LOT OF) PEOPLE IN 1966, THOUGHT THAT THE WAR WAS A POLICING ACTION THAT >> SO, CHEEVER CONDUCTED THE CLASS LIKE A COCKTAIL PARTY. (3) (IT WAS A) LIGHT CONVERSATION WITH VERY BROAD NEW ENGLAND "A's." HE WOULD SAY, "THERE'S A CERTAIN >> [ LAUGHING ] OH, MY GOD. >> AND (4) (A LOT OF) MY BRILLIANT MIDWESTERN CLASSMATES WERE TERRIFIED OF NOT ONLY HIM BUT OF TALKING GEMINI, SO I FELT RIGHT AT HOME. (5) (AND IT WAS) THE BEGINNING OF, AGAIN, A GREAT FRIENDSHIP AND A GREAT LASTING CONNECTION. >> BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE REALLY ARE THINGS STANDING IN THE WAY. AND (6) (ONE OF THE) THINGS THAT I TRY TO DO FOR MY PRESENT STUDENTS IS SAY, "WHAT IS HOLDING YOU BACK?" AND IF YOU CAN'T WAIT, MAYBE YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT WHAT YOUR -- WHY (7) (YOU WANT TO) DO THIS AND WHAT PARENTHOOD REALLY MEANS." AUTHORSHIP ALSO HAS ITS RIGHTS WORLD, IT'S A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT. (8) (YOU HAVE TO) FIND YOURSELF JUSTIFYING, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" THIS, 'CAUSE I TOOK FICTION CLASS AS AN UNDERGRAD. (9) (I DON'T KNOW) IF I COULD HAVE DONE A STORY A WEEK. BUT YOU HAD A -- THERE WAS A >> YOU MENTIONED SOME OF THE THINGS YOU TELL YOUR STUDENTS. (10) (DO YOU THINK) YOUR PHILOSOPHY OF TEACHING HAS CHANGED AT ALL OVER THE YEARS, I MEAN, AND THEN WITH WORK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO IS YEARS AHEAD. AND THIS IS (11) (ONE OF THE) PARADOXES OF BEING A NOVELIST IS A NOVELIST IS BORN AT 40. >> AND IT'S REALLY TRUE. I MEAN, THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR BEING A NOVELIST ARE (12) (YOU HAVE TO) HAVE HAD YOUR HEART BROKEN AT LEAST THREE TIMES IN THREE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS AND SURVIVED IT, AND I DON'T WANT TO SAY (13) (YOU HAVE TO) HAVE BROKEN A FEW YOURSELF, BUT WE'VE ALL DONE THAT ACCIDENTALLY AND ON PURPOSE. AND (14) (YOU HAVE TO) BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DIE. AND THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS AND I WENT TO FUNERALS FOUR DAYS A WEEK. (15) (AND IT WAS) A HORRIBLE TIME, AND I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SURVIVE. BUT I CAME OUT OF THE REFINER'S THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING WITH US TODAY. >> (16) (IT WAS A) PLEASURE. >> ALLAN GURGANUS' MOST FAMOUS NOVEL IS "OLDEST LIVING

Sources: 

Channel: University of Iowa. Conversations: Alan Gurganus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AITfE9yZd5M&t=103s

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Compiled by Top Grade Edu