English, baby!

I'm Calling My Lawyer

Date: Dec 01 2009

Themes: Soap Opera, Work

Grammar: Modal Verbs

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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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Mason did his best to make his company look good when he ran into Marni last week on the Ebaby! soap opera. He discovered that her rival international dating website is doing so well that she had to lease more space…in the same building as Devan’s company. Watch as Mason approaches Devan to tell her the bad news about her rival’s success.

3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Mason

Devan

Mason: Oh my God, Devan!

Devan: What’s goin’ on, Mason?

Mason: I bumped into Marni outside, like, the other day.

Devan: And…

Mason: Stuff is goin’ down. OK. She says business is going awesome for her.

Devan: You mean awful?

Mason: No, I mean great as in, like, really good. She’s got way more than five members on her dating site. OK? I mean, she’s blowin’ us out of the water.

Devan: Well, what else did she say?

Mason: She said she got, like, accolades. I mean, she’s getting awards.

Devan: What!?

Mason: She won, like, an Oscar and a Drammy and, like, maybe a MacArthur grant. I couldn’t keep track of them all. There were so many.

Devan: Getting a Drammy was my dream.

Mason: I know. What are we gonna do? What are we gonna do?

Devan: I should sue her.

Mason: You could. But, I mean, didn’t you take her idea? Wasn’t this kind of her idea?

Devan: Yeah. Her idea that she gave to me and then stole. And when people steal, you sue them.

Mason: I see where you’re goin’. I see where you’re goin’.

Devan: I should sue her.

Mason: There’s just cause there.

Devan: Maybe we should settle out of court, you know? Like, we don’t even have to win.

Mason: Yeah, yeah, yeah. We could, like…We could serve her with a summons. I mean, she’s liable to be liable for something. You know?

Devan: OK. Go find me a lawyer.

Mason: Done!

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

Go Super to Listen

Mason comes into Devan’s office to tell her that he ran into Marni and her business is going so well that she has rented some space in Devan’s building. Marni’s company is even winning awards. Amazingly, she’s won some entertainment industry awards that don’t even make sense for an international dating site.

The awards are too much for Devan. She decides to sue Marni for copying her business model. Mason reminds her that a dating site for international students was Marni’s idea in the first place. But Devan says Marni gave her the idea, then stole it back, and asks Mason to find her a lawyer.

Have you ever sued anyone or been sued? Do you think Devan has a case?

Comments

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21 through 37 of 37
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liu5620425

China

i have ever sued anyone or been sued,i am a good girl..

i think kevan often has some case.becase she's job is business.

Devendra.Dev

India

Very helpful….....

andrespretty2

Colombia

I think the pleople should never be envious with the succes of another people. She shoul look for a solution for greater competitiveness with new methods, a professional competitive.

fitzjerald

Philippines

pretty interesting

Harper

Dominican Republic

Interesting but i my need to improve my listening.

i need help.

siberian tigger

Mexico

Sometimes people have problems with other people, but when all of them do not solve their problems, they have to sue their enemies for solving their problems.

rosendo

Mexico

legal vocabulary , good.

saludos.

Mr.oMaR2008

Saudi Arabia

I cant stand people when steal somting you work on it

clutchmann

Hungary

If they go to the court, I think Marni will have some point of vantage because her business is more well-known and acknowledged by some prizes. So Devan will have more difficulties to win in the trial.

It is possible that Devan got the idea from Marni but it is quite hard to prove it.

noguti

Brazil

suing someone else is a very common happening in the business field. Unfortunately, this is the way things work out there, and the way the corporations do their marketing =/

fromeast

South Korea

America!!!!!!!!!!!!

you have big problem.

You guys like sue someone too much…

Please learn how to forgive and find better way before sue someone.

maririn99

Japan

Before Devan sue Marni ,Devan should do her best to her business.

mickee85

Philippines

Why can't she just use her time thinking things that could help her business improve, instead of wasting her time trying to pull Marni's ass back. I second you Fedorame, Marni is the winner in any way.

Ahn Soo-hyun

South Korea

It is bad thing to sue someone. You can congratulate her. Don't be jealous other person. Maybe Devon will have better idea. Can you do it? Yes you can. Never sue anyone please, Devan.

julywidiawati

Indonesia

Yes I have ever sued someone, I don't think Devan has a case and it's kind of silly for Devan. Seems like she can't stand for what other people achieve in their life.

fedorame

China

lol,never guess that things turn out to be like this.I highly doubt Devan's ability of running a company and her attitude toward competition.That is way too ridiculous.Come on Marni, you're the winner in any way!