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Servants

Servants

Date: Oct 30 2007

Themes: Work

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Ever since people have been becoming rich, they have been hiring others to do things for them. But nowadays, in the United States anyway, when people make a lot of money, they don’t tend to hire servants anymore. They spend their money on technology and property.

Marni and Kevin are both surprised to discover a real-live, present-day American who keeps servants.

Dialog

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

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

Marni

Marni

Kevin

Kevin

Marni:  So uh…I know this woman. I used to work at the Town Club, which is a social women’s club, and this woman, very rich, very old-money, has a bell under the table, where she very carefully rings when she wants her servants to come in.

Kevin:  You’re kidding! Wow. That’s old school.

Marni:  Very old school. So, servants. It seems so archaic to me but I guess…

Kevin:  Well, you know, in probably most countries of the world, affluent people have servants. When I lived in Mexico, we had people who lived in our house who cooked and cleaned. But they were treated very well. I think it’s just…It’s all in how you treat them.

Marni:  Yes. That’s very true. But what do you consider a servant? If you have a maid or somebody who comes in to clean your house, is that a servant?

Kevin:  Well I don’t particularly like the word “servant”...

Marni:  I don’t either…

Kevin:  ...but I think of it as someone who lives in your home with you.

Marni:  Okay.

 

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Discussion

The wealthy like to form clubs where they can network and…well…be wealthy together. Marni used to work at one of these clubs and there was a woman there who had a button under her table that she could push to call her servants.

Kevin remarks that that’s very old-fashioned, and Marni agrees. But then he recalls that in many countries it’s quite normal to keep servants. He lived in Mexico for a time, and the house he lived in had people who stayed there and cooked and cleaned.

Marni asks Kevin what exactly he thinks a servant is. Does someone who comes to your home to clean and then leaves afterward count as a servant?

Kevin says that he thinks in order for someone to be a servant, that person has to live with the people he or she works for. Kevin and Marni agree that they aren’t too fond of the term “servant.” They might prefer more specific terms like “cook,” or “grounds keeper,” or even another general term like “assistant.”

Is it common to have servants where you live? Do you have servants? Do you work as a servant?

 

Comments

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sarabi

El Salvador

i think is common everywhere, actualy we have one to, she came once a week

10:56 PM Oct 30 2007 |

Arij

Jordan

in jordan who has a servant is sick person ,or worker family…

but in general most of jordan peole have not servant,

 

serve your slef Laughing

10:51 PM Oct 30 2007 |

dt.mucu

dt.mucu

Turkey

i think it is not common here in turkey .we just see it tv series  they make a lot of money and they have a lot of servants.

but clean helpers and baby keepers  are  very populer in here.almost business women have  clean helper .helper comes home one or two days in a week .

07:45 PM Oct 30 2007 |

hnp

hnp

Japan

No, Japanese don't have servants generally even though they are rich.

But I respect them as same as forum member because they hafe great skills!

05:28 PM Oct 30 2007 |

Normasuely

Brazil

I my contry some people use to have servents.

In general when they work all the time and they have children. But It use to be very expensive for the family because de salary and the taxs that are necessary to pay.

04:49 PM Oct 30 2007 |

fragilemohi

India

i really appreaciate guys who really thinks servants are not servants ..they are like them and treat them as frind… i don't have any servant but i can feel them..actually i hv seen them working…

04:32 PM Oct 30 2007 |

BaRbIcAn88

BaRbIcAn88

United Arab Emirates

!N UAE

ThE B!g FaM!l!eS(GrAnD FaThEr+MoThEr.. AuNt+UnCLe…etc) R cOmMon..

So ThEy W!lL HaVe MoRe ThAn 1 sErVaNt >> AlSo HaV!nG A SpEcIaL PeRsOn WhO TaKe CaRe 4 KiChEn & CoOk & a

Dr!vEr..

 

!n My fAm!Ly(sMaLL FaM!lY.. 7per) We hAvE OnLy 1 Ma!d..BeCaUsE My PaReNt's WaNt Us 2 DePeNd !n OuRsElVeS..

03:29 PM Oct 30 2007 |

sweet_liang

China

the word "servants" always appeared in the acient period in China.but not now.

03:11 PM Oct 30 2007 |

icingblue813

China

Plus:That does not mean I would be a servant,i just like cleaning up my own things and cooking for my family and friends!Kiss

02:36 PM Oct 30 2007 |

icingblue813

China

Well,I don't like the term "servant" either.I don't think it's common to have servants in Chinese family,even in rich ones,while it was common it the past,I think.So it's also kinda old school here.I like  doing cleaning and cooking myself,which always give me a good mood.

02:31 PM Oct 30 2007 |

michaeljacky

China

yes ,i agree with the remarks above,

servant also is an occupation or a job, they work for their employers, and get salary ,so that  they can support their family and themselvs.

they are diligent ,industrial ,sincere and honest,down-to -earth,stark,sober and guileless. their work is not different from others, we everyone should respect them as they are the lovely one`s for the  house.

 

01:01 PM Oct 30 2007 |

ohisa

Sudan

In South of my country-sSudan, were i come from the work servant(s) don't exist. simply becouse work is done communualy and every one in the neibourhoods is looked at as team member.

 

11:16 AM Oct 30 2007 |

zedo

Saudi Arabia

try to clean and cook every day for month and i think u didn found that fun

 

10:25 AM Oct 30 2007 |

spankyman

Poland

so maybe we can call her "part time housekeeper"

10:19 AM Oct 30 2007 |

semsem brens

Egypt

i want speak with you by english words to improve my languhe

10:12 AM Oct 30 2007 |

semsem brens

Egypt

no one can deny that this lesson is very good but i want download the lesson like this

10:10 AM Oct 30 2007 |

abdurahiman

India

I thing it is a helper

 

09:57 AM Oct 30 2007 |

spankyman

Poland

When I was a little boy yy parents used to hire a woman who came to our house every saturday to clean it, but she wasn't a a servant but only someone who helped my parents keep the house clean.

09:47 AM Oct 30 2007 |

zaeema

United Arab Emirates

It is common in my country (UAE)........We have two maid at home we respect them. They clean only about cook we cook because we belive no one can cook  our delious dishes.Wink

09:43 AM Oct 30 2007 |

takeshiman

takeshiman

Japan

I think it is important to spend money to get  property. The rich men all over the world have many property and get income due to it.

08:55 AM Oct 30 2007 |

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