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Breaking Point
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Breaking Point English, baby! Video Lesson
临界点

Reported Speech

Date: Dec 27 2011

Themes: Soap Opera

Grammar: Direct vs. Reported Speech

Intro

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

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Everything has its limit. A table can only hold so much weight before it collapses. A submarine can handle a lot of pressure, but still can’t go too deep. A person can deal with a lot of stress, but everyone has a breaking point.

The breaking point is the moment at which something or someone can take no more. It’s the moment when if you put one more thing on the table, it will fall, or if the submarine goes any deeper, it will start to leak. It’s the moment where if one more stressful thing happens to you, you will go crazy.

Planning a wedding can be exhausting. Find out how close Jason is to the breaking point.

每件事情都有自己的极限。一张桌子只能承受一定的重量,否则它就会倒塌。潜水艇可以承受很大的压力,但是仍不能下潜到太深的地方。一个人可以承受很多压力,但是每个人都有一个临界点。
临界点是指某事或某人不能再继续承受的时刻。即如果桌子上再放一件东西,它就倒塌,或潜水艇再下潜一点,就会破裂的时刻。如果再多一点压力,你就会崩溃的时刻。
筹备婚礼让人筋疲力尽。找出詹森距离临界点还有多远。

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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

Jason

Jason

Mason

Mason

Marni:  Jason!

Jason:  Cake! Vanilla! Roses!

Marni:  Are you OK? You fell asleep.

Jason:  I’m great. I’m doing great. I can do this.

Marni:  Look, I know you have a wedding to plan, but you also have some work to do…

Jason:  Work? What day is it? Where am I?

Marni:  You need to wake up. Now, I think you’ve really reached the breaking point here. You’re stressed out. You’re exhausted. You need to slow down.

Jason:  Can’t rest. Must order thank you notes.

Marni:  Look, you’re not going to have anyone to thank at the wedding if you don’t slow down. You’re also not going to have a job.

Jason:  Maybe you’re right. Maybe I have reached the breaking point. I mean, I did try to order flowers from a chef earlier today.

Marni:  Look, we can’t have someone like you possibly messing up orders or talking inappropriately to clients. I just need you to slow down.

Jason:  Yeah, I did ask our biggest advertiser what her dress size was earlier. I thought I was on the phone with a tailor!

Marni:  I need to take care of this. OK.

Jason:  You know, there’s something else you might want to take care of first. That trash bag looks like it’s about to reach the breaking point as well.

Marni:  That is Mason’s job.

Mason:  It’s Dale and all his pizzas and his cakes. I can’t keep up!

 

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

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Jason has fallen asleep at work. When Marni wakes him up, he starts talking about his wedding, but he doesn’t make any sense. He seems exhausted. Marni thinks he has reached the breaking point.

But Jason insists that he has to plan the wedding. Marni tells him he is likely to plan a terrible wedding and lose his job if he doesn’t relax. Jason agrees. He admits that he has messed up his work a couple of times lately.

Just then, Mason drops a lot of trash. It seems he can’t keep up with how much Dale is eating these days and has reached the breaking point.

Have you ever reached the breaking point?

 

Comments

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 julito

julito

Argentina

Ola 33  ,  your video portraits a reality  that  many people in some countries of Europe are immersed in. In argentina  probably is even worst  ,we have also a serious social problem,delinquency  and drugs are also rampant    among young people.  So Sad.     

04:43 PM Dec 27 2011 |

jhonacosta1987

Colombia

I think everybody once in their lives has reached the breaking point, in my case I have to study and work so at weekend i have already reached the breaking point, thanks God he renews me and makes me stronger so I don’t give up. 

04:12 PM Dec 27 2011 |

1 person likes this

Zambuka

Zambuka

United States

well, the video looks pretty stupid…guys, yuo’ve reached the breaking point :D stop exaggerating everything, just slow down and make some common video) 

04:07 PM Dec 27 2011 |

ola33

ola33

Japan

Julito, unfortunately, it’s beyond our power to stay cool. Too much stress that brings us to doom :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni5XUVRW3oY

04:01 PM Dec 27 2011 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

LAZYGIRL2011     After reading your post, it makes me think that you girls don´t   need a breaking point to go shopping  and charged-up the credit card . smiling  Cool 

03:48 PM Dec 27 2011 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

The good surfer always rides on top of the waves, never under. Likewise, come shine, come rain, we should always stay on control of  whatever situation that life  has in stock for us.  Everything , good or bad come to pass , it doesn´t make sense  to overload our brains  with fears  about things  that are beyond our control.

03:36 PM Dec 27 2011 |

1 person likes this

snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

 Selvgali ...I think you need to simmer yourself down for a minute. You can’t go and kick anyone’s behind over a simple “stupid” joke! How many innocent butts will you have to kick before you realize that you are hurting someone unnecessarily? A joke is a joke and shouldn’t be taken seriously. Some jokes can be very offensive, when one is directed at you, talk it over with the offender with a serious tone. Don’t resort to abuse and fight. (:

03:18 PM Dec 27 2011 |

snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

Ha! So this guy Jason is ordering flowers from a chef let’s hope it’s Cauliflowers, otherwise this guy has gone way beyond his breaking point.  (:


I wasn’t born with a silver spoon up in my mouth. I was forced to realize at a very early age that nothing comes easy in this life. As time went by and as I grew older, this thought never slipped my mind; it kind of grew on me. I see every challenge and ordeal I’m put under as an opportunity to appraise my patience and tolerance. I don’t want to sound conceited or anything but I can comfortably say that I feel very composed when I reach a breaking point. I don’t freak out; I always keep a cool head evaluating any situation that seems complex.


Truth be told, I rarely reach a breaking point, because I always plan things out in an orderly fashion. I hate rushing into stuff; I’m not a perfectionist not even close to one at all, I just give myself ample time to accomplish my tasks. But I think the golden rule is: you have to know your limits. And know it well. Don’t burden yourself with responsibilities that you can’t meet, alone at least.


This life has a lot of challenges in store for every one of us; we can either face them or fall under their pressure. When the pressure is sky-high, we sometimes have to deflate our egos and beg for help. If help can’t be found, we have to keep calm, not surrender, and be patient and strong. Yes, we are susceptible to a breaking point at all time, when it happens, try to remain sane and don’t blame anyone for your misfortune; don’t let anyone drive you crazy; stress is not healthy but you can avoid it.


So Jason stop being cheap and get yourself a wedding planner, don’t put your job and health at risk. I wonder what Devan is doing on her end? She’s probably reached level 10 in breaking point. Tongue out

02:59 PM Dec 27 2011 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

Serena-xu     why should you feel guilty ? you did your best . keep trying ,hopefully next time you will succeed . Maybe you are not destined to be a civil servant ,you might as well  try a different approach ,  if this is the case.  Good luck.!!!  

01:34 PM Dec 27 2011 |

serena_xu

China

Last time when I have a breaking point is several months ago.It all happened due to a very important exam.It is sth more than big,it is so huge that if I passed that exam,it may change the rest of my life.Yeah,that is what people called turning point of life.So I work very hard day and night.I was so stressed out that I couldn’t sleep well at night.As you may know, unfortunately,I failed at the last minute.I went crazy not only because I missed such a good opportunity to be a civil servant but also I let my parents down.I  still feel guilty up to this day. I’ll strive to do my best to fulfill my dream until it comes true someday.

01:20 PM Dec 27 2011 |

1 person likes this

The Beautiful Lady

United Kingdom

niiiiice 

12:26 PM Dec 27 2011 |

ola33

ola33

Japan

Yeah, preparation to a wedding is a real grind. You’re so overwhelmed with all those things to do that it takes toll on your brain that is trying to “work very hard” to fullfill those “orders” exhausting the processing power for a good attention and self control.


The great thing to get back to normal is Nature! It will grab the brain’s attention in a soft and relaxing way.

12:24 PM Dec 27 2011 |

Amo0ol

Amo0ol

Saudi Arabia

hello , very intresting tobic , it helps me to get an example ,, and write an essay for my final exame


i connected it with” Willy Loman’s character  in” The Death Of The Sales Man ”’ by Arthure Miller.


thanksWink


 back to study , wish me luck

11:59 AM Dec 27 2011 |

1 person likes this

kotlesya

kotlesya

Belarus

There was a time, when my kin got seriously ill. There was no improvement and we heard only had news and bad prognosis from the doctors. Each day was very stressful for all of us. There was lots of strain. At long last the breaking point has came… we became mentally and physically tired. We understood perfectly, that we must handle a situation and we must to do our best, but it was really the breaking point ………….Cry

11:37 AM Dec 27 2011 |

lazy girl 2011

China

Of course, I have.When I am stressed out,or just can’t stand sth,I usually need a breaking point.Sleeping,listening to music and shopping are the good choices for me!

11:14 AM Dec 27 2011 |

harry india

India

Cool

09:05 AM Dec 27 2011 |

harry india

India

Reported Speech is ahrd to learn . But, I’t’s easy to learn with Ebaby….

06:27 AM Dec 27 2011 |

jayyy

jayyy

India

Interesting.

05:55 AM Dec 27 2011 |

1 person likes this

mangojoy

mangojoy

United States

I was having disagreements with a person I was working with. They wanted me to do the job differently. I was not able to do it the way they wanted me to do it. They kept getting upset and angry with me. Finally, I reached my breaking point. I couldn’t take being yelled at anymore. I resigned.

05:51 AM Dec 27 2011 |

selvgali

selvgaliSuper Member!

Honduras

A friend of mine made me reach the breaking point with spupid jokes, but a good kick in his butt solved the problem and know he respects me much.

04:32 AM Dec 27 2011 |

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