Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in
 
ASAP
简体
ASAP English, baby! Video Lesson
尽快

Learn English with this babies English lesson

Date: Mar 05 2013

Themes: Soap Opera

Grammar: Phrasal Verbs

Intro

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

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

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

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

We live in a fast-paced world. With computers and mobile phones, we have instant communication and access to all sorts of information in seconds. We are not interested in waiting.

In fact, we don’t even have time for full words anymore. Acronyms, or words made of the first letters of the word of a phrase, are becoming more common all the time, because sometimes, you need to say what you’re trying to say ASAP.

ASAP stands for “as soon as possible.” Usually, you pronounce each individual letter, “A-S-A-P,” but if you’re in a big hurry, you can say it like a word, “asap.” It’s used in business, when your boss needs something ASAP. Or if your friend is upset, you can tell her you’ll come over ASAP and help.

Even though we do lots of things ASAP these days, sometimes it’s better to wait and do things slowly. In this English lesson, find out what Mason wants to do ASAP and why his wife Amanda wants to wait.

我们生活在一个快节奏的世界中。有了计算机和手机,我们可以进行即时通信,能够在几秒钟内访问各种信息。我们不想等待。

事实上,我们甚至不再有时间说出完整的词语。缩略词,或者说短语单词首字母组成的词,变得越来越常见,因为有些时候,你需要尽快将要说的话说完。

ASAP 代表“as soon as possible”(尽快)。通常,你可以发出每个字母的音“A-S-A-P”,但是如果你非常匆忙,就只能说得像是一个单词“asap”。在公司中,你的老板需要尽快得到某物时就是使用这个词。或者在你的朋友心烦意乱时,你可以告诉她,你会尽快赶过去帮助她。

虽然现在,我们会尽快做很多事,但是有些事最好等等,并缓慢进行。在这节英语课中,看看梅森想要尽快做什么,以及为什么他妻子阿曼达想要等等。

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.

Log in to Listen

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

Mason

Mason

Amanda

Amanda

Marni

Marni

Mason:  Oh my gosh, this is so cool! It’s like a real little person right there. Hi Dawn! Hi Dawn!

Amanda:  She’s super cute, Marni.

Marni:  Thanks. I think her cuteness is having to make up for my own lack of cuteness these days. No sleep and baby spit-up don’t exactly have me looking my best.

Mason:  What? Marni, you look great. I mean, you look like a real mom.

Amanda:  Yeah Marni, you look great. Does spit-up stain?

Marni:  Yeah, I know. I’m still wearing my maternity clothes so I can keep my regular clothes in good shape. So I’ll take them out again when she’s a little older. Hopefully I’ll still fit into ‘em.

Amanda:  Why wouldn’t you?

Marni:  Baby weight.

Amanda:  Right.

Marni:  Well, I think I better get going. Any luck, she’ll sleep on the way home, and I’ll be able to get a shower in. Bye, guys!

Mason and Amanda: Bye, Marni!

Amanda:  Bye, Dawn!

Mason:  Oh my gosh. That is so amazing. Dawn is amazing. And Marni? She was like, glowing!

Amanda:  Yeah. Is that what it is? Cause I was thinking maybe it was a little baby snot here, and here.

Mason:  I can’t wait until that’s us, sweetie.

Amanda:  Uh huh. Yup. Me too.

Mason:  No, really. I think we should probably think about having kids sometime soon.

Amanda:  How soon?

Mason:  ASAP!

Amanda:  When you say that, what do you mean by ASAP?

Mason:  I mean as soon as possible, sweetie! I mean, we’re not getting any younger, right, and I don’t want to be the parents that are carting wheelchairs and walkers to their kids’ Little League game. I want to be the guy out there coaching Little Stevie’s team! Or Little Stephanie’s!

Amanda:  You don’t even like baseball. What are you talking about?

Mason:  Sweetie, that’s not the point. It’s just, I’m saying, we’re not getting any younger.

Amanda:  I know. But you know, there’s all these exciting things going on with the company, Greta’s coming on board, we’ve all these new subscribers, my new role as president here. I just don’t want to have to sacrifice any of this for the sake of…

Mason:  Sacrifice stuff for the happiness of our future child? I mean, what are you saying?

Amanda:  I don’t know. I just, I need some time to think about it, and now is not a good time. I need to get these quarterly reports out ASAP! OK? So just ssh!

Mason:  She’ll come around. Sssh. Sssh.

 

Grammar Point

Go Super to learn "Phrasal Verbs" from this lesson Go Super!

Quizzes

Go Super to take Quiz Go Super!

 

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3 Go Super!

The iTEP® test

  • Schedule an iTEP® test and take the official English Practice Test.

    Take Now >

Discussion

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

Marni has come in to the office to introduce her new baby, Dawn, to her former co-workers. Both Mason and Amanda think that Dawn is very cute, especially Mason. He is starting to think that babies are the coolest thing ever.

Amanda, on the other hand, is a little worried. She notices that Marni has spit-up all over her clothes. She’s concerned when Marni mentions not being able to fit into her old clothes because of weight she’s put on.

After Marni leaves, Mason is ready to talk to Amanda about the two of them having babies. He wants to start very soon. In fact, he wants to start as soon as possible, or ASAP. Amanda isn’t sure. There are a lot of good things going on in her work life, and she doesn’t want to mess that up by having a baby too soon. It seems as if this issue might bring about some tension in Mason and Amanda’s relationship.

Can you think of a time when a friend or partner wanted to do something ASAP, but you wanted to wait? Do you think acronyms like ASAP are an effective way to communicate ideas?

 

Comments

Log in to Comment

KelvinPhillbert

China

the first time i saw this phase is in one TV series, when somebody said “ASAP”, i was confused. what is the meaning of ” ASAP”, i had never seen it before!!!!


but later, i figured out the meaning, lol. 

04:35 AM Mar 05 2013 |

ola33

ola33

Japan

I noticed such an interesting thing. If I don’t do something ASAP, it will be done by someone else, or it will disappear, or something happens that prevents me from having it done later. Now, i try to do it as soon as possible or i won’t have a chance later. Sometimes, it also a big surprise and happiness when you have an opportunity to have it done later but it’s not that often. In my cass, if you don’t use it, you lose it.


Knuschu, i can’t wait my dentist appointment, I usually call on emergency and rushing like a lightning. Asap, asap, asap :)

knuschu

knuschu

Germany

Of course, many things have to be done as soon as possible. If someone has an accident, the emergency has to come as soon as possible, for instance. But I think it’s not a good trend that everything else has to move faster and faster. If you are slower than your competitors, you will fail. Where is the end?


Even you have to express yourself faster – therefore we are using “ASAP” instead of “as soon as possible” :))) No, not a good trend.


Each year if I ask my dentist for a date, she gives me a date ASAP – but I always want to wait :)))

02:11 AM Mar 05 2013 |

masoudhsn

masoudhsn

Canada

I believe anybody has many different experiences about doing something ASAP. Although, it looks you are able to achieve to your goal or target overnight, in reality you will miss many of important points during your fast-paced movement because you won’t pay attention to details. For instance, if you want to come on board and be the best one, you should  learn all skills deeply. In this way, you can make up for your weakness in any team. Otherwise, you would really get going from the team.   

08:58 PM Mar 04 2013 |

Likes (22):

See all >

Share this lesson:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Bebo
  • Share on Myspace
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email this to a friend
  • Share on Sina

Post Ebaby! lessons on your blog:

Ebaby! Cast