Lesson 8: Are You Busy?

Let's Learn English Lesson 8: Are You Busy?


Anna: Hello, everyone. Here I am at my new job! Yesterday at my first day of work … Well, let’s not talk about yesterday. Today is a new day! Today I want to apologize to my co-workers.

Anna: Hi, Anne. Are you busy?

Anne: Hi, Anna. Yes. At 10 a.m. I am writing. Every day I do my morningshow. Sorry!

Anna: Okay. See you later, maybe.

Anne: Maybe I’ll see you later.

Anna: Hi, Jonathan. Are you busy?

Jonathan: Yes, I’m busy. When the studio light is on, I am recording myevening show.

Anna: Right. Sorry about yesterday.

Jonathan: No worries.

Anna: May I see the studio?

Jonathan: Um, maybe another time? Right now I am busy.

Anna: Sure. Okay, ’bye.

Jonathan: ‘Bye.


Anna: Hi, Amelia! Are you busy?

Amelia: I’m a little busy.

Anna: I want to say I’m sorry for yesterday.

Amelia: It’s okay, Anna.

Anna: Well, I am sorry.

Amelia: It’s okay, Anna. Come by this afternoon.

Anna: Okay.

Caty: Anna.

Anna: Yes, Ms. Weaver.

Caty: Are you busy?

Anna: Yes, Ms. Weaver. I am busy.

Caty: My office. 5:00 p.m.

Anna: 5:00 p.m.

Caty: Come in.

Co-Workers: Surprise!

Anna: A party! Awesome! And I still have my job! Phew!* Until next time!

* Phew! is a sound used to show that you are relieved, tired, or hot

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Learning Strategy

Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Use What You Know. We have knowledge about the world we use when learning a new language or a new skill. Here is an example.

In this lesson's video, Anna learns that her co-workers do things at the same time each day. She understands this idea because she also has to do work at the same time every day. She uses what she knows and remembers not to bother her co-workers at the times they are busy.

How do you use what you know in studying English? Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy.

Writing

What do you do every morning? You can see some examples in the Activity Sheet. Click on the image to download it. Write to us in the Comments section.

Let's Learn English Lesson 8 Activity Sheet
Listening Quiz


Check your listening skills with a short quiz. Click here to go directly to the Listening Quiz, or see the link to one side of this lesson.
New Words

afternoon - n. the middle part of the day : the part of the day between noon and evening

apologize - v. to express regret for doing or saying something wrong : to give or make an apology

evening - n. the last part of the day and early part of the night

job - n. the work that a person does regularly in order to earn money

later - adj. happening near the end of a process, activity, series, life, etc.

light - n. a source of light (such as an electric lamp)

maybe - adv. possibly but not certainly

morning - n. the early part of the day : the time of day from sunrise until noon

now - adv. at the present time

studio - n. the building or room where an artist works

surprise - n. an unexpected event, piece of information, etc.

yesterday - n. the day before today

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For Teachers


Lesson Plan for Let's Learn English Lesson 8


See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions.


Grammar focus: BE - Short answers; simple present tense to describe routine activities

Topics: Times of day: morning, evening, afternoon​

Pronunciation Focus: Hesitation Noise "um;" apologizing with stress or intonation

Additional materials: Printable Activity Sheet & Lesson Plan

Lesson 7: What Are You Doing?

Summary

Anna is starting her work at VOA News. She goes around the office meeting her co-workers. She learns they are all busy.

Conversation

Let's Learn English Lesson 7: What Are You Doing?

Caty: Come in.
Caty: Well, Anna, welcome.
Anna: Thank you.
Caty: I am your boss, Caty Weaver. But, please call me Caty.
Anna: Thank you, Ms. Weaver.
Caty: Just Caty.
Anna: Sure thing, Ms. Weaver.
Caty: Okay then. Are you excited?
Anna: Yes, I am excited!
Caty: So sorry, but I am busy. Please meet your co-workers. But remember, they are busy working.
Anna: Sure. Thanks, Ms. Weaver.
Anna: Hi there! I’m Anna.
Anne: Hi, Anna. I’m Anne.
Anna: Nice to meet you. What are you doing?
Anne: Um, I’m writing.
Anna: You are writing! You are writing a lot!
Anna: (Spills papers) Oh! Oh dear.
Anne: No! No! That's okay.
Anna: I am sorry!
Anne: That’s okay. Really.
Anna: I am sorry!
Anne: Please. Please. Please stop. Please.
Anna: Sorry. Sorry.
Jonathan: (in the studio) “and people all around the world are waiting to hear news about the next president…”
Anna: Jonathan, hi! Remember me? I live in your building.
Jonathan: Oh. Uh. Hi, Anna.
Anna: What are you doing?
Jonathan: I am doing my show!
Anna: Oh, sorry. Are you recording?
Jonathan: Yes! And, now I have to record again!
Anna: Sorry. Have a good show.
Jonathan: Thank you.
Anna: Sorry.
Amelia: The word of the day is social. Social -
Anna: Oh! Hi!
Amelia: - is an adjective.
Anna: Hi! I’m Anna!
Amelia: Hi. I’m Amelia.
Anna: Nice to meet you!
Anna: What are you doing?
Amelia: I’m reading.
Anna: Are you reading the news? Hi!
Amelia: No, I’m reading for my show.
Amelia: (to camera person) Can I read again?
Anna: Sorry.
Anna: This day is not going well.
Caty: Anna! Hi! What’re you doing?
Anna: I am bothering people, Ms. Weaver.
Caty: Let’s go to my office and talk.
Anna: I like to talk with you, Ms. Weaver.
Caty: It’s Caty.
Anna: Right. Thanks ... Ms. Weaver

Learning Strategy

Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Ask to Clarify.
In the video you see Anna ask Amelia: "What are you doing?" Amelia answers, "I’m reading." Then Anna asks a question to clarify: "Are you reading the news?
Asking a question to clarify is a very useful learning strategy, because it helps you get more information. You can also learn new words when someone explains more about what they said.
Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email about how you ask questions to clarify what you want to know. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy.

Listening

Click below to do the listening quiz. Each question has a short video. Play the video and listen for what people are doing.http://learningenglish.voanews.com/content/lets-learn-english-lesson-7-what-are-you-doing/3240468.html

Lesson 6: Where Is the Gym?

Summary

Anna is looking for the gym in her new apartment building. She meets Pete and he gives her directions. Anna finds many different places in the apartment building. Finally, she finds the gym.

Conversation

Let's Learn English Lesson 6: Where is the Gym?

  Anna: Hi there! I’m Anna and I live in Washington, D.C. Every day I learn more about this great city. People in Washington like to work out! Oh, hi, Pete. How’s it going?
Pete: Hi, Anna. It’s going great. How’s it going with you?
Anna: Things are awesome! Pete, I want to work out. Where is the gym?
Pete: The gym is across from the lounge. It’s next to the mailroom. Go that way.
Anna: Thanks, Pete!
(Anna walks away)
Pete: No, Anna! Not that way! Go that way!
(In the mailroom)
Anna: Oh, Pete. This is not the gym.
Pete: That’s right, Anna. This is the mailroom.
Anna: The gym is across from … what?
Pete: The gym is across from the lounge.
Anna: Across from the lounge. Right. Thanks!
(In the lounge)
Anna: Pete! This is not the gym!
Pete: The gym is across from the lounge. It is behind the lobby.
Anna: Right. Right. See you.
Pete: See you, Anna!
Anna: See you.
Pete: See you, Anna.
(In the garage)
Anna: This is not the gym. This is a parking garage.
Anna: Hello? Pete?
(On the rooftop)
Anna: This is not a gym. This is a rooftop.
(In the gym)
Anna: Pete! Pete?
Pete: I want to work out too! Join me!
Anna: I’m good.

Learning Strategy

Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Ask Questions to Clarify.
In the video you see Anna ask Pete about the gym. She uses a statement and a question word together to clarify Pete's directions to the gym. Pete says,"The gym is across from the lounge." Later, Anna asks him, "The gym is across from … what?"
Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email about how you ask questions to clarify what you want to know. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy.

Listening

Click below to do the listening quiz. Each question has a short video. Play the video and listen for information about people’s locations.

More Comparisons Between English Tests

Lesson 5: Where Are You?

Summary

Anna visits Marsha at a friend's house. Anna and Marsha see many rooms in the house. They talk about what people do in each room.

Conversation   

Let's Learn English Lesson 5: Where are you?

Anna: Hello, everyone! Today my friend Marsha is at her friend's house. She says it is beautiful. I want to see this house! Here we are!
Anna: Marsha, I am in the kitchen! It is a beautiful kitchen!
Marsha: It is beautiful. We cook in the kitchen.
Anna: I eat in the kitchen.
Marsha:  We relax in the living room.
Anna:  I relax in the living room. Marsha, let’s go upstairs!
Marsha: Anna? Where are you?
Anna: Marsha, I am in the bathroom! I wash in the bathroom.
Marsha: I am in the bedroom. We sleep in the bedroom.
Anna: I sleep in the bedroom!

Learning Strategy

Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. Plan to Learn is an important learning strategy because it helps you arrange your best learning conditions. You organize the resources and tools you need to study well. Here is an example of how to use this strategy.
Oluchi knows she needs to have a quiet place to study. She takes her English homework to a quiet corner of her home, and turns off her phone and radio. She brings a cup of coffee to help her stay awake. She makes sure her dictionary is near and that she has pencils and paper to write notes. When she begins studying, everything she needs is in easy reach. Her full attention can focus on what she wants to learn.
How about you? What conditions help you to study better? Some people like a little background noise, like in a cafe. Others need a very quiet place. Do you have a favorite chair or place in your home where you study well? Do you work better when you study with a friend or in a small group?  Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email about your best learning conditions. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy.

Listening

Click below to do the listening quiz. Each question has a short video. Play the video and listen for information about people’s locations.

Touch: One Word, Many Uses

Hello and welcome to Words and Their Stories!
Touch is one of our five senses. It is our only language before birth -- as we develop inside our mothers. Later, touch is important when we are young children learning about the world. On our program today, we explore expressions involving the word "touch."
Reunions are a great time to touch base or stay in touch with people in your past. Today, come with us as we visit an imaginary college reunion and learn some touchstone expressions.