Learn English quickly with podcast | English learning Conversation | Episode 15

Key Concepts

Reschedule, inconvenience, postpone, what's up, can't make it, this thing came up.

Main Topics and Key Points

Introduction

• The lesson focuses on language for canceling appointments, a common situation in both personal and professional contexts.
• The dialogue features Samantha and Angela in a phone conversation where Angela cancels an appointment.

Language Takeaway

• Reschedule: To change an appointment to a different day or time.
• Inconvenience: To cause difficulty or discomfort for someone.
• Postpone: To delay something to a later time. Examples provided:
  • "Since Robert is late again, we have to postpone the meeting."
  • "I'm sorry Simon, but your vacation has been postponed until next month."
  • "Unfortunately, the flight will be postponed."
• Postpone is synonymous with "delay."

Fluency Builder

• What's up: A common greeting similar to "Hi," "How's it going," or "What's going on."
  • Appropriate responses include "Not much" or "Nothing."
• Can't make it: Indicates an inability to attend or participate in something.
  • Example: "I'm sorry, I can't make it to the party."
• This thing came up: A phrase used to provide a vague excuse for not being able to attend an event.
  • Examples provided:
    • "I'm sorry that I'm late, this thing came up at work and I had to stay to take care of it."
    • "I can't talk right now, something came up."
    • "Sorry I missed the meeting, something came up."

Dialogue Analysis

• Angela calls Samantha to reschedule their meeting due to an "emergency."
• Samantha initially agrees but then reveals she also can't make it.
• They decide to postpone the meeting to the next day.
• Angela later sees Samantha shopping, revealing that Samantha's reason for canceling was not genuine.

Discussion

• Erica admits to potentially using "this thing came up" as an excuse to go shopping instead of attending a meeting.
• Marco shares a story about canceling a business appointment to watch Ecuador play in the World Cup.

English Pod Audio Review

• The audio review section reinforces the vocabulary learned in the lesson.
• It includes definitions and example sentences for each word.
• The review also includes a faster-paced section to test comprehension.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The lesson effectively teaches practical English phrases for canceling and rescheduling appointments. It covers vocabulary related to changing plans, offering excuses, and responding to common greetings. The dialogue and examples provide context for understanding how these phrases are used in real-life conversations. The inclusion of personal anecdotes from the hosts makes the lesson relatable and engaging. The audio review reinforces the vocabulary and helps learners solidify their understanding.