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.
Have you ever thought about getting a tattoo? Tattoos can be beautiful and creative. They say a lot about a person’s personality and interests. But they are also permanent. If you get one, you will have it on your body forever. You will have to be OK with looking at it for the rest of your life.
A temporary tattoo allows a person to experience what it’s like to have a tattoo, but on a trial basis. They wash off after a few days. Doing anything on a trial basis means doing it for a short time to decide if it’s something you want or like. A person might be given a job on a trial basis, for example, to make sure she’s the best choice. A friend might be unsure about living in a new city and decide to move there, but only on a trial basis. It’s all about being certain that a new arrangement or situation is going to work out.
Jeff wants to do something on a trial basis, but Marni needs to say OK. What do you think it is? Find out if you guessed correctly by reading today’s English lesson.
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.
2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.
Jeff: Marni, do you have a minute?
Marni: Yeah. Wait a second. OK! What’s up?
Jeff: I’ll be honest. I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching. And I’m just trying to figure out what I want to do with my life.
Marni: No kidding. What brought this on?
Jeff: Remember that L.A. trip with Rafael?
Marni: Uh-huh.
Jeff: He found his dream job, and it’s kind of encouraged me to pursue the same path.
Marni: Wait, are you quitting?
Jeff: No, no, no. Basically, I’d like to ask for some flexibility.
Marni: Go on.
Jeff: I eventually want to become a photographer. I’ve always kind of had this goal. I just kind of thought I’d brush up on my skills with a couple courses.
Marni: OK. So, where do I fit into this?
Jeff: I was just wondering if you could let me take a lunchtime class. On a trial basis, of course.
Marni: Where’s the class?
Jeff: It’s at the art school a few blocks away. The class is one hour, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays. It shouldn’t impact my work at all.
Marni: How long does the class run?
Jeff: Six weeks.
Marni: So, six weeks, three days a week, one hour a day. I guess I’m OK with it as long as it’s on a trial basis.
Jeff: Yes. I will not let you down. Trial basis.
Marni: OK.
Grammar Point
Go Super to learn "Present Perfect Progressive" from this lesson
Quizzes
Lesson MP3
The iTEP® test
-
Sponsored by
Discussion
Jeff surprises Marni with some news. He wants to take a photography class. Jeff eventually wants to become a professional photographer, so he wants to brush up on his skills by learning from a teacher. But the class is in the middle of the day.
Marni thinks about Jeff’s request. After learning that Jeff doesn’t want to quit but just wants to take a class, she agrees to let him do it on a trial basis. Jeff tells Marni that taking the class won’t impact his work for the company, which helps her make the decision. If the class is going to make Jeff happy and not change the quality of work he’s doing for AmericanDreamD8.com, it’s probably a good idea.
Do you think that Jeff and Marni’s arrangement is going to work? Are you doing anything on a trial basis right now?