ESL Podcast: In this ESL podcast we talk about laid off from their job. We also explain the difference between getting "fired" and getting "laid off". Learn excellent slang for daily conversation in English. Also, remember to check out justvocabulary.com and we can offer you a $5 discount on their study tools for iPods, cellphones and blackberries. They have an ESL podcast introducing 2 GRE words per show and are offering you this deal as a way of celebrating their 500th episode. Go to justvocabulary.com and type in the discount code 52e03f426e to get the discount.
Discussion forum
Laid Off:
ESL Reading
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A: Let’s go do something tonight. I haven’t been out in ages.
B: I can’t. I just got laid off and I’m strapped for cash. I’m even late on my credit card payments. Our plant just closed down and made a bunch of us redundant. We can’t compete against our overseas competitors. A: That sucks. I’ll treat you tonight. I’m sure you could use a few beers to take your mind off things. I know how stressful losing a job can be. B: That would be great! I’ll get you back next time when I find another job. A: No worries.
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Phrases and Vocabulary used:
Do something: In casual conversation, if you tell your friend you want to "do something" it means you want to get out of the house and go do something interesting. Going to the movies is an example of "doing something"
Been out: "Haven’t been out" refers to not having left the apartment or house to do anything interesting. Going to the store doesn’t count as "going out". Going to a bar, party, movie, or something like that is considered "going out".
In ages: If you haven’t done something "in ages" it means that you haven’t done it for a really long time. It is slang. Not everyone uses it but you will know it when you hear it.
Laid off: Getting "laid off" is slightly different from getting fired. If a company doesn’t need so many employees for some reason they will often choose to lay some people off so that they can save money. If you get laid off, you can often get your job back when the company has more work for you to do in the future.
Strapped for cash: If you are "strapped for cash" it means that you have very little or no money.
Redundant: When companies reorganize they often realize that they are too large and have too many employees. Sometimes they realize that they can do the same work with fewer employees if they just switch some of the roles. If you are "made redundant" it means you were basically fired. The company no longer needs you there.
I’ll get you back: If your friend pays for something for you, then you can say, "I’ll get you back next time". That means, you will pay for them the next time you go out.
No worries: This is a slang term that means, "don’t worry about it" or "forget about it". Here, the friend is basically saying that he will treat his friend for the beers and doesn’t expect to be paid back in the future. Of course, as a good friend, the one friend will probably insist that he pays next time.
March 16th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
Hi guys,
I am origanally from sri lanka.I have been canada since last year & while I were searching the internet for ESL podcast I found your amazing china 232.It is very intresting to here your podcast .This is the best way to learn english with relax,fun & effortless.I have been listening to your podcast for this january.I feel now my listening skills are better than before.I wanna thank you for your great work & keep it up.I wanna here you daily.
Bye!
March 17th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Hi!
I want to say Thank you for the amazing web-site. ESL podcast is very funny and useful at the same time. I am listening them on the way to my job. It’s difficult study English in traditional way. Your method is more pleasant and comfortable. So, I try to improve my listening skills and increase my vocabulary…
Thanks once more
Waiting your new podcast
March 17th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Hi!
I want to say Thank you for the amazing web-site. ESL podcast is very funny and useful at the same time. I am listening them on the way to my job. It’s difficult study English in traditional way. Your method is more pleasant and comfortable. So, I try to improve my listening skills and increase my vocabulary…
Thanks once more
Waiting your new podcast
March 17th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Hi!
I want to say Thank you for the amazing web-site. ESL podcast is very funny and useful at the same time. I am listening them on the way to my job. It’s difficult study English in traditional way. Your method is more pleasant and comfortable. So, I try to improve my listening skills and increase my vocabulary…
Thanks once more
Waiting your new podcast
March 17th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Thanks soooooooo much.
March 18th, 2009 at 2:15 am
Thank, a good lesson again!
i enjoy hearing your voice and learning the podcast.
by the way,can you guys make a podcast about Michael Jackson? i got this thought since i heard a podcast about Lance Armstrong.
Thank you very much.
March 18th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Hello guys, my name is Philippi and I´m from Brazil,I just wanna thank you guys for the amazing job you´ve been doing..I have improved my English a lot by listening to the MP3 files
I´m having a blast..I usually listen to them on my way to the university…
I was wondering if you guys could send me your E-mail addresses or msn messenger adresses…
keep up the good work!!!
Thanks a million!!!
My email (msn messenger) : philippifloripa@hotmail.com
March 20th, 2009 at 2:50 am
hi there~
it\\\’s nice to talk to you again.
anyway can i download this podcast in my ipod?
i can\\\’t download it in my PC first. how can i listen it anywhere?
isn\\\’t it MP3 file?
im curious how can i keep it in my ipod.
please answer the question.
have a great day~
March 20th, 2009 at 5:17 am
Hi guys,
Thanks for the podcast,It’s very useful and of course I have download all the podcasts to my ipod. also Listened the most of them. It’s funny.
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:10 am
hello everyone,i’m a 20-yeal-old boy from china,i’m listerning english from this web to prepare cet6,good luck!
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:15 am
As a Chinese,english is not my native language,so I find that listerning is the most difficult part of English,I will try to listen English better and better.
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:30 am
hi,guys,I have a msn address now: uuszqqh@hotmail.com
I want to get in touch with you ! I’m waiting!
March 22nd, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Perfect dialogue. I couldn’t listen to china232 only this weekend and i really missed it. I owe you a lot guys, thank you so much for your effort.
March 27th, 2009 at 10:09 am
As usually, a good pod cast presented to china232 community, I love it and try to practice more on daily conversation. I think your comment on every topic at discussion forum is a specific suggestion of written style for people improving written skill, specially for me as a self-education and also by this way you inspire the reader joining the interesting topics posted on web.
Hope more your comments.
Thank both you.
March 28th, 2009 at 12:50 am
what if we give a “Topic to discuss”it is possible to discuss or grant our wish as your avid fans:) I am a Filipino and I convince my friends to visit your site.As what i have experience ,your site help me lots in terms of speaking and familiarizing new words…I do listening every time am working. I practice this as my everyday habit..Thanks a million to you guys and I appreciate your effort to help us to improve our skills..May God continue to bless you..
March 31st, 2009 at 12:47 am
hi, guys!! this podcast is awesome!!! since I found it, I’ve been hearing your lectures all along :)) it’s really funny
I’m from korea. and hopefully, I can learn fun-English with you guys.
April 1st, 2009 at 4:48 am
Hi Everyone! I love this site, I always get interesting things to learn, and inprove my English, If someone want to Improve English ( and Spanish) with me can Add me, My Msn is m.flordiaz@hotmail.com
Thanks!
Bye!
April 5th, 2009 at 4:55 am
Hi guys! Thanks for the new lesson again!
I love here ‘China232.com’! : )
but there’s one thing I’ve got to ask. Is it just me or the audio player above isn’t working? I can’t hear anything. If you don’t mind, could you check that for us? Thanks so much!
April 5th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Dear Friends,
There must be something wrong with file #118 since it is not possible for me to download it. Will you please check that it works correctly?
Thanks a lot
April 6th, 2009 at 1:09 am
Dear all. Just to reinforce. There is a problem on downloading this lesson. I get a file of zero kb after downloading it. Anyway, congratulation for your continued effort for improving the english.
April 6th, 2009 at 5:12 am
hi guys;
i just wanted to say thank you so much for your excellent effort.
i have already down loaded all of your lessons and advice all freinds of mine to listen your nice audios.
thanks again and hope you keep on producing your next lessons.
fati, Iran
April 6th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Hi guys,
I can neither download the file, no listen to the dialog. I\’ve tried both FireFox and Internet Explorer. Certanly, something is wrong with this podcast.
Anyway, thank you very much for your great job!
Regards,
Pavel
April 7th, 2009 at 12:35 am
hi guys,
I am now quit inprove my english by listering your lesson but I cant open and download this Getting laid off lesson. Anyway thank you verymuch indeed. I can’t wait for next lesson.
April 8th, 2009 at 2:31 am
Hello everyone,
The podcast should work now. Sorry for the delay. Also, we will have a new podcast up soon, so check back soon.
April 8th, 2009 at 6:15 am
before i listen to it .. thank god that it’s loading this time ..cause there was a problem….. cant wait to hear dis episode
April 8th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Thanks Add for fix it up. I’m really enjoy listening to your lessens.They are totally useful.
April 8th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
It works fine indeed! Thank you so much!
April 9th, 2009 at 2:06 am
Amazing!!!
April 9th, 2009 at 8:57 am
I am a person who always come to this webiste,it is very usuful for improving my english ,thank you for your kindness that i found your website
If anyone need more friends please contact me at
my e-mail is yammyfirst@hotmail.com
April 9th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Where are you guys ? It’s nearly one month since you published the last lesson.
I’m checking here on a regular basis to see whether new lesson is added or not but in every time I’m dissapointed. Is there any special reason making you late ? Hope you both are fine. Looking forward to seeing new one. Cheers !
April 11th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
wow, another great podcast ! I’ve got all of your auditions stored in my iPod-archive and I just love to go back and listen to each one over and over again when I commute. To be honest I’m sick and tired of ordinary coursebook- type English, you guys deliver a real-life English lessons. What I learn from them I can use practically in any given situation throughout my my professional as well as personal life. Thanks for that!
April 14th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
When I was 12 years old I started learning English, to tell the truth I was lured by that beautiful language although I am very proud of my Arabic.. I have a first Cambridge certificate in English, I am an editor / translator in the News Sector / Egyptian Radio & Tv. Union. Frankly speaking I enjoy studying English with you. I invite you all to visit my blog \" Romantic Barbarian \" and enlighten me with your comments. http://www.abramino.blogspot.com All my love, Egyptophile the romantic barbarian.
April 26th, 2009 at 8:21 am
Hi,I just love it …
thanks,have fun.
May 18th, 2009 at 4:47 am
im english learner named larry in china.any one who wanna study english pls add me as your friend at skype or msn,
my msn:cxmmxc_5@hotmail.com
skype:cszero_marketing
hope talk to u guys soon