L eslpod 659 Guide pdf
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ESL Podcast 659 – Finding Love on Valentine’s Day These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2011). Posting of these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited. 6 Chelsea: Well, I think you should open your eyes. Your valentine may be right under your nose! [end of dialogue] Tony is friends with Chelsea, and Tony has a problem. He says, “Another Valentine’s Day!” Valentine’s Day, also known as Saint Valentine’s Day, is traditionally a day that celebrates love and affection, especially romantic love. Tony says, “I really hate Valentine’s Day.” Chelsea says, “What’s your problem?” meaning what’s wrong, why are you so strange. Depending on the intonation, the way you pronounce that phrase, it could be considered a criticism. If somebody says, “What’s your problem man?” they’re indicating that you are acting strange or unusual, and perhaps you should be careful that you could get hurt. But here, Chelsea is just saying what’s the matter, what is the situation, why do you hate Valentine’s Day. Tony says, “I’m sick of seeing heart-shaped boxes.” “To be sick of (something)” means that you are tired of it; you no longer want to, in this case, see heart- shaped boxes, stuffed animals, and cupid decorations everywhere. “Heart- shaped” means made in the shape or the form of a heart; of course, that symbolizes love traditionally. “Stuffed animals” are small – usually small, they can be big – toys that are in the shape of an animal, and they’re very soft. They’re often given to young children, however some men give them to their girlfriends or wives as a romantic gesture. “Cupid decorations” refers to the Roman god Cupid, who was the son of Venus and Mars. In Latin, the word “cupido” means desire, as in sexual, romantic desire. That’s what’s the idea behind the cupid decorations. Traditionally, Cupid is shown in art as a small boy who has a bow and arrows. An “arrow” is a long, thin piece of wood that is sharp at one end, and you use the “bow” to shoot the arrows into the hearts of poor humans, who then fall in love. There was a great song by I think it was Sam Cooke: “Cupid pull back your bow and let your arrow go straight to my lover’s heart for me.” It’s better when Sam sings it! On Valentine’s Day you will often see “decorations,” things that people put up to make somewhere look different. For example, at Christmas you put up a tree and you may put up lights around your house. These would be Christmas decorations. Tony doesn’t like any of this; he says he doesn’t like seeing lovey- dovey couples on the street and nothing but sentimental movies on TV. “Lovey- dovey” is sort of an informal way of saying two people who love each other very much and often show that love in public. They’re kissing each other and they’re holding hands and they’re hugging each other. You know, the sort of things that girls usually love and guys don’t. Well, that’s a lovey-dovey couple, and Tony www.irLanguage.com |
