Please watch the video below. Remember: Don’t write anything. Just watch and listen. By the end of the lesson you will understand everything!

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Mark: I need to start this by saying Greg is the one who put these pictures together. So now, I get to ask most of the questions. And so I’ll start by asking: Why are we looking at this world map?

Greg: Well, we’re looking at the world map because today we are going to talk about where I went two years ago…and it was New Zealand.

Mark: Hmm.. What’s that, a country?

Greg: Yes, that’s a country. And, the reason we’re looking at the map is, I live in Japan. And when we discussed going to New Zealand, I didn’t really look at the world map. I was thinking, you know, next to Australia or right by Australia.

Mark: Mmm-hmm.

Greg: And, I hadn’t actually looked at the map. So, everyone was kind of assuming — well everyone being me and Megumi actually — were assuming it was probably a nine hour flight. And as it turns out, I get on the plane, the pilot says, “It will be about thirteen hours to New Zealand.” Just, you know, “Today’s flight…blah blah blah…”

Mark: Wow

Greg: And I was like, “Wait a minute, nah…, So, I asked the stewardess, with some degree of authority, “Stewardess, how long is this flight? It’s nine hours or so, is that right?” She’s like, “Oh it’s about thirteen hours.” You know.

Mark: Man!

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1.

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to put together = to organize
Remember, in these four groups of sentences below, a native speaker will usually use the 2nd version. So, “put together” is the advanced phrase we want to learn.

I organized this photo album for you.
I put together this photo album for you.

My brother and I organized a rock band.
My brother and I put together a rock band.

My friends organized a soccer team.
My friends put together a soccer team.

Greg is the one who organized these pictures.
Greg is the one who put these pictures together.
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2.

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right by = very close to (regarding location)
Remember, the 2nd version (using “right by”) is how a native speaker will probably say these sentences.

Your wallet is very close to the phone.
Your wallet is right by the phone.

I’ll be standing very close to the fountain.
I’ll be standing right by the fountain.

I parked very close to the door.
I parked right by the door.

I thought that New Zealand was very close to Australia.
I thought that New Zealand was right by Australia.

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3.

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kind of = somewhat

NOTE: “Kind of” is one of the most common descriptive phrases in English. Try to use this often in your speech.

That was somewhat funny.
That was kind of funny.

She was somewhat depressed.
She was kind of depressed.

It’s somewhat hot in here.
It’s kind of hot in here.

Everyone was somewhat assuming it was a nine hour flight.
Everyone was kind of assuming it was a nine hour flight.

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4.

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as it turns out = actually

Actually, Jimmy is allergic to peanuts.
As it turns out, Jimmy is allergic to peanuts.

Actually, I can’t go to the party.
As it turns out, I can’t go to the party.

Actually, I can’t buy the house.
As it turns out, I can’t buy the house.

Actually, it is a 13 hour flight to New Zealand, not 9 like I thought.
As it turns out, it is a 13 hour flight to New Zealand, not 9 like I thought.

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5.

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blah-blah-blah = etc, etc., and so on (The speaker is skipping a part of his story which the listener is assumed to understand or is not important)

I asked her where’s she from, etc, etc, …Anyway, I got her number.
I asked her where’s she from, blah-blah-blah….Anyway, I got her number.

My mom said I need to clean my, do my homework, etc, etc,.
My mom said I need to clean my, do my homework, blah-blah-blah.

My doctor said I need to lose weight, exercise, etc, etc,.
My doctor said I need to lose weight, exercise, blah-blah-blah.

The pilot said, “Welcome on board,” etc, etc…”It’s a 13 hour flight to New Zealand.”
The pilot said, “Welcome on board,” blah-blah-blah…”It’s a 13 hour flight to New Zealand.”

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6.

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nah = no (This is used when dismissing an idea.)

Wanna take a taxi? — No, let’s walk.
Wanna take a taxi? — Nah, let’s walk.

How about McDonald’s? — No, I don’t want fast food.
How about McDonald’s? — Nah, I don’t want fast food.

Let’s watch a movie. — No, let’s go to a club.
Let’s watch a movie. — Nah, let’s go to a club.

Thirteen hours to New Zealand? No, that can’t be right.
Thirteen hours to New Zealand? Nah, that can’t be right.

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7.

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with some degree of authority = confidently

I’m an economist, so I can say confidently: Invest in gold.
I’m an economist, so I can say with some degree of authority: Invest in gold.

He said it confidently.
He said it with with some degree of authority.

I can’t state it confidently.
I can’t state it with any degree of authority.

I asked the stewardess confidently, “This flight is about nine hours, correct?”
I asked the stewardess, with some degree of authority, “This flight is about nine hours, correct?”

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8.

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to be like = said

So I said, “I think you’re wrong.”
So I was like, “I think you’re wrong.”

He said, “I can’t help you.”
He was like, “I can’t help you.”

We said, “Let us into the theater!”
We were like, “Let us into the theater!”

She said, “Oh, it’s about thirteen hours.”
She’s like, “Oh, it’s about thirteen hours.”

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Easy: I organized this photo album for you.

Advanced: I ___ _______ this photo album for you.

Easy: Your wallet is very close to the phone.
Advanced: Your wallet is _____ __ the phone.

Easy: That was somewhat funny.
Advanced: That was ____ __ funny.

Easy: Actually, Jimmy is allergic to peanuts.
Advanced: __ __ _____ ___, Jimmy is allergic to peanuts.

Easy: I asked her where’s she from, etc, etc, …Anyway, I got her number.
Advanced: I asked her where’s she from, ____ , ____ , ____…Anyway, I got her number.

Easy: Wanna take a taxi? — No, let’s walk.
Advanced: Wanna take a taxi? — ___, let’s walk.

Easy: I’m an economist, so I can say confidently: Invest in gold.
Advanced: I’m an economist, so I can say ____ ____ ______ __ _______ : Invest in gold.

Easy: So, I said, “I think you’re wrong.”

Advanced: So I ___ ____ , “I think you’re wrong.”