Welcome to LIVE CONVERSATIONS “PRAGUE: Lesson 4!” Any questions or comments? Please write us at: support@realenglishnow.com

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: Can you tell where this picture was taken?

Matt: That’s probably still up at the castle, isn’t that?

Mark: Now, we’re up there.

Matt: Yeah, Mala Strana.

Mark: So what direction would it be?

Matt: I think you’re looking east. There’s that church right there. It’s St. Nicholas Basilica—I do believe. Don’t quote me on that one. But I think that’s the St. Nicholas Cathedral or Basilica.

Mark: It doesn’t look it, but this was right around New Years and it was damn (= very) cold.

Matt: Yeah, the winters there are…can be rough and dark and long. Yeah, but that’s overlooking, yeah, Mala Strana.

Mark: Did you ever go inside? This is the torture chamber inside the castle.

Matt: Oh yeah!

Mark: Did you take a tour of that?

Matt: I think, is it down?

Mark: There’s some, yeah, you gotta (= have to) go downstairs.

Matt: You know what? I think when I’ve been in there, this was closed. I didn’t see the torture chamber. I’ve been down in the crypt underneath the castle, underneath the church, the cathedral.

Mark: The torture chamber was uncomfortable. Not for this reason, the items, but it was like, you couldn’t get out! It was one way, like…

Matt: I take that back. I was in there. It was a little round room.

Mark: Yes.

Matt: And you were funneled down and it was a round room. And if you were in there long enough, that room and the walls look like, you know they’ll just close in on you. Yes, I was down there. I remember. It’s not right… It’s kind of down that little street towards where you would leave the castle ground, I think. Isn’t it?

Mark: Yes, yes.

Matt: Yeah, I’ve been down there.

Mark: But those are always fun.

Matt: Sure!

Mark: It’s like they really did stuff.

Matt: Oh, yeah! They did.

Mark: This is, you know, the guard left his post for five minutes and so Dasha’s like, “Quick!…”

Matt: That’s sweet. That’s funny!

Mark: “…Take a picture!”

Matt: Yeah, that’s a nice picture.

Mark: You don’t see the next picture where I got prodded off (= removed by force) at gunpoint. “Give me my spot back!”

Matt: Sure. No, that’s the entrance to the castle right there. Isn’t it? One of them?

Mark: Yes, certainly one of them.

Matt: Yes.

Mark: This was just Shish Kebab or as they say in Russian, shashlik.

Matt: Shashlik, okay.

Mark: And some sort of Czech Republic sausage.

Matt: Yeah, you can’t escape the sausage.

Mark: No. Not in any Slavik country.

Matt: No!

Mark: And this was right, umm… Well, what’s the central square where the clock tower is? What’s that square?

Matt: That’s the Old Town Square, Staroe Mesto.

Mark: ‘Cause we were there literally for New Years and so they had this kind of impromptu (= not planned, suddenly occuring without a plan) – I don’t want to say village—but some impromptu shops that are…

Matt: Set up.

Mark: …that were quickly dismantled (= un-assembled, taken down, removed) like the day after New Years. This is one of them. And, um, I can show you the next picture of the menu.

Matt: Oh, there you go!

Mark: The prices of the food. That…This whole thing looks very temporary. I think this was gone.

Matt: Yeah, I’ve been in the Old Town Square where they have tents and kiosks set up and everything.

Mark: And it was…Maybe it doesn’t look good in the picture, but it was, you know, delicious!

Matt: Absolutely!

Mark: What’s your favorite, I guess—what do you call it?—“Czech” meal? Or what do you say for that Czech…? It’s awkward to say, “Czech Republic meal.”

Matt: Yeah, no… “Czech.”

Mark: Okay, so what’s your favorite Czech food or Czech meal since we’re talking about food.

Matt: I like the goulash. The goulash is good.

Mark: What is goulash?

Matt: Goulash is a stew.

Mark: What are the main ingredients?

Matt: They mainly use…They usually would use beef or you can use pork. And then it’s… you cook down onions technically in lard. And then you add, I think, some chopped tomato. Paprika makes it goulash, because that’s the Hungarian influence. And then you stew the meat. I think you brown the meat (= cook the meat until it’s somewhat brown), cook the onions down, throw everything in and let it….

Mark: But it’s mostly kind of thick, a thick stew?

Matt: Yeah, it’s a thick stew and then you serve it with Czech dumplings.

Mark: Ooh! Inside, or on the side?

Matt: Just on the side. Yeah, because you’d have the plate of the stew with the Czech dumplings and they’re very dense.

Mark: I think we ordered and it came in an edible (= describes something that can be eaten) bread bowl—the goulash—which was…

Matt: Oh, did it? I have not had it like that.

Mark: Do you have a favorite restaurant in Prague?

Matt: Oh, yeah! There’s a restaurant—Pivovarsky dum. Excellent food, excellent beer. They brew their own beer there..

Mark: That must translate as the “Pivo (= Russian word for “beer”) Factory Building” or something like that. I’m guessing.

Matt: What “dum” is what?

Mark: Well, “dum…” I bet…I don’t know Czech. But in Russian, “dom” is like the building or house, like “dom knigi,” the building or the “House of Books” kind of thing.

Matt: Well, House of Beer. I mean, that’s what they’re known for.

Mark: And so that’s…Where’s that? You said that’s in the Old Town Square?

Matt: No, that’s off the tourist beaten path. It’s down in Bitterati.

Mark: In general, as a traveler tip, wouldn’t you say the best things are always the non-touristy spots (= places?

Matt: Oh yeah, exactly! Since I have friends that live in Prague, I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to go to all the non-tourists’ traps (= shops or places where tourists typically go where prices are higher than other similar places where tourists don’t typically go); not pay $4 for beer or five bucks.

Mark: Or $20 for a blase pizza.

Matt: Yeah, exactly!

Mark: So this picture we took from—actually the clock tower.

Matt: The astronomical clock tower.

Mark: And what is so special about that clock that everyone stands outside to see every day.

Matt: That clock, I’m not sure I couldn’t tell…I can’t remember how old that clock is. Maybe 700 years old.

Mark: Wow!

Matt: But the royal—the King or whoever commissioned the artist—

Matt: …to build that clock. He had that guy blinded after….

Mark: Are you serious?

Matt: ..he built it. So he couldn’t do another one. So it was a one of a kind.

Mark: Wow!

Matt: Yeah, I think he had his eyes poked out.

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Don’t quote me on that one. = I’m not certain, and I might be wrong.
(NOTE: Often said without the word “one”, i.e. “Don’t quote me on that.”)
Remember, in these four groups of sentences below, a native speaker will usually use the 2nd version. So, “Don’t quote me on that” is the advanced phrase we want to learn.

I think the concert starts at 8 PM but I’m not certain, and I might be wrong.
I think the concert starts at 8 PM but don’t quote me on that.

I think tickets cost ten dollars but I’m not certain, and I might be wrong.
I think tickets cost ten dollars but don’t quote me on that.

I’m pretty sure I bought this at Macy’s but I’m not certain, and I might be wrong.
I’m pretty sure I bought this at Macy’s but don’t quote me on that.

I’m not certain, and I might be wrong, but I think that’s the St. Nicholas Cathedral or Basilica.
Don’t quote me on that one, but I think that’s the St. Nicholas Cathedral or Basilica.

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sweet = awesome, great, interesting, cool, etc.
Remember, the 2nd version (using “sweet”) is how a native speaker will probably say these sentences. (Although, since “sweet” is a slang word in this context, a speaker might choose a different slang word.)

You got an ‘A’ on your final exam? Awesome!
You got an ‘A’ on your final exam? Sweet!

Your dad bought you a new Lexus? That’s great!
Your dad bought you a new Lexus? Sweet!

Look: Front row seats to see Sting tonight! Great!
Look: Front row seats to see Sting tonight! Sweet!

That photo is cool!
That photo is sweet!

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There you go! = There’s the thing we have been talking about.

You wanted to know when the movie starts, and there’s the thing we’ve been talking about: The newspaper says it starts at 9 PM.
You wanted to know when the movie starts, and there you go: The newspaper says it starts at 9 PM.

Bob called and said he definitely can not come to the concert tonight, so there’s the (answer) to the thing we’ve been talking about.
Bob called and said he definitely can not come to the concert tonight, so there you go.

Beyonce’s website says she was born in Houston, Texas, so there’s the thing we have been talking about. I was right.
Beyonce’s website says she was born in Houston, Texas, so there you go. I was right.

Oh, here’s the thing we have been talking about. That’s the menu for the food stand.
Oh, there you go. That’s the menu for the food stand.

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blasé = boring, not interesting, mediocre, so-so
NOTE: blasé is usually used to describe a feeling or attitude, like unconcerned, unimpressed

I thought you loved your job but you seem pretty unconcerned about being fired.
I thought you loved your job but you seem pretty blasé about being fired.

Paul has worked on some of the nicest cruise ships in the world, so he’s understandably unimpressed about working on this one.
Paul has worked on some of the nicest cruise ships in the world, so he’s understandably blasé about working on this one.

Your mom seems unimpressed about your new house.
Your mom seems blasé about your new house.

I know where to eat in Prague, so I don’t have to pay $20 for a so-so pizza.
I know where to eat in Prague, so I don’t have to pay $20 for a blasé pizza.

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special = interesting, unique

This guitar is so unique because it was signed by Jimi Hendrix.
This guitar is so special because it was signed by Jimi Hendrix.

I bought my wife something very interesting for our anniversary.
I bought my wife something very special for our anniversary.

I don’t think that painting is anything interesting.
I don’t think that painting is anything special.

And what is so interesting about that clock that everyone stands outside to see every day?
And what is so special about that clock that everyone stands outside to see every day?

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Easy: I think the concert starts at 8 PM but I’m not certain, and I might be wrong.

Advanced: I think the concert starts at 8 PM but ___ ___ __ __ ____ .

Easy:You got an ‘A’ on your final exam? Awesome!
Advanced: You got an ‘A’ on your final exam? ____ !

Easy: You wanted to know when the movie starts, and there’s the thing we’ve been talking about: The newspaper says it starts at 9 PM.
Advanced: You wanted to know when the movie starts, and ____ ___ __: The newspaper says it starts at 9 PM.

Easy: I thought you loved your job but you seem pretty unconcerned about being fired.
Advanced: I thought you loved your job but you seem pretty ____ about being fired.

Easy: This guitar is so unique because it was signed by Jimi Hendrix.
Advanced: This guitar is so _____ because it was signed by Jimi Hendrix.