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: So, if I were to add something, I would say, “Thanks again, Alex. If you’re ever, you know, watching this. You were a great host, an amazing person…and look me up sometime.”
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Mark: This section has been about the people who I met. So, I was there with Jeff, and I met
Alex and Marina. And one other person that Alex introduced us to was an American who’s living there in Moscow, named Rob. I wish I had a picture of him, but I don’t. But he’s an amazing bass player, and he actually jammed (played musical instruments together in a casual setting) with me during the master class. But anyway… The cool thing about Rob was: He invited us to his place after the — I think it was after the workshop, but it could have been the next day. And he’s like, “Oh, by the way,” you know, “coming over in a couple of minutes are some friends of mine from the group Mummy Troll.” I’ll say that again: Mummy Troll (name of a famous band in Russia). I’m sure you have all their albums.
Greg: Right. (sarcasm, meaning the exact opposite of what I said)
Mark: I know. I’d never heard of them, either. And he’s like, “I know.” He said that to me. He’s like, “I know you haven’t heard of them, but in Russia, you know, they’re huge! These guys are really, really big. They’re all over, you know, MTV and all that.” And he showed me. You know, he had their videos. You know, these guys are basically rock stars. He showed me their albums and stuff In essence, I didn’t just meet, but I hung out — I spent the afternoon with — the guitar player from Mummy Troll, who…I will scrounge up some pictures, to show him. I’m sure he won’t mind. So, I thought that was cool.
Greg: Awesome. So, you got to pretty much hang out with Russian rock stars.
Mark: Yeah.
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Listening before reading is very important. Please, DO NOT read the text yet. If you don’t understand the audio, that’s okay. Listen now, at least two times.
| 1. |
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I know = I agree
Remember, in these four groups of sentences below, a native speaker will usually use the 2nd version. So, “I know” is the advanced phrase we want to learn.
“Isn’t Starbucks the best?” — “I agree! Their new muffins and coffee are awesome!”
“Isn’t Starbucks the best?” — “I know! Their new muffins and coffee awesome!”
“I love the new Camry!” — “I agree! Doesn’t it look great?”
“I love the new Camry!” — “I know! Doesn’t it look great?”
“This pizza is the best!” — “I agree! Doesn’t it taste great?”
“This pizza is the best!” — “I know! Doesn’t it taste great?”
“You met who? Mummy Troll?” — “I agree…I never heard of them either.”
“You met who? Mummy Troll?” — “I know…I never heard of them either.”
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| 2. |
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huge = very popular
Remember, the 2nd version (using “huge”) is how a native speaker will probably say these sentences.
In the 1960’s Elvis Presley very popular.
In the 1960’s Elvis Presley was huge.
In the 1970’s, Led Zeppelin was very popular.
In the 1970’s, Led Zeppelin was huge.
She’s not so popular now, but in the 1990’s, Alanis Morrisette was very popular.
She’s not so popular now, but in the 1990’s, Alanis Morrisette was huge.
Mummy Troll is very popular in Russia!
Mummy Troll is huge in Russia!
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| 3. |
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big = popular
NOTE: “huge” represents something bigger than the word “big” does. Similarly, to be “huge” is to be more popular than “big”.
In the 1980’s, Janet Jackson was popular, but her brother Michael was very popular.
In the 1980’s, Janet Jackson was big, but her brother Michael was huge.
These sneakers were popular when I was in high school.
These sneakers were big when I was in high school.
Soccer isn’t very popular in the U.S.
Soccer isn’t very big in the U.S.
These guys are really, really popular.
These guys are really, really big.
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| 4. |
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and stuff = things like that
Let’s ride the roller coasters and things like that.
Let’s ride the roller coasters and stuff.
We went hiking and and things like that..
We went hiking and stuff.
We bought a lot of snack and things like that for the trip.
We bought a lot of snack and stuff for the trip.
He showed me their albums and things like that.
He showed me their albums and stuff.
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| 5. |
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to hang out with someone = to spend time with someone (in a casual setting)
I spent time with my friends at Starbucks.
I hung out with my friends at Starbucks.
We spent time at the mall.
We hung out at the mall.
I like to spend time with my friends in the park.
I like to hang out with my friends in the park.
I spent time with the guitar player from Mummy Troll.
I hung out with the guitar player from Mummy Troll.
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to scrounge up = to find
I’m going to find my old shirts and try to sell them.
I’m going to scrounge up my old shirts and try to sell them.
They found some extra chairs.
They scrounge up some extra chairs.
Where did you find the money from?
Where did you scrounge up the money from?
I will find some pictures to show him.
I will scrounge up some pictures to show him.
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EASY: “Isn’t Starbucks the best?” — “I agree! Their new muffins and coffee are awesome!”
ADVANCED: “Isn’t Starbucks the best?” — “___ ___ ! Their new muffins and coffee awesome!”
Easy: In the 1970’s, Led Zeppelin was very popular.
Advanced:In the 1970’s, Led Zeppelin was ___.
Easy: In the 1980’s, Janet Jackson was popular, but her brother Michael was very popular.
Advanced: In the 1980’s, Janet Jackson was ___, but her brother Michael was ___.
Easy: We went hiking and and things like that.
Advanced: We went hiking ___ ___ .
Easy: I spent time with my friends at Starbucks.
Advanced: I ___ ___ with my friends at Starbucks.
Easy: Where did you find the money from?
Advanced: Where did you ___ ___ the money from?
