English Listenign Lesson Lab Online
Views #48 | Low Intermediate 4

The Cold

Conrad is sick. He explains his illness and how he feels to Todd.
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Todd: OK. Hello?

Conrad: Hi, Todd.

Todd: How are you doing?

Conrad: Oh, not too good. I've got a little bit of a cold I think.

Todd: Oh, man. That's not good.

Conrad: Yeah.

Todd: How long have you had the cold?

Conrad: I think just starting a couple nights ago.

Todd: Oh, really?

Conrad: Yeah.

Todd: Oh, man. What are you doing for it?

Conrad: Oh, just trying to take it easy. Right now, I'm just resting.

Todd: Uh-huh.

Conrad: Yeah.

Todd: Do you eat anything special when you get sick?

Conrad: Sometimes. Let's see.. what do I eat? Sometimes I eat umeboshi.

Todd: Umeboshi?

Conrad: Yeah.

Todd: Really? What's umeboshi?

Conrad: That's that Japanese kind of of a pickled sour plum. You eat it with rice. So it's a red color.

Todd: Yeah, it comes in the onigiri sometimes.

Conrad: Yeah, that's right.

Todd: Wow. OK. Well, what are your symptoms?

Conrad: Oh, let's see.. a little bit of sore throat, a cough and basically just feeling tired.

Todd: Well, that's terrible. I'm sorry. I hope you feel better.

Conrad: Well, thanks Todd.

Learn vocabulary from the lesson!

not too good

[How are you doing? Not too good.

We can answer 'not too good' to a question about how we feel.  This means that we are sad, angry or sick. This is actually not grammatically correct, but it is commonly used.  Notice the following:

  1. "How is he feeling?" "Not too good."
  2. I felt not too good yesterday, but I'm much better today.

cold

I've got a little bit of a cold.

A 'cold' is a common sickness that usually includes a runny nose, a headache and maybe a temperature or a sore throat.  Notice the following:

  1. It's hard to breathe when you have a cold.
  2. I usually get at least one bad cold in the winter.

take it easy

I'm just trying to take it easy and rest.

If you 'take it easy' you relax and don't do things that are too difficult.  Notice the following:

  1. I think I'm just going to take it easy this weekend.
  2. If you don't feel good then you need to take it easy.

pickled

It's pickled sour plum.

If something is 'pickled' it is put in vinegar for a long time until it has the taste of the vinegar.  Notice the following:

  1. Will you buy some pickled fish at the store?
  2. They eat a lot of pickled vegetables in Korea.

symptom / sore throat

One of the symptoms I have is a sore throat.

A 'symptom' is an indication or a sign that you are sick or becoming sick.  If you have a 'sore throat' it means that your throat, or the part at the back of your mouth, hurts.  Notice the following:

  1. Be sure to tell the doctor all of your symptoms.
  2. I had a really sore throat when I woke up today.

Vocabulary Quiz

not too good • cold • take it easy
pickled • symptoms • sore throat
  1. My head hurts and I have a .
  2. Do you eat foods?
  3. I feel after the big party last night.
  4. Your sound like you have allergies.
  5. You sound different.  Do you have a ?
  6. He said he was going to tonight.
Answer the following questions about the interview.

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