The Flatmates episode 37 (including Video/Vocabulary)

Episode 37: The interview
Interviewer:	How long have you been working at McCarthy's?
Tim:	For the last 3 years.
Interviewer:	And have you always worked in retail?
Tim:	Yes I have. In fact ever since I was young I've been interested in commerce. My first job was in a newsagent's when I was still at school.
Interviewer:	I see, and what are your strengths and weaknesses?
Tim:	Well, some might say I'm a little head-strong. I do leap into projects and sometimes my enthusiasm can be a bit overwhelming. My strengths? I'm a great team-player. For example, when the stockroom was understaffed recently, I jumped at the chance to help out.
Interviewer:	Lovely. Well thank you for coming in today. We'll be in touch very soon.

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Vocabulary:

retail (noun) - the business of selling things directly to customers for their own use

 in fact (noun phrase) - in truth —used to stress that a statement is true although it may be surprising or unlikely

ever since (adverb phrase) - continually from the time in the past when, continually or often from a past time until now

commerce (noun) - activities that relate to the buying and selling of goods and services

newsagent (noun) - (British)  a person or shop that sells newspapers, magazines, and often paperback books

strength (noun) -  the quality that allows someone to deal with problems in a determined and effective way

weakness (noun) - a quality or feature that prevents someone or something from being effective or useful, something that you like so much that you are often unable to resist it

head-strong (adjective) - not willing to do what other people want, very stubborn

to leap (verb) -to move quickly,  to eagerly take

enthusiasm (noun) -  strong excitement about something, a strong feeling of active interest in something that you like or enjoy

a bit (noun) - a little, somewhat or rather

overwhelming (adjective) - used to describe something that is so confusing, difficult, etc., that you feel unable to do it 

team-player (noun) -  someone who cares more about helping a group or team to succeed than about his or her individual success

understaffed   (adjective) - not having enough workers, having a staff that is too small

to jump at the chance (phrase) - to eagerly accept a challenge or chance to do something

The Flatmates episode 36 (including Video/Vocabulary)

Episode 36: Test results
John:	How did you do in the economics test Helen?
Helen:	I failed miserably.
John:	Oh poor you! I got 98%. Didn't want to get a perfect score. Might have looked a bit suspicious, given me recent track record. Bet you wished you'd sneaked a peek at the answers when you had your chance.
Helen:	Oh I don't ...
John:	You're a fool! It was the easiest bit of photocopying I've ever done.
Prof. Lewis:	John, Helen hello!
John:	Oh good morning Professor Lewis. I was just saying how much I've been enjoying your lectures recently.
Prof. Lewis:	Oh really? Helen, I think it's about time we had a little chat, don't you? Come to my office later and make an appointment, OK?

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Vocabulary:

economics (noun) - a science concerned with the process or system by which goods and services are produced, sold, and bought

miserably (adverb) - very poor in condition or quality,  very bad

perfect (adjective) - having no mistakes or flaws, completely correct or accurate

suspicious (adjective) - causing a feeling that something is wrong or that someone is behaving wrongly, causing suspicion, having or showing a feeling that something is wrong or that someone is behaving wrongly

track record (noun) -  a record of actual performance or accomplishment

 to sneak a peek (British phrase) - to tell someone (such as a parent or teacher) about something wrong that someone else has done, to look at something quickly and secretly or furtively

 to photocopy (verb) -to make a photographic reproduction of (printed or graphic material), especially by xerography

xerography (noun) - a dry photographic or photocopying process in which a negative image formed by a resinous powder on an electrically charged plate is electrically transferred to and thermally fixed as positive on a paper or other copying surface.

me recent track record (phrase) - my performance or achievements in the last few months or years (note in some regional accents 'me' is used instead of 'my')

The Flatmates episode 35 (including Video/Vocabulary)

Episode 35: A letter from HR

Tim:

Dear Mr. Hunter, Vacancy reference: Assistant manager Further to your application for the above position, I am pleased to be able to invite you to attend an interview. Please report to the HR office on Tuesday 11th March at 1 pm. A job specification is enclosed. If you have any access needs in order to complete your job or be able to attend the interview, please let me know as soon as possible. Finally, it would be most helpful if you could confirm whether or not you will be able to attend. Yours sincerely, Jennifer Smith Recruitment Advisor Well, Kitty, 'Assistant manager', what do you think of that?

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Vocabulary:

a vacancy (noun) - position or job in a company that's available

HR (short for Human Resources) (noun) - department in a company which looks after the hiring, training etc of employees 

a reference (noun) - the act of mentioning something in speech or in writing, the act of referring to something or someone

assistant (adjective) - having the job of helping someone to do work,  having a lower rank or position than others in a group, organization, etc.

a manager (noun) - someone who is in charge of a business, department, etc.

an application (noun) - a formal and usually written request for something (such as a job, admission to a school, a loan, etc.)

to attend (verb) - to go to and be present at

an interview (noun) -  a meeting at which people talk to each other in order to ask questions and get information: such as a : a formal meeting with someone who is being considered for a job or other position

specification (noun) - detailed description of something

to enclose (verb) - to include (something) with a letter or in a package

access needs  (noun) - requirements for people with disabilities

to confirm  (verb) - agree, to tell someone that something has definitely happened or is going to happen
  
whether or not (conjunction) - used to indicate choices or possibilities

sincerely (adverb) -  genuinely or truly, in a sincere or truthful way

The Flatmates episode 34 (including Video/Vocabulary)

Episode 34: Helen to the rescue
Michal:	I told you so!
Tim:	Hurry up, I'm getting soaked!
Helen:	What's going on here? What a mess! Dad'll kill me.
Michal:	It's the water. Tim didn't turn off it before trying to fix the tap.
Helen:	Honestly Tim! You're as thick as two short planks sometimes. Michal, turn the water off. Tim, give me the spanner. I'll soon have this sorted.
Tim:	What shall I do?
Helen:	Get the mop, of course! I want this floor as dry as a bone now! Dad's coming round later to check the flat.
Tim:	Is he?
Tim and Michal:	Oh no!
Helen:	No, I'm just winding you up!

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Vocabulary:

rescue (noun) -  an act of saving someone or something from danger, harm, or trouble

soaked (adjective) - made completely wet by water or another liquid

to get soaked (verb phrase) -  to get very wet, often in heavy rain

honestly (adverb) - without cheating or lying : in an honest way, in a genuine way, without pretending, used to stress that a statement is true 

as thick as two short planks (idiom) - not clever

to sort (someone) out (verb phrase) - to solve the problems of (someone), to deal with (someone who is causing problems) in a forceful way

mop (noun) -  similar to a broom but for cleaning a floor with water, a tool for cleaning floors that has a bundle of cloth or yarn or a sponge attached to a long handle

as dry as a bone (phrase) - [also bone-dry] extremely dry

to wind someone up (verb phrase) -  to tell someone something that's not true, as a joke

The Flatmates episode 33 (including Video/Vocabulary)

Episode 33: The dripping tap
Michal:	Hey Tim, what are you doing?
Tim:	I'm fixing this tap. I can't put up with that drip-drip noise anymore.
Michal:	Have you turned off the water?
Tim:	I told you. That's what I'm working on.
Michal:	I mean the main water supply? Have you cut it off?
Tim:	No, I haven't. Stop worrying and let me get on with this.
Michal:	I don't think you should carry on doing that!
Tim:	It's okay, just one more turn of the spanner.
Michal:	I really think you should stop.
Tim:	Oh, go away Michal. You're putting me off. One more turn and then ... aaaaaargh! Oh no! Michal! Help! Stop the water! Aaaaaargh!

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Vocabulary:

 
to drip (verb) - to fall in drops, to let drops of (a liquid) fall

tap (noun) - the thing you turn to let water run into a sink

to fix (verb) -  to make (something) whole or able to work properly again , to repair (something)

to put up with (something or someone) (verb phrase) - to allow (someone or something unpleasant or annoying) to exist or happen, to tolerate

noise (noun) - a loud or unpleasant sound

to turn off (verb) -  to stop the operation or flow of (something) by pressing a button, moving a switch, etc.

to work on (verb) - to be in the process of making, doing (something), etc.

main  (adjective) -   most important

supply (noun) -  the amount of something that is available to be used, things (such as food, equipment, fuel, etc.) that are needed for a particular purpose  

to cut something off (verb phrase) - to stop the supply of something, to disconnect something  

to get on with something (verb phrase) - to do something without delay

to carry on (verb) - to continue to do what you have been doing, to continue despite problems  

to turn (verb) - to move around a central point  

spanner (noun) - British for wrench, a tool consisting of a handle with one end designed to hold, twist, or turn an object (such as a bolt or nut)  

to put someone off (verb phrase) -  to distract someone, to cause (someone) to stop thinking about or paying attention to someone or something and to think about or pay attention to someone or something else instead, to take (attention) away from someone or something

The Flatmates episode 32 (including Video/Vocabulary)

Episode 32: Baby talk
Dr. Laver:	Okay, well in this room we monitor the babies overnight. Now, the important thing is to talk to them.
Alice:	Talk to them? What do I say?
Dr. Laver:	Well, watch me. Hello, you are a handsome boy aren't you? You're gorgeous. Now you try. Speak to the baby next to you.
Alice:	Oh, okay. Hello little one! Who's a handsome boy then?
Dr. Laver:	Erm, that's a girl.
Alice:	Oh! Who's a pretty little girl? What a lovely smile! Aren't you lovely? Oh, oh, oh!
Dr. Laver:	Excellent, excellent - you're a natural. You'll make a very good nurse here and a lovely mother one day I'm sure.

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Vocabulary:

monitor (verb) - to watch, observe, listen to, or check (something) for a special purpose over a period of time

overnight (adverb) - for or during the entire night

important   (adjective) - deserving or requiring serious attention

gorgeous (adjective) - very beautiful or attractive

lovely   (adjective) - attractive or beautiful especially in a graceful way
  
excellent  (adjective) - extremely good

you're a natural (phrase) - you're really suited (to nursing), you have a natural ability (for nursing)

The Flatmates episode 31 (including Video/Vocabulary)

Episode 31: The photocopier
John:	Hey, Helen, look what I've found on the photocopier - the answers for next week's test!
Helen:	The answers? You'd better hand them in to the office.
John:	You're kidding, aren't you? I think you should wise up.
Helen:	What do you mean?
John:	We've both been struggling with the work this term; here's our chance to pass with flying colours. If I were you, I 'd make the most of it.
Helen:	What? Cheat? We can't do that!
John:	Why not? Do you want to fail? Your parents won't like it if you do.
Helen:	No, I don't want to fail. But, if we get caught.
John:	We won't get caught. Come on, what do you say?
Helen:	Well, I'm not sure..

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Vocabulary:

photocopier (noun) - a machine that makes paper copies of printed pages, pictures, etc. —called also copy machine, copier, or  photocopy machine

had better (adverbial phrase) - if you had better do something, you should do it

hand (something) in (idiom) - return them , to give (something) to a person who will review or accept it

kidding (verb) - to speak to (someone) in a way that is not serious : to say things that are not true to (someone) in a joking way

wise up (verb) - stop being stupid, stop being naive or too innocent about life

struggle (verb) - to try very hard to do, achieve, or deal with something that is difficult,  to be doing something without success

term (noun) -  one of the parts of the school year

chance  (noun) - an opportunity to do something : an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done

pass with flying colors (phrase) - do very well in a test or exam

make the most of it (phrase) - take advantage of a given situation

cheat (verb) - to break a rule or law usually to gain an advantage at something

fail (verb) -  to not succeed, to end without success

get caught  (phrase) -  to be discovered doing something wrong or not legal