Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in
 
Waiting in Line
简体
Waiting in Line
排队等候

Learn English with this daily life English lesson

Date: Jun 14 2013

Themes: Time

Grammar: You're vs. Your

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

Waiting in line is just part of life. We endure lines at the grocery store, on the freeway, for the bathroom, and at the movie theater. Lines are so common that we’re surprised and elated when there is none. Sometimes a day without waiting in line can feel like you’ve won the lottery.

What’s the alternative? Without lines, life might be a little chaotic. Paying for groceries could end in pushing and shoving. Angry drivers might crash their cars. Is it worth all of that just to avoid queuing up?

Mason shares his strong feelings on the subject in this English lesson about waiting in line.

排队等候是生活的一部分。我们在杂货店、高速公路口、卫生间和电影院前忍受着排队的煎熬。排队等候的情况如此司空见惯,以至于我们在不需要排队时会感到惊讶和无比开心。有时一整天没排队,你就会觉得像中了彩票一样。

我们有别的选择吗?如果不排队,生活可能会有些小混乱。
在杂货店里,人们可能推搡着到柜台付款。
气愤的司机可能在争抢下和别人撞车。只为了避免排队而弄成这样,值得吗?

在本节以排队等候为话题的英语课上,梅森和大家分享了他对这类事情的强烈感触。

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

Log in to Listen

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Mason

Mason

Amanda

Amanda

Mason:  You know, I’ve reached that age that I start avoiding places that I know have lines because I just don’t have the patience for it anymore.

Amanda:  What is it that annoys you about lines?

Mason:  Mostly I feel the sense of my impending death, and every minute that I waste, standing there doing nothing, is just wasted time.

Amanda:  I’m pretty sure you just turned 32.

Mason:  I know. OK, so maybe I’m exaggerating a little bit.

Amanda:  A little dramatic.

Mason:  But seriously, I’ve got a smart phone, so I can sit there and look at the internet…

Amanda:  Don’t you think that sometimes there are things in life that are worth the wait? A great movie, a great show?

Mason:  There are certainly some things, but I don’t know that I would count a movie or a good breakfast among them. What’s your policy on cutting in line?

Amanda:  There are only perhaps two or three excuses for cutting in line. What’s your policy?

Mason:  I feel like I’m willing to let no more than two people do the “Hey! You’re my buddy, and you’re already in line!” That’s cool. Two people doesn’t really screw up the line equation, but more than that and I’m starting to get out of sync.

 

Grammar Point

Go Super to learn "You're vs. Your" from this lesson Go Super!

Quizzes

Go Super to take Quiz Go Super!

 

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3 Go Super!

The iTEP® test

  • Schedule an iTEP® test and take the official English Practice Test.

    Take Now >

Discussion

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

Mason and Amanda have different feelings about waiting in line. Mason is not very patient and feels like he’s wasting valuable time if he has to wait long. Amanda believes that some things are interesting or important enough to wait for.

The two do agree on one thing: cutting in line is not cool. Everyone needs to join the line at the end. Once in a while it’s OK to cut, but that shouldn’t happen very often. We have rules for a reason!

How do you feel about waiting in line? Is it frustrating for you? What do you feel when somebody cuts in line?

 

Comments

Log in to Comment

kimnga

kimnga

Viet Nam

Waiting in line is a good thing to do for everyone; and I get very annoyed if somebody just cut in line while other people have to be waiting for their turn.

07:00 AM Jul 30 2014 |

jin1997514

jin1997514

China

 waiting in line is an act of civilization, it is an embodiment of a personal accomplishment.
We should observe

06:59 AM Aug 03 2013 |

Staisy

Staisy

Russian Federation

Some people think that waiting in a long line is a waste of time, but for me it provides an opportunity to do things for which I do not have any  time during busy days- filling up sudoku crosswords, for example.


So that way I dont worry too much about  wasting my time and do not feel frustrated, while waiting there.

06:38 AM Aug 03 2013 |

jodatrail

jodatrailSuper Member!

Switzerland

Standing in line is a good way to learn to be patient. Meditate! Release yourself from wanting everything. Become aware instead. Notice your breathing, your body, your thoughts: are they positive or do they condemn everything and everybody? Notice the world around you. Isn’t it great to be alive? Isn’t it wonderful to have the opportunity to be standing where you’re standing right now? Thankfulness brings a lot of fortune to you. Try it out! It’s the Hawaiian secret of a happy life. They call it: “Ho’oponopono!”


But: Don’t you dare! Never cut the line! Otherwise you’ll have me to reckon with!

11:29 AM Jun 21 2013 |

yuuwon

yuuwon

Indonesia

How long have you been waiting in line? i’ve been waiting in line about 1 hour and stand up also

02:40 AM Jun 18 2013 |

1 person likes this

trucluanSuper Member!

Viet Nam

Waiting in line is an important thing in our life. It shows the culture, human consciousness. I don’t think it is difficult to do. I really like the sentence in this conversation: “Don’t you think that sometimes there are things in life that are worth the wait?” Waiting in line is the culture!!! 

12:10 PM Jun 17 2013 |

jpukg

India

It seems to me “Waiting in line” is so fun when i dont have much work to do. while waiting in line, we can watch more ppl and what are they doing etc.,

09:13 AM Jun 17 2013 |

1 person likes this

yuuwon

yuuwon

Indonesia

waiting in line is so common, we have to waiting in line to get what we worth it so it doesn’t matter to waiting in line. if we don’t get the worth it think so why we should waiting in line.


If anybody cut the line its so rude and unfair manner so just scolds him/her. But sometimes we should let him/her cut the line because the important thing happen.

04:29 AM Jun 17 2013 |

nh_sxw

nh_sxw

China

Waiting in line is a symbol of ripe society, no order, no everything, it represent civilization, so far it does not implement all over China, part of regions also perform rude, crowed in a pile . 

10:33 AM Jun 16 2013 |

1 person likes this

MAHSA1995

MAHSA1995

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

i usually avoid places which i have to wait in line,however sometimes sths is too important or maybe funny for me so i will tollorate the line then

09:48 AM Jun 16 2013 |

1 person likes this

physicsstudent

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Well, I feel really fed up if I have to wait in line for a long time, it’s so frustrating, however if something is worth the wait, I’ll definitely have to grin and bear it; I listen to music or English audio clips on my headphones, this way time passes much faster!


I get out of sync like Mason if people cut in line; they happen all of a sudden to be someone’s friend, acquaintance or relative. As a result I’ll have to wait much longer in line !!  

09:30 AM Jun 16 2013 |

1 person likes this

drallon

drallon

China

In China,lines is in everywhere.When I am waiting in lines, I am anxious because I hate waiting.But  if there is no line, then there are clutter sequence.So I can only tolerant of  it and avoid it as so as possible,but I certainly do not disturb it

05:07 AM Jun 16 2013 |

hoseiny

hoseiny

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

We Iranians are comletely habited with standing and wasting in lines. you can speak about everything. geting in bus, car, subway, buying, walking and even voting. the interesting about these lines is that they are seperated i mean male and female

03:42 AM Jun 16 2013 |

1 person likes this

elizabethzarchi

Myanmar

I’m  paitience    and   kind   to  people. So,  I  can  wait  everything.But, if someone  is  cut  in  line  while I’m  waiting  in   line,  I’m  so  angry  that  person.  And  then, I  think, Who  is  uncompetition  person.

03:17 AM Jun 16 2013 |

karole

karole

Algeria

Yes, it’s disgusting and it needs patience

05:59 PM Jun 15 2013 |

sarah1374

sarah1374

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

maybe waiting in line may seem boring and wasting time,but i believe that it cause people to save their time by evoiding much more crowd.and alot of things worth a little waiting

11:34 AM Jun 15 2013 |

3emma3

3emma3

Iraq

What do you feel if you want to  celebrate and have dinner with your family and you find people waiting in line at resturants?!!  It happened to me. I t was horrible. We came back home and had some cheese which is more enjoyable alternative.

09:50 AM Jun 15 2013 |

Jason Chu

Jason Chu

China

I think waiting in lines is necessary .It can be considered a rule for people to follow in many public places . If people don’t obey the rule ,,then the situation might become very chaotic.


I dislike those who like to cut in line, In my opinion , these people are rude , ill-bred,and selfish—-because they are not considerate

08:09 AM Jun 15 2013 |

haitham4vip

Egypt

very boooooring

08:00 AM Jun 15 2013 |

1 person likes this

javad_438

javad_438

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I hate waiting in line specially car line. stucking in traffic make my angry, by the way I must be  patient and wait till my turn.


I really hate cuts in line. if there’s somebody who cuts in line I cannt tolerate it and I’ll complain.


It’s soooooo rude action. those people are uncultured.

07:10 AM Jun 15 2013 |

Likes (34):

See all >

Share this lesson:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Bebo
  • Share on Myspace
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email this to a friend
  • Share on Sina

Post Ebaby! lessons on your blog:

Ebaby! Cast