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A Little Goes a Long Way
A Little Goes a Long Way English, baby! Video Lesson

Learn English meaning of ‘A Little Goes a Long Way’

Date: Feb 16 2016

Themes: Friend, Soap Opera, Time

Grammar: Adverbs

Intro

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

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Sometimes, the best things in life come in small amounts. In fact, having a large amount might not be a good idea. For example, when there is someone you really like, such as a friend or partner, you probably enjoy being with him or her. It’s fun to spend time with a compatible person. However, a little time will go a long way in this type of friendship. If you were together all the time, you might not like this person as much.

We use the expression a little goes a long way to describe situations when just a little bit of something can have a big effect. For example, investing a small amount of money in the right place can give you a lot of potential money in the future. When a little goes a long way, it is important to have a small amount of this thing or experience. But it might also be important not to have too much of it.

Sara has been interviewing people and looking for a new roommate. Brian has some ideas for vetting this person. Learn about these ideas in today’s English lesson.

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Dialog

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

Brian

Brian

Sara_R

Sara_R

Brian:  Are you having any luck finding a new roommate?

Sara_R:  Not really. And I hate all the interviewing. It takes so long.

Brian:  That’s true. But a little vetting goes a long way.

Sara_R:  Can’t we just chat?

Brian:  Sure, but you’ll want to make sure you ask the right questions. For example, you’ll want to make sure that your schedules are compatible.

Sara_R:  That’s true. And I’m definitely a morning person, so I don’t want to live with a night owl.

Brian:  And find out if your new roommate is going to want to have friends over all the time. Or a boyfriend! That can be challenging.

Sara_R:  Yeah, I’m only looking for one roommate, not a roommate plus a boyfriend.

Brian:  Find out if she’s tidy or messy. If you’re tidy and she’s a slob, that can cause problems.

Sara_R:  I once had a roommate who would get upset with me about little things, but she would never talk to me about them. It ended so badly. And now we’re not friends anymore.

Brian:  Personally, I think it’s important to ask a potential roommate how she communicates. And if she answers honestly, you’ll know if living together is going to work.

Sara_R:  You’re right. Investing a little time will go a long way in finding a good roommate.

Brian:  Don’t worry. You’ll find the right person!

 

Grammar Point

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

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Sara is looking for a new roommate, but she doesn’t like the vetting process. She thinks that it takes too much time to interview potential roommates. Brian explains that a little effort will go a long way toward finding a compatible roommate. He gives Sara some suggestions.

Brian tells Sara that she should ask possible roommates about their schedules, their social lives, and their lifestyles. These are good suggestions because Sara doesn’t want to live with a night owl or a slob. Communication is also important to her. She remembers a past situation that ended badly, and she doesn’t want to have that experience again.

Did you ever have a bad roommate situation? Who was the most compatible person you ever lived with?

 

Comments

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Wuthering

United States

I had a roommate girl . She was  an american girl . She had lost her job and she had to move to the other state . I still miss her . 

03:51 PM Feb 16 2016 |

1 person likes this

hermitlady

China


 Yes. I ever had several bad roommates in the passed years when I was a single.



   The first one was my classmate when I was in university. I admitted that she was very beautiful girl. I said so not for my jealous of her beauty. Because her beauty, there were many boys who chased her and so the telephone in our room was ringing all day even midnight. She chatted with them at night till very very late. I didn’t have a good sleep.



   The second one was three yeas younger than me. We knew each other by flat-share house on the net. She was a kind girl. But she kept a dog. The dog peed anywhere include under my bed. I always smelt the dog’s urine every day especially when I lay on the bed. Finally I couldn’t stand it and I moved out. But we still were friends.



   The third one was after the second one. She was not beautiful and felt a little herself inferior. And then she has one boyfriend whom she didn’t like very much. She always despised this boy in front of  me, not tall ,not rich and so on. She has a little meaning of show to me for I was a single. Sometime she could say to me : you were not ugly but why didn’t you have a boyfriend?



  I usually smiled to her. But I was a little upset for this as the time going long. And I found she was not a tidy girl. Her clothing were anywhere. She never sweep. Later, I spoke to her less and less. I didn’t like to talk to her.



  But she began to challenge to me. Usually she listened to radio not with headphone at midnight. I knew she intended. Later , I could stand and fight with her and I moved out. We could not be friend any more.



 


   So it is very important that there is a compatible roommate. It must vet before going to be roommate

03:11 AM Feb 16 2016 |

saradong1986

China

a little goes a long way, wow, totally truth. ... that is why passion fades after time goes by if you spend to much time with someone, 



02:07 AM Feb 16 2016 |

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