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Down-to-EarthEveryday Idioms 3 – Lesson 14 of 20

Warm-UpStand up and chat with a bunch of different classmates.

1. Do you enjoy spending time in libraries? Why or why not?

2. What are some good places for single people to meet people?

3. What are some ways to learn and practice English besides doing it in a classroom?

4. What are phrasal verbs?

Vocabulary Preview

B. Matching

Match these words to their correct definitions.

a) 

b) 

c) 

d) 

e) 

f) 

g) 

h) 

i) 

j) 

to be very familiar with something

to search for and find

it sounds easy, but it’s not

to know how to do something after practicing

easygoing, not too serious

a bad name or reputation

I found what we are looking for.

to need or want help

I understand.

You’re right!

track down

get the hang of

down-to-earth

bad rap

know something like the back of one’s hand

Here we go.

use a hand

easier said than done

Bingo!

I get it.

A. Idioms and Expressions

Your teacher will give each student one or more strips of paper. Your strip(s) will have an English idiom/expression OR a definition for an idiom/expression. Try to find the student that has your match. When all of the matches have been found, read the strips out loud to see if they all make sense.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

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Down-to-EarthEveryday Idioms 3 – Lesson 14 of 20

Down-to-Earth: IntroductionIn the fourteenth episode of Moving to New York, Eugene chats with a librarian about learning English.

Listening – Gap FillFill in the gaps as you listen. Then read the dialogue with your partner a few times. Take turns being each character. Practice your intonation and pronunciation. Underline or highlight any new words or phrases that you don’t understand.

Yes. I’m looking for a book on phrasal verbs.

Yes. I’m it, but there are so many words!

.

Huh. That’s not a bad idea. You’re awfully for a librarian.

I could still finding that book, though.

That was quick.

You were an English student?

Aha. Now .

Can I help you ?

Aha. You’re studying English.

Hmm. You know, the best way to practice English is to get an English girlfriend.

Try joining a hiking or cycling group. You’ll meet a girl in no time.

Librarians get a .

Oh, yes. Phrasal verbs. . Top shelf.

I this section .

! Then I joined a hiking group and met my wife.

Eugene Librarian

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Down-to-EarthEveryday Idioms 3 – Lesson 14 of 20

Listen Again – Put in OrderListen to the dialogue again and put the sentences into the correct order by numbering them.

Yes. I’m looking for a book on phrasal verbs.

Try joining a hiking or cycling group. You’ll meet a girl in no time.

Librarians get a bad rap.

Can I help you track something down?

Huh. That’s not a bad idea. You’re awfully down-to-earth for a librarian.

I could still use a hand finding that book, though.

You were an English student?

That was quick.

I know this section like the back of my hand.

Easier said than done.

Yes. I’m getting the hang of it, but there are so many words!

Bingo! Then I joined a hiking group and met my wife.

Oh, yes. Phrasal verbs. Here we go. Top shelf.

Hmm. You know, the best way to practice English is to get an English girlfriend.

Aha. You’re studying English.

Aha. Now I get it.

Eugene Librarian

Making PredictionsIn the next episode, Eugene bumps into Carlos. What do you think will happen? Make two predictions. Discuss your predictions with a partner.

• I think Eugene and Carlos will go on a double date.• I bet Eugene will join a group.

Hint: The title of the next episode is “Now You’re Talking.”

1.

2.

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Down-to-EarthEveryday Idioms 3 – Lesson 14 of 20

Comprehension QuestionsAnswer and discuss these questions in pairs or as a class.

Vocabulary ReviewSubstitute the idiom or expression with another word or phrase.

1. Professor Peters . He’s actually a nice teacher.

2. I know New York City .

3. A: I bet I can guess where we’re going. You’re taking me to a concert.

B:  !

4. Oh! They’re on vacation. Now I why the car has been gone so long.

5. I hated snowboarding at first, but now I’m .

(has a bad rap)

(like the back of my hand)

(Bingo!)

(get)

(getting the hang of it)

1. Where does the conversation take place?

2. What is Eugene trying to find?

3. Why is Eugene surprised about how the librarian is talking?

4. What suggestion does the librarian make about learning English?

5. What realization does Eugene make at the end of the conversation?

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Down-to-EarthEveryday Idioms 3 – Lesson 14 of 20

Interjections

Write Your Own DialogueIn your notebook, write a new dialogue with a partner. Use idioms and expressions from page 1. Use the same subject (“Down-to-Earth”) but make it about you and one of your classmates. Talk about someone who is down-to-earth. You’re both surprised that this person is so cool! Be sure to include some interjections. Practice and present the dialogue to your class.

Write an EmailWrite an email telling a friend or family member that you think he/she takes life too seriously. Tell them why you think they should try being more down-to-earth. If possible, try to use a few idioms that you learned from this episode. Write your letter in your notebook or type it on the computer and email it to your teacher or a partner.

An interjection is a little word that is mainly used as a reaction in speaking. Some interjections are used to show surprise. Others are used to show hesitation or agreement. To the right are some examples. Listen to your teacher pronounce these interjections. Then practice these interjections with a partner. Take turns being the person who says something and the person who reacts with an interjection.

Interjection Meaning

aha expressing a sudden realization

ah expressing understanding, relief, or enjoyment

uh-huh, huh expressing agreement or acknowledgment

huh? expressing confusion

um, er, hmm expressing hesitation or uncertainty

uh-oh expressing a concern

ouch expressing pain

oh, oh? expressing many different emotions, including surprise, interest, or disappointment

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Down-to-EarthEveryday Idioms 3 – Lesson 14 of 20

Phrasal Verbs with “Look”

KeywordsWrite your own example sentences using the idioms and expressions you’ve learned.

get the hang of

bad rap

down-to-earth

Bingo!

know something like the back of one’s hand

track down

Here we go.

use a hand

easier said than done

I get it.

In this episode, Eugene went to the library to look for a book on phrasal verbs. Don’t let phrasal verbs scare you. They are just multi-word verbs! They can be made up of two or three words. For example:

look for someone/something: to try to find someone or something

• Eugene is looking for his map of the New York subway system.

Here are a few other phrasal verbs with “look.” Go to the library or use a dictionary or a mobile device. Find the meanings of the following phrasal verbs that contain the verb

“look.” Write example sentences for each:

1. look after someone/something:

2. look into something:

3. look through something:

4. look up something:

5. look up to someone:

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Down-to-EarthEveryday Idioms 3 – Lesson 14 of 20

Vocabulary Review

More than one option is possible.

1. Professor Peters doesn’t deserve the bad reputation.

2. I know New York City inside and out / really well.

3. B: You’re right! / You guessed it!

4. Now I understand why the car has been gone so long.

5. I hated snowboarding at first, but now

I’m figuring it out / getting better at it.

Comprehension Questions

1. The conversation takes place at the library.

2. Eugene is trying to find a book on phrasal verbs.

3. Eugene is surprised that the librarian is so down-to-earth.

He thinks of librarians as being more serious.

4. The librarian suggests that Eugene get an English girlfriend.

5. Eugene realizes that the librarian was once an English

learner. The librarian’s girlfriend helped him learn English.

Teachers’ Answer KeyNOTE: 

Written answers may vary. Use the images on

pages 11–13 to preview and review this episode.

Warm-Up

Put students in pairs or discuss as a class.

Vocabulary Preview

A. IDIOMS AND EXPRESSIONS

Optional. Cut-up strips are on page 9.

B. MATCHING

1. b

2. d

3. e

4. f

5. a

6. g

7. h

8. c

9. j

10. i

Listening – Gap Fill

Have students fill in the blanks as they listen to the dialogue.

After correction, have them practice reading it aloud in pairs.

The full transcript is on page 10 (optional handout).

Listen Again – Put in Order

Play the audio again and have your students write the correct

number beside each line. The correct order is on page 10.

(continued on the next page...)

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Down-to-EarthEveryday Idioms 3 – Lesson 14 of 20

Write Your Own Dialogue

Put students in pairs and make sure they use some

of the idioms and expressions on page 1. Give each

pair a chance to present their dialogue to the class.

Interjections

Invite your students to repeat the example

interjections after you say them out loud.

Write an Email

Individual writing task. Can be done for homework

or when a student finishes something early.

Keywords

Have students write their own example sentences. Check

to make sure they’re using the new vocabulary correctly.

Phrasal Verbs with “Look”

Give students time to look up these phrasal verbs. If your students

are unfamiliar with phrasal verbs, you may want to do a lesson on

transitive and intransitive phrasal verbs. Check out this post for

teaching tips: http://blog.esllibrary.com/2013/08/08/how-do-you-

teach-phrasal-verbs/

SPELLING NOTE:

This lesson shows the American spelling of the word Practice.

Most other English-speaking countries spell it this way: Practise

(when used as a verb; Practice when used as a noun). Make it a

challenge for your students to find this word in the lesson and

see if they know the alternate spelling.

Teachers’ Answer Key cont.

http://blog.esllibrary.com/2013/08/08/how-do-you-teach-phrasal-verbs/http://blog.esllibrary.com/2013/08/08/how-do-you-teach-phrasal-verbs/

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Down-to-EarthEveryday Idioms 3 – Lesson 14 of 20

Vocabulary PreviewA. Idioms and Expressions

Cut up these vocabulary strips. Refer to the instructions on page 1.

get the hang of to know how to do something after practicing

bad rap a bad name or reputation

down-to-earth easygoing, not too serious

Bingo! You’re right!

know something like the back of one’s hand to be very familiar with something

track down to search for and find

Here we go. I found what we are looking for.

use a hand to need or want help

easier said than done it sounds easy, but it’s not

I get it. I understand.

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Down-to-EarthEveryday Idioms 3 – Lesson 14 of 20

Dialogue TranscriptRead the dialogue with your partner a few times. Take turns being each character. Practice your intonation and pronunciation. Underline or highlight any new words or phrases that you don’t understand.

Easier said than done.

Yes. I’m looking for a book on phrasal verbs.

Yes. I’m getting the hang of it, but there are so many words!

I could still use a hand finding that book, though.

Huh. That’s not a bad idea. You’re awfully down-to-earth for a librarian.

That was quick.

You were an English student?

Aha. Now I get it.

I know this section like the back of my hand.

Bingo! Then I joined a hiking group and met my wife.

Can I help you track something down?

Librarians get a bad rap.

Hmm. You know, the best way to practice English is to get an English girlfriend.

Aha. You’re studying English.

Oh, yes. Phrasal verbs. Here we go. Top shelf.

Try joining a hiking or cycling group. You’ll meet a girl in no time.

Eugene Librarian

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LessonWarm-UpVocabulary PreviewDown-to-Earth: IntroductionListening – Gap FillListen Again – Put in OrderMaking PredictionsComprehension QuestionsVocabulary ReviewInterjectionsWrite Your Own DialogueWrite an EmailKeywordsPhrasal Verbs with "Look"

Teachers' Answer KeyExtrasVocabulary StripsDialogue TranscriptImages