Lesson 28: What’s your pet peeve?

Warm-Up:
A “pet peeve” is something that particularly annoys you. Describe
a couple of your pet peeves and why you find them so irritating.

Activity 1 – Pre-Learn Vocabulary

subconsciously (adv.) = describes when you do something without actively
thinking about it, or even being aware of it
Ex) She says she has forgiven him, but she treats him pretty badly and I think
that subconsciously she’s still angry at him.
inept (adj.) = lacking ability, judgment, reason, or good sense
Ex) The customer service representative was completely inept; he couldn’t
provide me with even the basic information about my order.
bench (n.) = a long seat for two or more people:

oblivious (adj.) = completely not paying attention; completely unaware

Ex) His apartment is disgusting, and he’s oblivious to the mess!

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propose (v.) = ask someone to marry you
Ex) Mark proposed to Sarah during a romantic candlelight dinner.
fidget (v.) = to make small, nervous movements (often while waiting for something,
or while in a high-pressure situation)
Ex) The kids fidgeted while waiting their turn to play the video game.
lean (v.) = to incline your body
Ex) She leaned forward and put her head in her hands, saying she wasn’t
feeling well.
succumb (v.) = to submit to a strong force or desire
Ex) My son kept asking me to buy him a new toy for weeks, and I finally
succumbed to the pressure and bought it just so he would stop.

Activity 2 – Listen for the General Idea

Speaker: Larry – American
Larry’s pet peeve involves people who…
(select the ONE correct answer)
 Are constantly on their cell phones
 Interrupt others
 Make careless decisions
 Post stupid things on social media

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Activity 3 – Listen for Specific Details
1. Larry says that people who constantly check their cell phones...
a. are trying to look busy and important
b. give the impression that the other person is unimportant
c. often ask the other person to repeat what they said
2. One example of cell phone use Larry found ridiculous was...
a. a doctor who was checking his cell phone while seeing a patient
b. a man who asked his girlfriend to marry him via text message
c. a teacher who had her students use cell phones in class
3. The public reaction to this incident was…
a. positive
b. negative
4. The situation in the park involved...
a. a boyfriend and girlfriend
b. a brother and sister
c. a parent and child
5. Some people are starting a new tradition of avoiding all cell phone use
while...
a. at a restaurant
b. at the movies
c. with family

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Activity 4 – Listen for Specific Words
One of my biggest pet peeves is people who are constantly tethered to their cell
phones and can't seem to go more than a minute or two without
_____________________ it. It's like you'll be in the middle of a conversation with
someone, and you can just see their _____________________ repeatedly glancing
downwards at the phone - and I know most people do this subconsciously, and it's
becoming increasingly socially _____________________. But I still think that when
you do this, you give the impression that the other person who's standing right
there in front of you just isn't as important or _____________________ as whatever’s
on your phone.

And there's really no need for this - I mean, most people are not
_____________________ room doctors or some other profession where they might
need to be constantly on call. Now, to be fair, all the apps and games and stuff are
actually _____________________ to be addictive, and it’s easy to get hooked on the
notifications and updates. But sometimes I honestly wonder if future
_____________________ are gonna become completely inept at face-to-face
interaction.

I remember reading about a classroom where a teacher had her students

_____________________ in a group chat online via their cell phones or tablets – right
there in the classroom. It’s like they were incapable of actually talking to each other.
And she was actually being _____________________ for her innovative new
approach to involving students in the discussion.

There was one scene I witnessed in public that I'll never forget. I passed a couple of
guys in a park, and one of them was _____________________ something kind of
secretly to the other. I caught a glimpse of it, and it was an engagement ring - the guy
was about to propose to his girlfriend, who was sitting on a bench nearby chatting

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on her phone. So I sat down on another bench to watch what I thought would be a
beautiful moment - but it was a _____________________. The guy went and sat next
to the girl, but she barely acknowledged him, she was so absorbed in the
conversation.

For about ten minutes, the girl just kept yapping on her cell phone, while her
boyfriend sat there and fidgeted. He would change _____________________, adjust
his jacket, finger the ring in his pocket, and even stare directly at her, but she was
oblivious. When she finally _____________________ up, she turned to face him, they
exchanged a couple of words, and then - the phone rang again, and she answered.
The guy leaned back, _____________________ his arms, and stared straight ahead. I
eventually got up and left, but I kind of wonder if he ever proposed!

Some people are making an _____________________ to change, though. I remember

hearing about this game where, when you go out to dinner with friends, everyone
puts their cell phones in a _____________________ in the middle of the table, and the
first person who succumbs to the temptation of grabbing their phone has to foot the
bill for everybody's _____________________! So that’ll definitely make you think
twice about whether it’s really _____________________ it to take a look at your
phone while you’re in the middle of a social situation.

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© Shayna Oliveira 2014
Complete Transcript
One of my biggest pet peeves is people who are constantly tethered to their cell
phones and can't seem to go more than a minute or two without checking it. It's like
you'll be in the middle of a conversation with someone, and you can just see their
eyes repeatedly glancing downwards at the phone - and I know most people do this
subconsciously, and it's becoming increasingly socially acceptable. But I still think
that when you do this, you give the impression that the other person who's standing
right there in front of you just isn't as important or interesting as whatever’s on
your phone.

And there's really no need for this - I mean, most people are not emergency room
doctors or some other profession where they might need to be constantly on call.
Now, to be fair, all the apps and games and stuff are actually designed to be
addictive, and it’s easy to get hooked on the notifications and updates. But
sometimes I honestly wonder if future generations are gonna become completely
inept at face-to-face interaction.

I remember reading about a classroom where a teacher had her students

participate in a group chat online via their cell phones or tablets – right there in the
classroom. It’s like they were incapable of actually talking to each other. And she
was actually being praised for her innovative new approach to involving students in
the discussion.

There was one scene I witnessed in public that I'll never forget. I passed a couple of
guys in a park, and one of them was showing something kind of secretly to the
other. I caught a glimpse of it, and it was an engagement ring - the guy was about to
propose to his girlfriend, who was sitting on a bench nearby chatting on her phone.
So I sat down on another bench to watch what I thought would be a beautiful
moment - but it was a disaster. The guy went and sat next to the girl, but she barely
acknowledged him, she was so absorbed in the conversation.

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© Shayna Oliveira 2014
For about ten minutes, the girl just kept yapping on her cell phone, while her
boyfriend sat there and fidgeted. He would change position, adjust his jacket, finger
the ring in his pocket, and even stare directly at her, but she was oblivious. When
she finally hung up, she turned to face him, they exchanged a couple of words, and
then - the phone rang again, and she answered. The guy leaned back, crossed his
arms, and stared straight ahead. I eventually got up and left, but I kind of wonder if
he ever proposed!

Some people are making an effort to change, though. I remember hearing about this
game where, when you go out to dinner with friends, everyone puts their cell
phones in a pile in the middle of the table, and the first person who succumbs to the
temptation of grabbing their phone has to foot the bill for everybody's meals! So
that’ll definitely make you think twice about whether it’s really worth it to take a
look at your phone while you’re in the middle of a social situation.

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© Shayna Oliveira 2014
Extra Vocabulary
“people who are constantly tethered to their cell phones”
“Tethered” is another way to say “tied” or “attached”
“it’s easy to get hooked on the notifications and updates.”
“Hooked on” is another way to say “addicted to”
“she was actually being praised for her innovative new approach to involving
students in the discussion.”
Someone’s “approach” to doing something is their method or way of doing it.
“you can just see their eyes repeatedly glancing downwards at the phone” and “I
caught a glimpse of it”
Both “glance” and “glimpse” mean “a quick look.” Both these words can be
used as a noun or a verb.
“she was so absorbed in the conversation”
This is a way of saying that her complete attention was dedicated to the
conversation, and she was not easily distracted.
“the girl just kept yapping on her cell phone”
“Yapping” is a slang word for talking in a noisy, annoying way
“foot the bill for everybody's meals!”
“Foot the bill” is an expression that means “to pay” – usually for someone
else’s expense.

Activity 2 Answer
Larry’s pet peeve involves people who... are constantly on their cell phones.
Activity 3 Answers
1. b
2. c
3. a
4. a
5. a

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© Shayna Oliveira 2014