A Lesson Learned

Now talk about some things you have to get done this week or next week.

CULTURE NOTESTalia has just said, "Tah-dah." This expression comes from the world of magic and circus performances. It imitates the sound the music makes, for example, at the end of a magician's trick or after an acrobat's performance. We use it to say,Look, I did itorLook, I was successful.

Talia has just said, "Hearing is believing." This is a play on words. The original expression isSeeing is believing. Sometimes we change expressions to match a situation. Talia changes seeing tohearingbecause they are going to listen to a tape.

Video Listening

1. Listening for Information

Click onto watch the video. Read each question and click on the answer.

All your answers are correct. Well done!

Look at Tony. His hand is cupping his chin. This gesture means,What am I going to do now? We use it when we are anxious or worried about a situation.

Talia:Here it is, the tape that will get Nickreinstatedon the team. Just a minute. I must not haverewoundit . . . Okay, now listen . . . What'sgoing on? Is this tape player working?Tony:It's been working just fine. In fact, I just had it cleaned last week.Amy:Try another tape and see if that works.Tony:Thanks, Amy. I was justabout totry that.Amy:Did you check that therecording lightwas on?Talia:I was going to check it after I sat down but too much was going on.Tony:Did you press "play" and "record" together?Talia:I don't know! I thought I did! The tape was moving.Tony:You probably just pressed "play."Talia:This is adisaster.Tony:Sorry, Talia. I'm afraid you've justlearned a lesson the hard way.Amy:Poor Talia.Talia:Poor Nick! How am I going to tell him?Talia: Aqu est, la cinta que le conseguir Nick reintegrado en el equipo. Slo un minuto. Yo no debo haber rebobinado ella. . . Bien, ahora escuchar. . . Qu est pasando? Funciona este reproductor de cintas?Tony: Ha estado trabajando muy bien. De hecho, acabo de tener que limpiar la semana pasada.

Amy: Pruebe otra cinta y ver si funciona.

Tony: Gracias, Amy. Estaba a punto de probar eso.

Amy: Ha comprobado que la luz de grabacin fue en?

Talia: Iba a verlo despus me sent pero demasiado que estaba pasando.

Tony: Ha pulsado el "juego" y "registro" juntos?

Talia: No lo s! Creo que lo hice! La cinta se mova.

Tony: Probablemente slo pulsar "play".

Talia: Esto es un desastre.

De Tony: Lo sentimos, Talia. Me temo que has aprendido una leccin de la manera difcil.

Amy: Pobre Talia.

Talia: Pobre Nick! Cmo voy a decirle?reinstatev.to put someone back into a job that they had beforeThe company had to reinstate the workers they fired when they realized they couldn't find people to replace them.rewindv.to make a tape go back to the beginningPlease rewind the tape. I'd like to hear that last part again.go onphr. v.if something is going on, it is happening, especially something strange, unusual, or confusingI could hear a lot of noise from the street, but I couldn't figure out what was going on.be about to do somethingcollocationif someone is about to do something, or if something is about to happen, they will do it or it will happen very soonI'm sorry, but I'm about to leave, so I'll have to call you back later.recording lightn.a small electric lamp that shows when a tape player is storing music, sound, etc.This machine isn't working; the recording light is on, but it isn't recording.

disastern.a sudden event such as an accident, flood, or storm that causes great harm or damageMany homes were destroyed in the disaster.learn something the hard wayidiomto learn something by making mistakes or having an unpleasant experienceI learned the hard way not to leave cash in my desk after someone stole all my money.