Episode 13: A Nervous Wreck – Everyday Idioms 3 – ESL Library

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A Nervous WreckEveryday Idioms 3 – Lesson 13 of 20

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

1. How do you usually feel before a test?

2. Do you consider yourself a lucky or unlucky person? Why?

3. What do you sometimes have trouble remembering?

4. Do you think students should be allowed to use dictionaries or calculators during tests? Why or why not?

Vocabulary Preview

B. Matching

Match these words to their correct definitions.

a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

f)

g)

h)

i)

j)

an expression used sarcastically to say that you are unlucky

in big trouble

You aren’t the one with the problem.

an expression used before trying something difficult or risky

to make assumptions

That’s exactly how I feel.

someone can’t remember anything

really easy

a person who is very worried

Be quiet.

Just my luck.

breeze

Easy for you to say.

jump to conclusions

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

one’s mind goes blank

nervous wreck

Pipe down.

Here goes nothing.

toast

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.



A Nervous Wreck: IntroductionIn the thirteenth episode of Moving to New York, Eugene and Carlos are about to take a test. Who is relaxed and who is a nervous wreck?

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.

. Can we leave when we’re done?

Ah! There’s that word again. Now I’m really .

. I left my dictionary on the subway.

, Eugene. You’ve been working like a dog.

Sorry. I’ll try not to .

.

You’re a , Carlos! Relax. It’s no biggie.

All books away except English-English dictionaries.

No worries. This test is going to be a .

Hey, just because I’m late every day doesn’t mean I never hit the books.

Just try to think in English, buddy.

But when I hear the word “test.”

Okay, , everyone.

By all means. You’re free to go as soon as you hand in your test.

EugeneMrs. LynnCarlos



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


Easy for you to say, Eugene. You’ve been working like a dog.



Sorry. I’ll try not to jump to conclusions.

Ah! There’s that word again. Now I’m really toast.

Just my luck. I left my dictionary on the subway.


Here goes nothing. Can we leave when we’re done?

You’re a nervous wreck, Carlos! Relax. It’s no biggie.


Okay, pipe down, everyone.

No worries. This test is going to be a breeze.

But my mind goes blank when I hear the word “test.”


Making PredictionsHint: The title of the next episode is “Down-to-Earth”

and it takes place in a library.

1.

2.

What do you think will happen? Make two predictions. Discuss your predictions with a partner.

• I think Carlos will ace the test.• I bet Eugene will flunk.



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

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

1. The interview is going to be . I bet I already have the job.

2. whenever I have to remember people’s names.

3. . It’s time to hit the books.

4. Why do you think Ella stole the money? Don’t .

5. A: Karen is talented and kind. She’s perfect for the job. B: .

(a breeze)

(My mind goes blank)

(Pipe down)

(jump to conclusions)

(I couldn’t have said it better myself)

1. Where does the conversation take place?

2. What word does Carlos not like, and why?

3. How does Eugene feel during the conversation?

4. What suggestion does Eugene give to Carlos?

5. Why does Carlos say “Now I’m really toast”?



It’s a Breeze!PRONOUNCING WORDS WITH “BR”

Write Your Own DialogueIn your notebook, write a new dialogue with a partner. Use idioms and expressions from page 1. Use the same subject (“A Nervous Wreck”) but make it between you and one of your classmates. What is making one of you nervous? Practice and present the dialogue to your class.

Write an EmailWrite an email telling a friend or family member that you are nervous about an upcoming event. Tell them why you are afraid. 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.

• breeze• brain• branch• Brad• breath

• breakfast• broccoli• brush• number• November

• October• barber• cucumber

Words that start with “br-” are pronounced “burr.” This is the same sound that you will find in words that end in “-ber.” Practice these words with a partner.

Note:Some words that end in “-mber” have a silent b, such as “plumber,” “dumber,” and “climber,”

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

Just my luck.

breeze

Easy for you to say.

jump to conclusions

one’s mind goes blank

Pipe down.

toast

nervous wreck

Here goes nothing.




A Nervous Wreck – SurveyWalk around your class and survey your classmates.

# Find someone... Classmate

1 who is nervous of flying.

2 who is nervous of driving.

3 who is nervous of talking to native English speakers.

4 who is nervous of singing in public.

5 who is nervous of having an interview.

6 who is nervous of doing presentations.

7 who is nervous of dogs.

8 who is nervous of dating.

9 who is nervous of crowds.

10 who is nervous of talking to people of the opposite sex.

11 who is nervous of talking to their friends’ parents.

12 who is nervous of walking in the dark.

13 who is nervous of being home alone.

14 who bites their nails when they are nervous.

15 who clenches their teeth when they are nervous.

16 who moves around a lot when they are nervous.

17 who sweats when they are nervous.

18 who doesn’t make eye contact when they are nervous.

19 who breathes heavily when they are nervous.

20 who holds their breath when they are nervous.

What other things are your classmates nervous of? What other things do your classmates do when they are nervous?



Vocabulary Review

More than one option is possible.

1. This interview is going to be so easy / simple.

2. I can’t remember anything whenever

I have to remember people’s names.

3. Be quiet. It’s time to hit the books.

4. Why do you think Ella stole the money?

Don’t make assumptions.

5. B: That’s exactly how I feel.

Comprehension Questions

1. The conversation takes place at the school.

2. Carlos does not like the word “test”

because it makes him nervous.

3. Eugene feels fine. He is ready for

the test and thinks it will be easy.

4. Eugene tells Carlos to relax/to think in English.

5. Carlos says, “Now I’m really toast”

when his teacher says the word “test.”

Teachers’ Answer KeyNOTE:

Written answers may vary. Use the images on

pages 11–14 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. a

2. h

3. c

4. e

5. f

6. g

7. i

8. j

9. d

10. b

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 11.

(continued on the next page...)



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.

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.

A Nervous Wreck – Survey

Have your students walk around the room surveying

each other about their nervous habits and fears. Then

have a class discussion about what makes people nervous

and how people show their nervousness. Do any of

your students have tips for calming people’s nerves?

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.



Vocabulary PreviewA. Idioms and Expressions

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

Just my luck. an expression used sarcastically to say that you are unlucky

breeze really easy

Easy for you to say. You aren’t the one with the problem.

jump to conclusions to make assumptions

I couldn’t have said it better myself. That’s exactly how I feel.

one’s mind goes blank someone can’t remember anything

nervous wreck a person who is very worried

Pipe down. Be quiet.

Here goes nothing. an expression used before trying something difficult or tricky

toast in big trouble



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.

No worries. This test is going to be a breeze.


You’re a nervous wreck, Carlos! Relax. It’s no biggie.

Ah! There’s that word again. Now I’m really toast.

Just my luck. I left my dictionary on the subway.


Here goes nothing. Can we leave when we’re done?

But my mind goes blank when I hear the word “test.”

Easy for you to say, Eugene. You’ve been working like a dog.



Sorry. I’ll try not to jump to conclusions.

Okay, pipe down, everyone.



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Episode 13: A Nervous Wreck – Everyday Idioms 3 – ESL Library