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Lesson 1 • AT THE PARTY

The words introduced on the first two pages are used in the followingdialogue and illustrated in the long picture above. Can youunderstand the conversation and find the illustration thatcorresponds to the slang? Note: The translation of the words inboldface is on the right-hand page.

CD-A: track 2

A. DIALOGUE USING SLANG & IDIOMS

Deb bie and Becky are at tend ing a party.

Deb bie: I don’t know why I let you convince me to come here. I hate parties.

Becky: Would you get a grip? This is going to be a blast!

Deb bie: Oh, no. Look who just walked in. Sheila Hampton. I can’t stand her. She alwaysgets on my case because she doesn’t like the way I dress.

Becky: What?! Did you get a load of that tiny dress she’s wearing? Her belt’s so tight it lookslike she’s being cut in half! Hey, isn’t that Ernie Milton she’s with?

Deb bie: Yeah, you’re right. He’s gained so much weight! And what’s up with his hair?

Becky: What hair? I don’t know what you think, but I think it’s a rug.

Deb bie: No way! You’re putting me on! He was such a hunk! He’s changed so much inten years!

Becky: I remember. I wonder what happened to him. Uh oh. I think Sheila’s waving at us.They’re both coming this way!

Deb bie: Oh, no. Run!

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the slangman guide to streET SPEAK 1

Deb bie and Becky are at tend ing a party.

Deb bie: I don’t know why I let you convince me to come here. I hate parties.

Becky: Would you get control of your emotions? This is going to be a great time!

Deb bie: Oh, no. Look who just walked in. Sheila Hampton. I can’t tolerate her. She alwayscriticizes me because she doesn’t like the way I dress.

Becky: What?! Did you take a good look at that tiny dress she’s wearing? Her belt’s so tightit looks like she’s being cut in half! Hey, isn’t that Ernie Milton she’s with?

Deb bie: Yeah, you’re right. He’s gained so much weight! And what’s wrong with his hair?

Becky: What hair? I don’t know what you think, but I think it’s a hairpiece.

Deb bie: That’s impossible! You’re kidding me! He was such a muscular andhandsome guy! He’s changed so much in ten years!

Becky: I remember. I wonder what happened to him. Uh oh. I think Sheila’s waving at us.They’re both coming this way!

Deb bie: Oh, no. Run!

LET’S SEE HOW MUCH YOU REMEMBER!Just for fun, bounce around in random order to the words andexpressions in boldface below. See if you can remember their slangequivalents without looking at the left-hand page!

B. DIALOGUE translated INto STANDARD ENGLISH

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Lesson 1 • AT THE PARTY

Deb bie ’n Becky’er at tend ing a pardy.

Deb bie: I dunno why I letchu convince me da come here. I hate pardies.

Becky: Would’ja ged a grip? This’ez gonna be a blast!

Deb bie: Oh, no. Look ’oo jus’ walked in. Sheila Hampton. I can’t stand ’er. She always gets onmy case ’cuz she doesn’ like the way I dress.

Becky: What?! Did’ja ged a load of that tiny dress she’s wearing? Her belt’s so tide it looks likeshe’s being cud ’n half! Hey, isn’t that Ernie Milton she’s with?

Deb bie: Yeah, yer right. He’s gained so much weight! An’ what’s up with ’is hair?

Becky: What hair? I dunno whatchu think, bud I think it’s a rug.

Deb bie: No way! Yer pudding me on! He was such a hunk! He’s changed so much ’n ten years!

Becky: I remember. I wonder what happened ta him. Uh oh. I think Sheila’s waving ad us. They’reboth coming this way!

Deb bie: Oh, no. Run!

C. DIALOGUE USING “REAL SPEAK”

CD-A: track 2

The dialogue below demonstrates how the slang conversationon the previous page would really be spoken by native speakers!