Intro
1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.
2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.
Everyone has secrets. Maybe you don’t want your mom knowing what you get up to after school. Perhaps you have an undercover job that no one can know about. You may be the kind of person who isn’t comfortable sharing information that seems revealing. Or maybe you don’t want your secret to get in the way of your ambition.
It’s fine to have secrets as long as they can’t hurt you or your loved ones. If they can, it might be time to get something out in the open. This doesn’t mean that you have to tell everyone your most personal feelings. Getting something out in the open just means sharing the truth about a situation. It might be as simple as telling your parents you didn’t pass an exam, or it might be as difficult as telling your boyfriend that you want to break up.
Jeff wants to get something out in the open with Marni. Should she be nervous? Learn more by reading today’s English lesson about telling the truth.
3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.
Dialog
1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.
2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.
Jeff: Well hello, Marni.
Marni: Hello.
Jeff: What’d you get up to last night?
Marni: Oh, you know… the usual. Went home. Made dinner. Put Dawn to bed.
Jeff: Anything else?
Marni: No.
Jeff: Are you sure?
Marni: Yeah. Exactly what are you getting at?
Jeff: Well, I feel like it’s time that I get something out in the open.
Marni: Please do.
Jeff: You know the photography course?
Marni: Yeah.
Jeff: Yeah. I’ve been out taking some photos.
Marni: OK.
Jeff: And since I want to get a job as a pro photographer… maybe even with StarScoop, those guys… I’ve been doing it undercover.
Marni: Undercover?
Jeff: I followed you last night.
Marni: You what?
Jeff: I figured since you and I work together, I thought you’d be the perfect person to follow.
Marni: Oh my god. I can’t believe you! Is it really your life’s ambition to be a paparazzi?
Jeff: Maybe. Yes, yes. Anyway, I saw you with some very revealing clothes coming out of a restaurant. Any idea what that’s about? Would you like to tell me?
Marni: No, I don’t want to tell you. But I don’t have much of a choice, do I? I have a second job.
Jeff: Doing what, exactly?
Marni: Belly dancing. Belly dancing, OK? Are you happy now?
Jeff: Wow, Marni. You’re full of surprises.
Marni: Well, as long as we’re talking, I want to get something out in the open, too.
Jeff: Which is…?
Marni: I’m never talking to you again.
Grammar Point
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Discussion
Jeff followed Marni after she left the office. He was practicing working undercover, because he thinks that one day he might want to be a paparazzi. Jeff saw Marni go into the restaurant where she has a second job as a belly dancer. Until now, the only person who knew about the job was Jessica.
Jeff confronts Marni with his knowledge of her coming out of a restaurant wearing revealing clothing. Marni’s furious that he did it, but Jeff’s more interested in learning the truth than he is worried about Marni being angry. She finally tells him that she sometimes works as a belly dancer in the evenings. Jeff is very pleased with himself, but Marni says she will never talk to him again!
When was the last time you had to get something out in the open? Was it difficult, or did it go well?