Welcome to EnglishPod!
Hello English learners, and welcome back to EnglishPod! I’m Marco, and I’m here with Erica. How are you today, Erica?
Erica: I’m doing great, Marco! We have an exciting lesson today, covering real, everyday English that native speakers use.
In this lesson, we’ll explore a common yet embarrassing situation: forgetting someone’s name! Don’t worry if you don’t catch everything the first time—we’ll break it down so that by the end of this lesson, you’ll understand everything perfectly.
The Dialogue: Forgetting Someone’s Name
Let’s listen to today’s dialogue:
Dialogue 1 (Fast Version)
📍 Situation: Nick meets a colleague, Anna, but forgets her name.
Nick: How’s it going?
Anna: Oh hey! What are you doing in this neighborhood? Do you live around here?
Nick: Actually, my office is right around the corner. It was great to meet you last week at the conference—I really enjoyed our conversation about foreign investment.
Anna: Yeah, yeah! It was really interesting.
Nick: You know, I’m in a bit of a hurry, but here’s my card. We should definitely meet up again and continue our discussion.
Anna: Sure! You still have my contact details, right?
Nick: You know what? This is really embarrassing, but your name has just slipped my mind. Can you remind me?
Anna: Sure, sure! My name is Anna Ferris. Don’t worry about it—it happens to me all the time. I’m terrible with names, too!
Language Takeaways
Let’s break down some useful expressions from the dialogue!
1️⃣ In a Bit of a Hurry
✅ Meaning: You are short on time and need to move quickly.
✅ Examples:
- Can you drive faster? I’m in a bit of a hurry.
- I can’t talk right now—I’m in a bit of a hurry.
- I’m in a bit of a hurry, so I’ll check these files later.
2️⃣ Contact Details
✅ Meaning: The information you share so others can contact you (e.g., phone number, email).
✅ Examples:
- Do you have the contact details of our internet provider?
- Here’s my card with all my contact details.
- I don’t have your contact details—can you send them to me?
3️⃣ Slipped My Mind
✅ Meaning: You forgot something (accidentally).
✅ Examples:
- I’m sorry I forgot to reply—it just slipped my mind.
- Oh no! It’s your birthday? It completely slipped my mind.
- I was supposed to call you, but it slipped my mind.
4️⃣ Around Here
✅ Meaning: Close by, in the same area.
✅ Examples:
- Excuse me, is there a bakery around here?
- There is a great restaurant right around here.
- Los Angeles is a great city—I used to live around there.
5️⃣ Terrible With (Something)
✅ Meaning: Not good at something.
✅ Examples:
- I’m terrible with numbers—I can’t even remember my own phone number!
- I’m terrible with directions—I always get lost.
- I’m terrible with technology—something always goes wrong when I use my computer.
Putting It Together: Fluency Building
To sound more fluent in English, try using natural phrases.
🔹 Instead of “How are you?” say “How’s it going?”
🔹 Instead of “Do you live near here?” say “Do you live around here?”
🔹 Instead of “I forgot,” say “It slipped my mind.”
Practice makes perfect! Next time you meet someone, try using these expressions naturally.
Cultural & Real-Life Tip: What to Do If You Forget Someone’s Name
Everyone forgets names sometimes! Here are two tricks to help you in a professional or social setting:
✔️ Ask for a business card – That way, you can discreetly check their name later.
✔️ Ask them to spell their email address – This usually includes their full name!
💡 Example:
“I’d love to stay in touch. Could you write down your email for me?”
Listen Again: Dialogue at Slower Speed
Now that we’ve broken down the key phrases, let’s listen to the dialogue again at a slower speed. Try to recognize the phrases you’ve learned!
🎧 (Replay dialogue)
Final Listening: Natural Speed
Now, listen one more time at normal speed—you’ll understand much more than before!
🎧 (Replay fast dialogue)
Practice & Review
Let’s test your understanding with a quick review!
🎤 Listen to the meaning, then say the vocabulary word:
- How are you? → How’s it going?
- Close to here → Around here
- Moving quickly, no time → In a bit of a hurry
- Personal information to contact someone → Contact details
- Forgotten → Slipped my mind
- Not good at something → Terrible with
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed today’s EnglishPod lesson! To improve your fluency, try practicing these phrases in real conversations.
✅ Key Takeaways:
- Use real-life expressions to sound more natural.
- Don’t panic if you forget a name—use professional tricks to remember.
- Practice listening and repeat common phrases for better fluency.
💡 Visit EnglishPod.com for more lessons and leave your comments or questions. We’d love to help you!
👉 Until next time—happy learning! 🎧📚
