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[ESL/ EFL Podcast] Talking About Change
A lesson inspired by the new US president
Jennifer Lebedev (jenesl)     Email Article  Print Article 
  Published 2009-01-21 12:12 (KST)   
EXPRESSION No.1: CHANGE FOR THE BETTER

When a change brings positive results, we say it's a CHANGE FOR THE BETTER. Logically, if a change has no benefits, we say it's a CHANGE FOR THE WORSE.

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EXPRESSION No.2: CHANGE ONE'S MIND

Sometimes a decision is reversed, that is, we cancel it and act in a different way. From shopping for clothes to voting for a president, every person is entitled to CHANGE HIS or HER MIND.

EXPRESSION No.3: CHANGE OF HEART

Plans aren't the only thing that can change. We can also change the way we feel about something or someone. If you have a CHANGE OF HEART, your way of thinking is now different from what it was, and your new attitude is probably more favorable or positive.

EXPRESSION No.4: CHANGE ONE'S TUNE

Attitudes can change for the worse. When this happens and it's reflected in negative behavior, we say someone CHANGED HIS or HER TUNE. This expression isn't limited to a negative change in attitude, but it often describes how a person's behavior is completely different from before because the person realized that a different approach was needed to reach some kind of goal.

EXPRESSION No.5: CHANGE OF SCENERY

Most people get tired of seeing the same places and doing the same thing every day. When this happens, we say a CHANGE OF SCENERY is needed. A person needs to visit or even move to a new place and experience something different to gain perspective and feel refreshed.

EXPRESSION No.6: CHANGE OF PACE

Sometimes it's not a different place, but a different lifestyle or activity that a person needs. We talk about a CHANGE OF PACE when a routine is replaced or when a person's activities become faster and more intense or slower and more relaxed.

Now let's do a quick review. Listen to how I use the expressions from this lesson:

My friend and colleague said he was tired of working and never wanted to work again. He sold his apartment and moved to the tropics. At first, he said it was the ideal CHANGE OF SCENERY. Every morning he went to the beautiful ocean instead of a dreary office. It was a complete CHANGE OF PACE from a 40-hour job in a major city.

But after relaxing week after week at the beach for three months, he began to CHANGE HIS MIND about city living because he grew bored. The lack of stress was a CHANGE FOR THE BETTER, but the lack of friends was a CHANGE FOR THE WORSE.

After six months, his money began to run out and he had a CHANGE OF HEART. He realized that he missed his old job and that work gave meaning to his life. When he called our office, our boss recognized that my friend had CHANGED HIS TUNE and was ready to work hard again. Lucky for him, he got is old position back... with more vacation time.

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- Talking about Change 

An original podcast for OhmyNews International.
©2009 OhmyNews
Jennifer Lebedev is a teacher of English as a second and foreign language with 12 years experience. She has additional experience in teacher training and administration of an IEP and is a published author. Find more of her online English instruction on YouTube under the name "JenniferESL".
Other articles by reporter Jennifer Lebedev

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2.  Veryeidl good Siteeofj! Hctofanb , 2009-09-21 16:01  
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Seventeenth in a series of English language lessons from Jennifer Lebedev...
  [ESL/EFL] Talking About Change
  [ESL/ EFL Podcast] Personal Finances
  [ESL/EFL] Buying and Selling
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