Learn English with FINDING NEMO — Meeting Dory

Summary

This video lesson helps learners improve their English listening and speaking skills through a scene from *Finding Nemo*. The lesson focuses on advanced expressions and connected speech, like 'look out', 'crash into', and 'will you quit it'. It highlights the natural flow of native speech, demonstrating how certain phrases are shortened or connected in everyday conversations. Viewers are encouraged to practice these expressions using the Real Life English app, with flashcards and spaced repetition to enhance vocabulary retention. The lesson also covers informal phrases like 'want a piece of me' and 'practical joke', offering insights into their meanings and usage.

Takeaways

• 😀 *Warning Phrases*: The phrase 'Look out' is used to alert someone of immediate danger, similar to 'watch out'.
• 😀 *Crash Into*: To crash into something means to hit it with force, typically by accident, often used in car accidents.
• 😀 *Comforting Phrases*: 'There, there' is used to comfort someone who is upset, often said in a sympathetic or reassuring tone.
• 😀 *Pronunciation & Connected Speech*: Native speakers tend to drop sounds in certain words, such as 'him' becoming 'm' or 'took him away' blending into 'took 'm away'.
• 😀 *Pass By vs. Pass Away*: 'Pass by' means to go past something, while 'pass away' is a euphemism for death.
• 😀 *Casual Responses*: 'No problem' is a casual, informal way to say 'you're welcome', commonly used in everyday conversation.
• 😀 *Stop Annoying Behavior*: The phrase 'Quit it' or 'Will you quit it?' is used to tell someone to stop doing something bothersome.
• 😀 *Confrontational Language*: 'Want a piece of me?' is a phrase used to challenge someone, often jokingly or aggressively, to fight or argue.
• 😀 *Short-Term Memory Loss*: Dory suffers from short-term memory loss, a condition where someone forgets things very quickly, as explained humorously in the script.
• 😀 *Runs in the Family*: 'It runs in the family' refers to a trait or condition that is common among family members across generations.

Q & A

What does the phrase 'Look out!' mean in the context of the script?

'Look out!' is a warning expression used to alert someone of an immediate danger or to tell them to be careful.

What is the meaning of 'crash into' in the context of the scene?

'Crash into' means to collide with something forcefully, usually by accident. In this scene, Marlin accidentally crashes into Dory.

What does the phrase 'there, there' convey when spoken by Dory?

'There, there' is a comforting phrase used to console someone who is upset or distressed, showing empathy and reassurance.

How is the phrase 'they took him away' pronounced in natural speech?

In natural speech, the phrase 'they took him away' is often spoken with connected speech, where 'him' sounds like 'm' and 'took him' might blend together.

What does the phrase 'No problem' mean, and how is it used in everyday English?

'No problem' is a casual response to someone thanking you, equivalent to 'You're welcome.' It's frequently used in informal contexts.

What is the meaning of 'quit it' in the script, and when can it be used?

'Quit it' means to stop doing something, especially when the action is annoying or bothersome. It can be used to tell someone to stop irritating you.

What does Dory mean by 'Want a piece of me?' in the script?

'Want a piece of me?' is a challenging expression often used in confrontational situations. It means 'Do you want to fight me?' or 'Do you have a problem with me?'

What is 'short-term memory loss,' as mentioned by Dory?

'Short-term memory loss' refers to a condition where a person forgets things quickly, typically within a short period of time, and it affects a person’s ability to remember recent events.

In what context does Dory say, 'It runs in my family'?

Dory uses the phrase 'It runs in my family' to explain that short-term memory loss is common among her relatives. It implies that the condition is hereditary.

What is a 'practical joke' as explained in the script, and can you give an example?

A 'practical joke' is a trick or prank played on someone for humorous effect. An example would be swapping someone's sugar with salt to make them drink salty tea without realizing it.