Real English Conversation: How to talk about the weekend

Summary

In this video, Emma teaches important English vocabulary and expressions related to the weekend. She covers common questions like 'Do you have any plans for the weekend?' and explains expressions such as 'TGIF' and 'long weekend.' Emma also introduces activities people often do, like 'binge-watching' TV shows, running errands, and meeting up with friends or family. Through a conversation with her sister, Audra, Emma further explores topics like brunch, sleeping in, and catching up on tasks. The video helps learners understand how to discuss weekend plans and activities in everyday English.

Takeaways

• 😀 The preposition 'on' is used when referring to days of the week (e.g., 'on Friday').
• 😀 'TGIF' stands for 'Thank God It's Friday,' expressing relief and excitement for the weekend.
• 😀 A 'long weekend' refers to a three-day weekend, such as Friday-Sunday or Saturday-Monday.
• 😀 The phrase 'What'd you do this weekend?' is a common way to ask about someone's weekend plans.
• 😀 'Get up to' means 'to do' and is usually used in the negative form (e.g., 'I didn’t get up to much').
• 😀 In British English, people say 'at the weekend,' while in American English, 'on the weekend' is more common.
• 😀 Brunch is a meal between breakfast and lunch, often enjoyed on Sundays around 10 or 11 AM.
• 😀 'Binge-watching' means watching many episodes of a TV show in one sitting, such as a whole Saturday spent on a show.
• 😀 'Running errands' refers to completing small tasks like grocery shopping or paying bills.
• 😀 'Getting caught up on' means completing tasks or activities you didn’t have time to do during the week (e.g., schoolwork, sleep, or housework).

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is learning about expressions and vocabulary related to the weekend, including common activities people do on weekends and common questions asked about weekends.

What does 'TGIF' mean, and why do people say it?

'TGIF' stands for 'Thank God It's Friday.' People say this to express relief and happiness that the workweek is over and the weekend has arrived.

What is a 'long weekend'?

A 'long weekend' is a weekend that lasts for three days, often because of a holiday that falls on either Friday or Monday.

What common question do people often ask on Mondays about the weekend?

On Mondays, people often ask 'What'd you do this weekend?' or 'How was your weekend?' to learn about the activities someone did during the weekend.

What does the expression 'get up to' mean, and how is it used?

The expression 'get up to' means 'to do.' It's commonly used when talking about activities done in the past. For example, 'Did you get up to anything this weekend?' means 'Did you do anything this weekend?'

How is the phrase 'get up to' typically used in a sentence?

'Get up to' is often used in the negative form. For example, 'I didn’t get up to much' means 'I didn’t do much.' It’s not typically used in the positive form like 'I got up to a lot.'

What is the difference between British English and North American English regarding the weekend?

In British English, people say 'at the weekend,' while in North American English, people say 'on the weekend.' Both are correct depending on the region.

What is 'brunch' and when is it typically eaten?

Brunch is a meal that combines breakfast and lunch, typically eaten around 10 or 11 am, especially on Sundays. It is very popular in North America.

What does it mean to 'binge' on a TV show?

To 'binge' on a TV show means to watch multiple episodes in a row, often for several hours without taking breaks. For example, watching several episodes of a show like 'Game of Thrones' in one sitting.

What are 'errands,' and what is an example of running errands?

Errands refer to small tasks or activities that need to be done, such as grocery shopping or paying bills. For example, 'I ran some errands' could mean doing multiple small tasks like picking up groceries or getting a new cellphone charger.

What does it mean to 'get caught up on' something?

'Get caught up on' means to make up for something that was left incomplete or delayed. For example, 'I got caught up on sleep' means catching up on rest that was missed during the week.

How does the speaker's sister, Audra, typically spend her weekends?

Audra typically spends her weekends doing activities like having a family barbecue, meeting up with friends, and attending a sewing class. She also runs errands like doing laundry.

What does it mean to 'sleep in' on the weekend?

To 'sleep in' means to wake up later than usual. For example, 'I like to sleep in on the weekend' means waking up later than normal, perhaps around 10 or 11 am, as opposed to waking up early for work or school.