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Money Hungry – Mini-Story Lesson

Hi, I’m Joe Weiss and I’m one of the teachers and directors of Learn Real English, and I’d like to welcome you to this mini-story lesson. Okay, I want to start today’s lesson by telling you about some of the idioms that you will hear me use in today’s story. So let’s start.

Okay, first is to be “the spitting image of someone.” So this one’s easy. If you are the spitting image of another person it just means that you look a lot like that person, okay? Let me give you an example.

When I saw Tommy at the library I thought he was his brother Mark because Tommy is the spitting image of Mark. Okay, so what I’m saying is when I saw Tommy at the library I thought he was his brother Mark because Tommy looks exactly like Mark. He looks a lot like him. Okay, so let’s move on to the next one.

The next one is a “full plate.” Okay, so if you have a full plate it means that you have a lot to do. Here’s an example for you. I asked Tonya to go to the movies with me on Monday but she was unable to go because she had a full plate that day. Okay, so what I’m saying is I asked Tonya to go to the movies with me on Monday but she was unable to go because she had a lot to do that day. She had a full plate that day.

Okay, so next is the “graveyard shift.” So the graveyard shift is the work shift that starts late at night and ends early the next morning, okay? So let me give you an example and I think you’ll understand this one a little better. John works the graveyard shift. He starts at 12:00 midnight and he finishes at 8:00 in the morning. John starts work very late at night and he finishes early in the morning. He starts work at 12:00 midnight and he finishes work at 8:00 the next morning. He works the graveyard shift.

Okay, so next is “money hungry.” So if you are money hungry it means that you always want more money, okay? You can kind of think of it as you’re hungry, not for food, but for money. Okay, you always want more money. Here’s an example. Even though John had $20 million, he still worked 15 hours a day because he was money hungry. Okay, so what I’m saying is even though John had $20 million, he still worked 15 hours a day because he always wanted more money. He was money hungry.

Okay, next I have a great idiom for you. It’s one that I hear people use a lot. It’s to have a “short temper.” So if you have a short temper it means that you get angry quickly, okay? So here’s an example. Pete used to get in a lot of fights because he used to have a short temper. Pete used to get in a lot of fights because he used to get angry quickly. He used to have a short temper.

Okay, so now I’m going to tell you a story but I’m also going to ask you a lot of questions as I tell you this story. So when I ask you a question I want you to answer that question quickly. Just tell me the first answer that you think of. And don’t worry about making a mistake. You’re going to listen to this lesson many times so you may make a mistake this time when you listen to this lesson but you will not make the same mistakes the next time you listen to it, probably not at least.

And when you answer these questions I want you to pretend you’re in a big room and the people who are far away from you have to hear you. Okay, so I want you to speak loudly and I want you to speak confidently. Okay, so it’s time for our story then. Let’s begin.

There was a man and his name was Kevin. Kevin had a son and his name was Charlie and Charlie was the spitting image of his father Kevin. Well, Kevin loved his son Charlie very much but unfortunately Kevin was unable to spend a lot of time with Charlie. Yes, Kevin was unable to spend a lot of time with Charlie because Kevin always had a full plate.

Okay, time for some questions. Who had a son? Did AJ have a son?

No, no, not AJ.

Who had a son?

Kevin did, Kevin had a son.

And did Kevin have a daughter?

No, no, Kevin didn’t have a daughter. He had a son.

And what was Kevin’s son’s name?

Charlie, his name was Charlie.

So tell me this then. Who was Charlie’s father?

Kevin was, of course, Kevin was Charlie’s father.

So was Kevin, excuse me, was Charlie the spitting image of Kevin?

He was, yes, Charlie was the spitting image of Kevin.

Who was the spitting image of Kevin?

Charlie was, Charlie was the spitting image of Kevin.

And tell me this. Who was Charlie the spitting image of, AJ or Kevin?

Kevin, he was the spitting image of Kevin.

So did Charlie look a lot like Kevin?

Yes, yes, he did, he was the spitting image of Kevin so that means Charlie looked a lot like Kevin. He was the spitting image of him.

So was Kevin able to spend a lot of time with Charlie?

No, no, Kevin was unable to spend a lot of time with Charlie.

And who was unable to spend a lot of time with Charlie?

Kevin, Kevin was unable to spend a lot of time with Charlie.

And tell me this. What was Kevin unable to do? Was Kevin unable to eat dinner with Charlie?

No, no, he wasn’t unable to eat dinner with Charlie.

What was Kevin unable to do?

He was unable to spend a lot of time with Charlie, Kevin was unable to spend a lot of time with Charlie.

Okay, but why? Why was Kevin unable to spend a lot of time with Charlie? Was it because Kevin always had a full plate?

Yes, yes, that’s why, Kevin always had a full plate.

Who always had a full plate? Did Charlie always have a full plate?

No, not Charlie.

Who always had a full plate?

Kevin did, of course, Kevin always had a full plate.

And how often did Kevin have a full plate?

He always did, Kevin always had a full plate.

So tell me this. Did Kevin always have a lot to do?

Yes, yes, he did, he always had a full plate so that means he always had a lot to do.

Well, Kevin always had a full plate because he had two jobs. Yes, Kevin had two jobs. At night Kevin worked at an Indian restaurant. He was a cook at the Indian restaurant. And after that Kevin worked the graveyard shift at a gun factory. And although Kevin had two jobs, he didn’t need to work two jobs, no. Kevin didn’t need to work two jobs because he had a lot of money.

Yes, Kevin already had a lot of money but he worked two jobs because he was money hungry.

Okay, time for some more questions. Did Kevin always have a full plate because he had two jobs?

Yes, yes, he did, he always had a full plate because he had two jobs.

And why did Kevin always have a full plate?

Because he had two jobs, Kevin always had a full plate because he had two jobs.

Who had two jobs? Did Charlie have two jobs?

No, no, not Charlie.

Who had two jobs?

Kevin did, Kevin had two jobs.

And tell me this. How many jobs did Kevin have?

Two, he had two jobs.

So did Kevin work at an Indian restaurant at night?

He did, yes, Kevin worked at an Indian restaurant at night.

And what kind of restaurant did Kevin work at, at night?

An Indian restaurant, Kevin worked at an Indian restaurant at night.

So did Kevin work at an Indian restaurant in the morning?

No, no, he didn’t work at an Indian restaurant in the morning.

When did Kevin work at an Indian restaurant?

At night, Kevin worked at an Indian restaurant at night.

So tell me this. Was Kevin a cook or was he a dishwasher at the Indian restaurant?

A cook, Kevin was a cook.

And where was Kevin a cook?

At the Indian restaurant, Kevin was a cook at the Indian restaurant.

So tell me this now. Did Kevin work the graveyard shift at a gun factory?

He did, yes, Kevin worked the graveyard shift at a gun factory.

Who worked the graveyard shift?

Kevin did, Kevin worked the graveyard shift.

And where did Kevin work the graveyard shift? Did he work the graveyard shift at the Indian restaurant?

No, no, Kevin didn’t work the graveyard shift at the Indian restaurant.

Where did Kevin work the graveyard shift?

At a gun factory, Kevin worked the graveyard shift at a gun factory.

So did Kevin start work very late at night and then finish work early the next morning?

Yes, yes, he did, Kevin worked the graveyard shift and when you work the graveyard shift that means that you start work late at night and then you finish work early the next morning. He worked the graveyard shift.

Okay, so tell me this. Did Kevin need to work two jobs?

No, no, Kevin did not need to work two jobs.

Who didn’t need to work two jobs?

Kevin didn’t, Kevin didn’t need to work two jobs.

Okay, but why did he do it then? Why didn’t Kevin need to work two jobs?

Kevin didn’t need to work two jobs because he had a lot of money. Yes, that’s right, Kevin had a lot of money.

Who had a lot of money?

Kevin did, Kevin had a lot of money.

And did Kevin have a lot of rice or money?

Money, Kevin had a lot of money. Kevin didn’t have a lot of rice, he had a lot of money.

So why did Kevin work two jobs then?

Well, Kevin worked two jobs because he was money hungry.

Who was money hungry? Was Charlie money hungry?

No, no, Charlie wasn’t money hungry.

Who was money hungry?

Kevin was, Kevin was money hungry.

So did Kevin always want more money?

Yes, yes, he did, he was money hungry so that means he always wanted more money. When a person is money hungry that person always wants more money so Kevin was money hungry. He always wanted more money.

Well, I want to tell you something about Charlie now. Charlie loved camping and one day Charlie asked Kevin to take him camping. But unfortunately Kevin was unable to take Charlie camping that week. Yes, Kevin was unable to take Charlie camping that week because he already had a full plate that week. But Kevin promised to take Charlie camping the next week.

Okay, time for some more questions. Who loved camping?

Charlie did, Charlie loved camping.

And did Kevin love camping?

No, not Kevin, Kevin didn’t love camping. Charlie loved camping.

And tell me this. What did Charlie love? Did he love cooking or camping?

Camping, Charlie loved camping.

So did Charlie ask Kevin to take him camping?

He did, yes, Charlie asked Kevin to take him camping.

Who asked Kevin to take him camping?

Charlie did, Charlie asked Kevin to take him camping.

And tell me this now. What did Charlie ask Kevin to do?

Well, he asked him to take him camping, Charlie asked Kevin to take him camping.

So was Kevin able to take Charlie camping that week?

No, no, Kevin was unable to take Charlie camping that week.

And what was Kevin unable to do?

He was unable to take Charlie camping that week.

Okay, but why? Why was Kevin unable to take Charlie camping that week?

Because he already had a full plate that week, Kevin had a full plate that week.

Did Charlie have a full plate that week?

No, no, Charlie didn’t have a full plate that week.

Who had a full plate that week?

Kevin did, Kevin had a full plate that week.

And tell me this. When did Kevin have a full plate?

That week, Kevin already had a full plate that week.

So did Kevin already have a lot to do that week?

Yes, yes, he did, Kevin already had a full plate that week so that means Kevin already had a lot to do that week. He already had a full plate that week.

So did Kevin promise to take Charlie camping the next week?

Yes, yes, he did, he promised to take Charlie camping the next week.

Who promised to take Charlie camping?

Kevin did, Kevin promised to take Charlie camping.

And tell me this. What did Kevin promise to do?

Well, he promised to take Charlie camping.

So did Kevin promise to take Charlie camping this week or next week?

Next week, he promised to take Charlie camping next week, not this week.

Well, a man named Anup owned the Indian restaurant at which Kevin worked. And Anup was a very nice man and Anup also had a son. And Anup believed it was important to spend time with family. So Anup wanted Kevin to go on vacation with Charlie.

Okay, time for some more questions. Who owned the Indian restaurant?

Anup did, Anup owned the Indian restaurant.

And what did Anup own? Did Anup own the gun factory or the Indian restaurant?

The Indian restaurant, Anup owned the Indian restaurant.

So tell me this. Who believed it was important to spend time with family?

Anup did, Anup believed it was important to spend time with family.

And what did Anup believe it was important to do?

Well, he believed it was important to spend time with family. Anup believed it was important to spend time with family.

So who wanted Kevin to go on vacation with Charlie?

Anup did, of course, Anup wanted Kevin to go on vacation with Charlie.

And what did Anup want Kevin to do?

He wanted him to go on vacation with his son Charlie.

Well, at the gun factory Kevin’s boss was named Bruce and Bruce was nothing like Anup, no, no, no. Bruce was a very mean man. Bruce was very tall. He was eight feet tall and he never smiled and Bruce had a short temper. Well, Bruce told Kevin that he wasn’t allowed to go on vacation.

So guess what Kevin did? Kevin quit. Yes, Kevin quit his job at the gun factory. But after Kevin quit his job Bruce tried to shoot him. Yes, Bruce tried to shoot Kevin with one of the guns from the factory. So Kevin ran to his car and he quickly drove away. And fortunately Kevin did not get shot by Bruce.

Okay, time for some questions, wow. Who was Kevin’s boss at the gun factory?

Bruce, Bruce was Kevin’s boss at the gun factory.

And was Bruce Kevin’s boss at the gun factory or the Indian restaurant?

At the gun factory, Bruce was Kevin’s boss at the gun factory. He was not his boss at the Indian restaurant.

So tell me this. Who was a nice man? Was Anup or Bruce a nice man?

Anup was, Anup was a nice man. Bruce was not a nice man. Bruce as a very mean man.

So tell me this. Was Bruce tall?

Yes, yes, he was, Bruce was tall, he was very tall.

Who was tall? Was Kevin tall?

No, no, Kevin wasn’t tall.

Who was tall?

Bruce was, Bruce was tall, he was very tall.

So how tall was he? How tall was Bruce?

Eight feet tall, Bruce was eight feet tall. He was very tall.

And did Bruce ever smile?

No, no, Bruce never smiled.

Who never smiled?

Bruce didn’t, Bruce never smiled.

And tell me this. What did Bruce never do?

Smiled, he never smiled.

So did Bruce have a short temper?

Yes, yes, he did, he had a short temper.

Who had a short temper? Did Charlie have a short temper?

No, no, Charlie didn’t have a short temper.

Who had a short temper?

Bruce did, Bruce had a short temper.

So tell me this. Did Bruce become angry quickly?

Yes, yes, he did, Bruce had a short temper so that means that Bruce became angry quickly. He had a short temper so he became angry quickly.

So tell me this. Did Bruce tell Kevin that he wasn’t allowed to go on vacation?

Yes, yes, he did, Bruce told Kevin he wasn’t allowed to go on vacation.

Who wasn’t allowed to go on vacation?

Kevin, Kevin wasn’t allowed to go on vacation.

And what wasn’t Kevin allowed to do?

To go on vacation, Kevin wasn’t allowed to go on vacation.

So did Kevin quit his job at the gun factory?

Yes, yes, he did, Kevin quit his job at the gun factory.

Who quit his job? Did Bruce quit his job?

No, no, Bruce didn’t quit his job.

Who quit his job?

Kevin did, Kevin quit his job.

And did Kevin quit his job at the gun factory or at the Indian restaurant?

At the gun factory, Kevin quit his job at the gun factory.

So after Kevin quit his job, did Bruce try to shoot him?

Yes, yes, he did, after Kevin quit his job, Bruce tried to shoot him.

Who tried to shoot Kevin?

Bruce did, Bruce tried to shoot Kevin.

And did Bruce try to shoot Charlie or Kevin?

Kevin, Bruce tried to shoot Kevin.

Okay, but when did he try to shoot Kevin? When did Bruce try to shoot Kevin?

After Kevin quit his job, Bruce tried to shoot Kevin after Kevin quit his job.

So tell me this. Did Kevin get shot?

No, no, thankfully Kevin did not get shot. Bruce was unable to shoot Kevin.

Well, I have some good news for you. The next week Kevin and Charlie went camping and they had a lot of fun together. And Kevin realized that spending time with his son was far more important than money. So after that Kevin and Charlie spent a lot of time together and Kevin promised never to be money hungry ever again.

Okay, well, that brings us to the end of the story. So I hope you enjoyed this story because now it’s your turn to tell the story. I want you to tell the story to someone who you know. It can be anyone who you know. And I want you to use all of the idioms I taught you at the beginning of this lesson when you tell this story.

You know, idioms are a very popular form of communication in the English language so it’s important to learn as many of these idioms as you can and this lesson has five really good idioms. So I want you to learn these lessons very deeply and the best way to do that is to listen to this lesson many times. So I want you to listen to this lesson every day for at least seven days and I’m sure after the seven days you will probably know these idioms very, very well.

Okay, that’s all for this mini-story lesson then. I’ll see you next time.