📙 Part 2: Describe a helpful person you know

This episode's vocabulary

Mind's eye - in your imagination or memory.

Run out of steam - to suddenly lose the energy or interest to continue doing what you are doing.

Persevere (verb) - to try to do or continue doing something in a determined way, despite having problems.

Put up with sth/sb (phrasal verb) - to accept or continue to accept an unpleasant situation or experience, or someone who behaves unpleasantly.

Indispensable (adj.) - something or someone that is indispensable is so good or important that you could not manage without it, him, or her.

Modest (adj.) - not usually talking about or making obvious your own abilities and achievements.

Thank your lucky stars - to be very grateful for something.

-

Questions and Answers

M: Rory is going to describe a helpful person he knows. He's going to say who this person is, how he knows this person, why he thinks this person is helpful, and he's going to explain how he feels about this person. Rory, are you all ready?

R: Yes.

M: Yes? Good. Fire away.

R: Well, whenever I think of helpful people, an image of my best friend John always forms in my mind's eye. I haven't met many people quite as hard working, or brave, or patient as John. He always seems to put in a lot of effort and has a lot of time for people, who, well, most people might become quite frustrated with, at least initially. We met during the course of our employment at BKC-ih Moscow, which has been previously established as Moscow's worst language school, and certainly a challenger for the worst in the world. Regardless, ever since we started working together, I've seen John helping out loads of people with different projects and problems that they might have. Because he is a manager, and a teacher trainer, like I was. John never seems to run out of steam or the will to persevere with those who really need it. Of course, that's his job to help people as a teacher and teacher trainer. But most people who are in those positions have their limits, but not John. He has put up with quite a lot. Without John in my life, I don't think I'd achieved nearly as much as I well as I have currently. Nor would many other people. And they would do very well to remember that, although many of them often forget. He's truly indispensable. Although he would never admit to that, because he's far too modest. So if you're privileged enough to have someone like that in your life, you really need to thank your lucky stars every day.

M: Oh, that's so sweet. What about your friends? Do they know John?

R: Everyone that knows John loves John.

M: Oh, cute. I know John.

R: And do you love John?

M: I love John.

R: John's never gonna hear this. It's so sad. But John is just great.

-