English for Meeting His Family: What to Wear and What to Avoid

English transcript

Sarah, I need to ask you something important before Sunday.

That sounds serious.

Is everything okay with Max?

Max is fine.

You can practice all these dialogues sentence by sentence using the interactive player on our website.

Link in the description.

My sister Emma is having a family lunch on Sunday and she wants to meet you.

Your whole family?

Michael, we've only been together for two months.

I know, but Emma asked and my mother will be there too.

What did you tell them about me?

I told them you work at a hotel and that you want to be a manager.

Did you tell them about the management course rejection?

No, that is your story, not mine.

Thank you, but I am nervous.

What if your mother does not like me?

My mother likes everyone who is kind to Max.

That is a low bar, Michael.

I need more than that.

She also likes people who laugh at her jokes.

You are good at that.

I laugh at your jokes and they are terrible.

Exactly.

You have practice.

What should I wear?

Is it a formal lunch or a casual one?

Casual.

Emma is making soup and bread at her house.

Does Emma have children?

I do not want to say the wrong thing.

She has two boys, aged six and nine.

They are loud but friendly.

I like children.

I can talk to them about school and games.

Good.

The nine-year-old will ask you about your cat.

Why would he ask about my cat?

Because I told Emma about your cat waking you at six every morning.

You told your family about my cat?

What else did you tell them?

I told them you read mystery books and that you are smart.

That is acceptable.

But please stop sharing my private life.

I'm sorry.

I will ask you first next time.

Okay.

Now tell me about your mother.

What is she like?

Her name is Anna.

She's 62 and she loves gardening.

Does she live near you?

She lives in a small house outside the city, about an hour by bus.

Does she come to the city often?

Twice a month.

She brings vegetables from her garden.

That is nice.

What should I bring on Sunday?

Emma said no gifts.

Just bring yourself.

I cannot arrive with nothing.

That feels rude.

Then bring flowers for Emma.

She likes yellow flowers.

Yellow flowers.

I can do that.

What about your mother?

My mother likes tea, but please do not bring tea.

She has too much.

Fine.

Flowers for Emma only.

What time is lunch?

What o'clock.

I will pick you up at 12.30.

12.30 is fine.

Now, tell me about your father.

My father died four years ago.

He was a teacher.

I am sorry, Michael.

I did not know.

It's okay.

You didn't ask before.

Was he a history teacher?

You love history books.

Yes.

He taught history for 30 years.

He gave me my first history book.

That explains a lot about you.

It does.

My mother still keeps his books in the living room.

I will be careful not to talk about him too much on Sunday.

You can talk about him.

My mother likes remembering him.

Okay.

Is there anything I shouldn't say?

Don't ask Emma about her husband.

They are getting a divorce.

Oh no, that is difficult.

Does she want to talk about it?

No. She wants a normal family lunch.

That's why she invited you.

She invited me to make things normal?

She invited you because I talk about you all the time.

All the time?

That's embarrassing.

It's true.

Emma says I smile at my phone like a teenager.

You do smile at your phone.

I have seen it.

That's because you send me funny photos of your cat.

My cat is not funny.

She is a serious animal.

She sits on your books and looks angry.

That is funny.

Fine.

What about your friends?

Will they be there too?

No, just family.

Emma, her two boys, and my mother.

Four people.

That is manageable.

I can handle four people.

You talk to hundreds of guests every week.

Four people is easy.

Guests are different.

I'm paid to be polite to them.

And with my family, you are not paid?

That is terrible news.

You know what I mean.

With guests, I don't care what they think.

And you care what my mother thinks?

Of course I do.

She is important to you.

That is the nicest thing you've said to me this week.

Don't get used to it.

Now, what about the boys?

They will probably ask you to play football in the garden.

I'm terrible at football.

I'll embarrass myself.

They don't care if you're good.

They care if you run.

I can run I run after buses every morning Then you be fine Just don fall in the flower bed Is that a real risk It happened to my last girlfriend My mother still mentions it Your mother mentions your ex That's a warning sign.

She mentions it because it was funny.

The flowers were fine.

I will stay away from the flower bed.

Anything else?

Emma's soup is very spicy.

She puts too much pepper in it.

Should I eat it anyway?

Yes.

Say it's delicious and drink a lot of water.

I will lie about soup.

Great.

What about your mother's cooking?

My mother is not cooking.

Emma is cooking.

My mother brings cake.

Is the cake good?

The cake is excellent.

That part is easy.

So the plan is yellow flowers, casual clothes, spicy soup, football, and don't ask about the divorce.

You remembered.

I remembered.

What about Max?

Should I bring him?

No. Max stays home.

He's too big for Emma's small house.

My cat would also hate a family lunch.

She hates cars.

Then both animals stay home.

It's safer for everyone.

Can I ask you something honest?

Of course.

You can always ask me anything.

Can we be moving too fast?

Meeting your family feels big.

It is big.

I thought about it for a week before asking you.

And you still want me to come?

Yes.

I want them to know the person I talk about all the time.

That's sweet.

But if it goes badly, what happens?

It won't go badly.

My family is not scary.

Every family is scary in its own way.

True, but you are braver than you think.

I'm brave at work.

With families, I'm not sure.

You met my neighbor last month and you talked for an hour.

My neighbor talked for an hour.

I just listened.

Listening is a skill.

My mother will love that.

Okay, I will come, but you owe me something.

What do I owe you?

You will meet my family next month, my parents and my brother.

That is fair.

I will bring flowers for your mother, too.

My mother does not like flowers.

She likes chocolate.

Chocolate.

Noted.

Is your father scary?

My father is quiet.

That's worse than scary.

I can be quiet, too.

I will be quiet and eat chocolate.

Good plan.

Now I need to find yellow flowers on Saturday.

There's a flower shop near the Blue Cup.

Remember that cafe?

I remember the cafe.

That was our first meeting.

Exactly.

Buy flowers there and think of me.

I think of you enough already.

Don't worry.

Then we have a plan.

Sunday at 12.30.

Sunday at 12.30.

I will be ready.

And Sarah, thank you for saying yes.

Thank you for asking.

I'm still nervous, but I'm coming.

Sarah, wait.

There's one more thing about Sunday.

More things?

Michael, I have a list already.

This one is small.

My mother wants to bring her photo albums.

Photo albums?

How many albums are we talking about?

She has three from my childhood and one from my father's teaching years.

So I will see you as a little boy with a history book?

Probably.

And with terrible haircuts from the 90s.

Now I'm interested.

What kind of haircuts?

Long on the sides, very short on top.

My mother loved it.

This is the best news of the week.

I will bring my phone.

Please do not take photos of the photos.

I cannot promise that.

Emma will help me.

Emma will not help you.

She's on my side.

Emma invited me because you talk about me all the time.

She is on my side.

That is a fair point.

You have an ally.

Good.

I need one.

What about the boys?

Will they show me their rooms?

They will show you everything.

Their toys, their drawings, their football cards.

I like that.

Children are honest.

Too honest.

The six-year-old will tell you my worst habits.

What are your worst habits?

I want a full report.

I drink cold coffee.

I leave books everywhere.

I sing in the shower.

I knew about the coffee and the books.

The singing is new.

It's not good singing.

It's loud singing.

I will ask the boys for details.

They will tell me the truth.

They will also ask you very personal questions.

Like what?

Like why you don't have a husband yet.

Oh, what do I say to that?

Tell them you were waiting for someone who likes cats and coffee.

That's a nice answer.

Is it true?

It's true for me.

I was waiting for someone who reads mysteries.

You're getting romantic.

It's strange.

I know.

Emma says I'm different now.

Different how?

Calmer.

Happier.

Less angry about small things.

I noticed that too.

You don't complain about your manager so much.

Because I have the reading hour now.

I like the children.

And the children like you You will be a good father someday That a big sentence for a Tuesday I know Forget it I said it I won forget it but we can talk about it later Much later After Sunday After the soup and the football And after the photo albums.

Don't forget the albums.

I will not forget.

Your mother will show me every page.

She will.

She's proud of her family.

I hope she will be proud of me, too.

She will.

Just be yourself and eat the cake.

I can do that.

Now I have to go.

My shift starts in an hour.

Okay, I will call you on Friday to confirm everything.

Friday.

Good.

And Michael?

Yes?

I'm glad you asked me, even if I'm nervous.

I'm glad you said yes.

See you Sunday.

See you Sunday.

I will bring the yellow flowers.

You can practice all these dialogues sentence by sentence using the interactive player on our website.

link in the description.

Up next, the lesson based on this dialogue.

If you want to skip it, just jump to the next scene.

Good morning.

Today, we will practice English with a conversation between Michael and Sarah, who are talking about meeting Michael's family for lunch on Sunday.

Listen carefully and repeat after me.

Our first sentence.

Sarah, I need to ask you something important before Sunday.

Repeat.

Sarah, I need to ask you something important before Sunday.

Let's practice the phrase something important.

Here are five examples.

Example one, I have something important to tell you.

I have something important to tell you.

Example two, she left something important on the table.

She left something important on the table.

Example three, Is there something important in this letter?

Example 4.

We missed something important in the meeting.

Example 5.

He forgot something important at home.

I understand.

Something important means a thing that really matters.

Exactly.

Next sentence.

Your whole family?

Michael, we have only been together for two months.

Your whole family?

Michael, we have only been together for two months.

Let's practice the phrase been together.

Here are five examples.

Example one, we have been together for three years.

We have been together for three years.

Example two, they have been together since college.

They have been together since college.

Example three, how long have you been together?

How long have you been together?

Example four, my parents have been together for 40 years.

My parents have been together for 40 years.

Example five, we have been together for only a few weeks.

We have been together for only a few weeks.

I understand.

Been together means in a relationship with someone.

Exactly.

Next sentence.

Did you tell them about the management course rejection?

Let's practice the word rejection.

Here are five examples.

Example 1, the rejection letter arrived today.

Example 2, he was sad about the rejection.

Example 3, a rejection is not the end of the world.

A rejection is not the end of the world.

Example 4.

She told no one about the rejection.

She told no one about the rejection.

Example 5.

After one rejection, he tried again.

After one rejection, he tried again.

I understand.

A rejection is when someone says no to you.

Exactly.

Next sentence.

But I am nervous.

What if your mother does not like me?

But I am nervous.

What if your mother does not like me?

Let's practice the word nervous.

Here are five examples.

Example 1, I am nervous about the exam.

I am nervous about the exam Example 2 she feels nervous before every flight She feels nervous before every flight Example 3 do not be nervous you will do well Do not be nervous you will do well Example 4 he was nervous on his first day at work.

He was nervous on his first day at work.

Example 5, we were all nervous before the big match.

We were all nervous before the big match.

I understand.

Nervous means worried or a little afraid.

Exactly.

Next sentence.

What should I wear?

Is it a formal lunch or a casual one?

What should I wear?

Is it a formal lunch or a casual one?

Let's practice the word casual.

Here are five examples.

Example one.

The party is casual, so wear jeans.

The party is casual, so wear jeans.

Example two.

He likes casual clothes on weekends.

He likes casual clothes on weekends.

Example 3.

It was a casual conversation, not a meeting.

It was a casual conversation, not a meeting.

Example 4.

Our office is casual on Fridays.

Our office is casual on Fridays.

Example 5.

She gave a casual wave and left.

She gave a casual wave and left.

I understand.

Casual means relaxed and not formal.

Exactly.

Next sentence.

That is acceptable, but please stop sharing my private life.

That is acceptable, but please stop sharing my private life.

Let's practice the word private.

Here are five examples.

Example 1.

This is a private conversation.

This is a private conversation.

Example 2.

She keeps her private life separate from work.

She keeps her private life separate from work.

Example 3.

That is private information.

That is private information.

Example 4.

We met in a private room.

We met in a private room.

Example 5.

He wants some private time.

He wants some private time.

I understand.

A private means personal and not for everyone.

Exactly.

Next sentence.

Do not ask Emma about her husband.

They are getting a divorce.

Do not ask Emma about her husband.

They are getting a divorce.

Let's practice the word divorce.

Here are five examples.

Example 1.

They are getting a divorce after 10 years.

They are getting a divorce after 10 years.

Example 2.

Divorce is hard for the whole family.

Example 3.

She told me about the divorce.

Example 4.

He moved out after the divorce.

Example 5.

Do not ask about the divorce.

Do not ask about the divorce.

I understand.

A divorce is when a marriage ends.

Exactly.

Next sentence.

Emma's soup is very spicy.

She puts too much pepper in it.

Emma's soup is very spicy.

She puts too much pepper in it.

Let's practice the word spicy.

Here are five examples.

Example 1.

This soup is too spicy for me.

This soup is too spicy for me.

Example 2.

He loves spicy food.

He loves spicy food.

Example 3.

The sauce is spicy but delicious.

The sauce is spicy but delicious.

Example 4.

I want something spicy for dinner.

I want something spicy for dinner.

Example 5.

Is the chicken spicy?

Is the chicken spicy?

I understand.

Spicy means having a strong, hot taste.

taste.

Exactly.

Next sentence.

True, but you are braver than you think.

True, but you are braver than you think.

Let's practice the word braver.

Here are five examples.

Example one, she is braver than her brother.

She is braver than her brother.

Example two, you get braver every day.

You get braver every day example three he felt braver after the talk he felt braver after the talk example four I am braver with my friends near me I am braver with my friends near me example five the children were braver than expected the children were braver than expected