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Views #989 | Low Intermediate 4

Grad Plans

George and Crystal discuss jobs and life after college.

Script
Vocab
Quiz



Crystal	George

George: Hey, hey, hey!

Crystal: Hey, hey, hey! How's it going?

George: Bad!

Crystal: Why? What's up?

George: I'm a little low on cash these days?

Crystal: Really? What about getting a new job?

George: Well, Where? What's open?

Crystal: Well, I don't know. You're graduating soon, right?

George: Well, there's still a good half-year before that?

Crystal: Yeah, well, yeah, those half-years, you should spend it wisely. This is the best chance to get a job.

George: What do you mean?

Crystal: Well, I don't know, like, I think this is your last chance to get a job before you graduate. Or what do you plan on after graduating? Just hanging around? Playing games?

George: I don't know. I have no idea what to do after graduation. Do you have any plans?

Crystal: Well, for me ... well, since the economy is going bad, like there is no opening at the moment, but I was thinking if I could be able to like find an internship in a different country or maybe I could keep doing my part-time job at the moment just until things start getting better. Well, I guess you still have nine months left.

George: Yeah. It's a little depressing though thinking about graduation. Being thrown out into the real world.

Crystal: All my friends who graduated, they're already regretting. They want to go back to school.

George: Oh, boy!

Crystal: Speaking of which, how about we go to grad school?

George: No!

Crystal: Why not?

George: Grad School!

Crystal: Why not?

George: I don't know if I could deal with another four years of school.

Crystal: It's not four years. It's only two years, and plus, like, I mean, if you're gonna regret so much like getting a job, like, and plus the economy is really bad for a job right now, I think it's best to lay low and just, you know maybe study a little bit more till the economy gets better and then get a job then.

George: Well, if I could get some sort of full scholarship, perhaps I would be more inclined to do it, but ...

Crystal: Yeah, yeah. It's not bad.

George: I don't think I could get a scholarship with my horrible G.P.A.?

Crystal: Same here!

George: Hmm! Grad school!

Learn vocabulary from the lesson

a little low on cash

I'm a little low on cash.

'A little low on cash' means we do not have much money. Note the following.

I just paid the rent so I'm a little low on cash.
Jack is always a little low on cash before payday.

spend it wisely

You should spend it wisely.

When we spend money wisely, we don't waste it on unnecessary things.. Here are two samples.

I have only a part time job on weekends so I need to spend my money wisely.
My best friend buys everything she sees and doesn't spend her money wisely.

just hanging around

I enjoy hanging around the mall on weekends.

'Hanging around' means doing nothing special. Notice the samples.

Jason spent the weekend just hanging around at home watching TV.
The boys spend their free time just hanging around the video arcade playing games.

thrown out into the real world

I am afraid of being thrown out into the real world.

Being 'thrown out into the real world' is a time when we leave our parents home, get a job and live on our own. Here are some samples.

Marks parents agreed it was time to throw him out into the real world.
After graduation, I was a little scared of being thrown out into the real world.

speaking of which

Speaking of which, how about we go to grad school?

We use the phrase 'speaking of which' when we or someone else begins talking about a topic that reminds us of something similar. Notice the following.

I'm glad to hear you're graduating. Speaking of which, when is the ceremony?
Sarah just got a part time job. Speaking of which, are you still working at Häagen-Dazs?

lay low

I think it's best to lay low.

Here, 'lay low' means to take time off and think about our future plans. Notice the samples.

I'm going to just lay low for awhile; maybe travel a bit. Then I'll think about getting a job.
For spring break we decided to lay low and just hang around the house.