Let’s begin by reading this opening conversation:
Michael: Michiko, do you go to a beauty salon?
Michiko: I go to one near my work place. It’s right around the corner from my office. The prices are reasonable and the location is convenient.
When you need to make an appointment at a beauty shop or barber shop, the easiest way is to use the telephone. You can use the phone to make an appointment at the doctor’s or dentist’s office too. If you need to make an appointment for a haircut you can use one of these sentences. Read these example sentences:
“I’d like to make an appointment for a haircut”
“I’d like to make an appointment to cut my hair”
Also, if you know the name of your hair stylist, you can ask for them by name. For example:
“I’d like to make an appointment with Sarah”
You may also want to perm your hair. Perm is short for permanent. In that case you would say:
“I’d like to make an appointment to perm my hair.”
If you really like the way someone cuts your hair, you can ask for them again. So after you ask for an appointment, the receptionist will respond with the time and date for the appointment. Read this next conversation:
Michael: Hello, Gina’s hair salon.
Gina: Hi, I’d like to make an appointment with Stacy to cut my hair.
Michael: All right. Hmmm. She’s a little busy this week though.
Gina: What is the earliest available time?
Michael: We have an opening on Thursday, the 7th, at 2 o’clock. Is that OK for you?
Gina: Yes, that will be fine.
If you want to get your hair done as soon as possible, you can ask this question:
“What is the earliest available time?”
What would you say if you can’t make it at that time? Read this next
conversation:
Michael: We have an opening on Thursday, the 7th, at 2 o’clock. Is that OK for you?
Michiko: I’m sorry, I can’t make it then. Do you have anything in the morning?
Michael: Yes, we do. How about Friday, the 8th, at 10 o’clock?
Michiko: That’s great. Thank you.
So if you can’t make it on the first time they give you, keep trying. If they don’t have any time that you like, you can keep on trying to find a good time for you both.
For example, you can ask:
“Do you have anything in the morning?”
Read this example conversation:
Michiko: We have an opening on Monday morning? Is that OK for you?
Michael: I’m sorry, I can’t make it at that time.
Michiko: How about Tuesday morning?
Michael: No, that’s no good either.
Sometimes, people say “beauty shop” and sometimes “beauty salon”. At
other times, people say “beauty parlor”.
Read this next conversation:
Michael: I’m going to wash your hair now. Put your head back. Is that OK?
Michiko: No, my neck is a little sore
Michael: There. Is that better?
Michiko: Yes, that’s much more comfortable.
Michael: Is the water too hot?
Michiko: No, it’s just right.
When you get a shampoo, you will have to go to a special chair next to a sink. At that time, you will have to lean all the way back. The hairdresser also asked if the water was too hot.
Sometimes people go into the beauty parlor just to trim their hair. At other times, people want to cut off a few inches. It’s up to the customer to tell the hairdresser exactly what they want.
Read these examples sentences:
“Could you cut off two inches please?”
“I’d like a trim please?”
If you have split ends, you can say:
“Just trim off the split ends, please.”
Split ends are when the ends of your hair begun to split. This means that the hair is damaged. Now, what would you say to the hairdresser if you wanted them to cut only your bangs? Read these example sentences:
“Could your trim my bangs please?”
“Just trim my bangs, please”
“I’d like my bangs trimmed please”
If you are afraid that the hair stylist will cut your bangs too short you can say:
“Don’t cut my bangs too short”
If you want to compliment someone on their hair, you can use one of these sentences:
“That’s a nice haircut. Where did you get it done?”
“Your haircut looks good. Which barber shop did you go to?”
There are two popular ways to cut the back of your hair. You can taper the hair so that it gradually gets longer. Or you can have a block cut which means to cut the hair straight across.
Read these example sentences:
“Could you taper it, please?”
“Could you give me a block cut please?”
Now read this conversation at the barber shop:
Michiko: Hello, Michael. How would you like your hair cut today?
Michael: I’ll have the usual trim. But could you cut the back a little shorter today?
Michiko: How would you like the back cut?
Michael: Could you taper it please?
Michiko: Sure can.
In this example, the barber knew the customer because she called him by name. The man wanted the same style of haircut. Read these example sentences:
“I’ll have the usual trim”
“I’d like the same style I have now, but shorter”
Every barber is different so they might ask you different kinds of questions. Read these example sentences:
“I usually part it on the right side”
“I part it in the middle”
“Could you part it on the left side please?”
Some people don’t even go to the barber shop because they can have their hair cut at home.
Read this conversation where a Mother is cutting her little boy’s hair.
Mother:Come here Johnny. It’s time for a haircut. I’m going to cut your hair.
Johnny: Oh, no. I don’t want a haircut.
Mother: But you have to. If you don’t get a haircut, you’ll look like a hippie.
Johnny: It’s not that bad.
Mother: Yes, it is. Now come here and stop arguing with me.
Johnny: Oh, all right.
You can always tell the barber if you would like to change something. For example, if you would like to cut it shorter or trim something. Read these example conversations:
Michiko: I’m finished. What do you think?
Michael: Could you cut the back a little shorter.
Michiko: Sure, no problem.
Michiko: I’m all done. How do you like it?
Michael: It’s great, but could you trim the bangs a little shorter.
Michiko: OK
Michiko: How’s that?
Michael: That’s great. Thank you.
Of course, if your hair is too short, there’s nothing you can do about it. Read this conversation:
Michiko: How do you like it?
Michael: It’s too short. I’d like it longer next time.
Michiko: But this length is very popular right now. You look very stylish.
Sometimes friends will try to comfort you by saying: “You’ll get used to it.” What they mean is that you can’t change it so you might as well live with it.
In the case of a bad haircut, they might say:
“Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.”
or
“Don’t worry, it’ll grow back.”
In America, people are really “into” movies. “Into” means almost the same things as like or enjoy. Now read this opening conversation:
Michael: Michiko, would you like to go to a movie tonight?
Michiko: Sure, what’s playing?
Michael: It’s called “Beethoven 2.”
Michiko: “Beethoven 2″ I’ve never heard of that. Is it about the composer?
Michael: No, actually, it’s about a dog.
When people invite you to go to a movie, they might ask you one of these questions:
“What’s playing?”
“What’s the movie?”
These questions are important because the answer will help you to make your decision about whether to go or not. After you find out the movie’s title, you will want to know what the movie is about. You can use one of the following sentences:
“What’s the movie about?”
“What kind of movie is it?”
Michiko: Michael, what kind of movie do you like the best?
Michael: I like many different kinds, but I would have to say my favoriteis comedy. How about you?
Michiko: I really like drama, like “Schindler’s List”
There are lots of different kinds of movies, for example: action and adventure movies, horror movies, drama and suspense movies and comedy. There are also westerns, science fiction, and musicals. What kind of movies do you enjoy the most? Read these example sentences:
“Comedy movies are hilarious”
“Horror movies terrify and shock me”
“Drama movies are usually complex and intense”
“The Movie theme songs can be very moving”
“The action in that movie was non-stop”
“I was on the edge of my seat all night”
Michiko: Do you like western movies, Michael?
Michael: Yes, I do. I’m a big Clint Eastwood fan.
When I was younger, I used to watch those spaghetti westerns all the time.
The movie critics will rate the movies by giving them stars. A one star movie is so-so while a five star movie is great.
Now, read this next conversation:
Michiko: Michael, where is the movie playing?
Michael: It’s playing at Pearlridge.
Michiko: That’s a little far. Is it playing anywhere closer to town?
Michael: Yes it is. It’s playing at the Marina Twins.
Michiko: That’s ok. Let’s go there.
What do you say when you want to know where a movie is playing? You can use one of these sentences:
“Where is the movie playing?”
“What theater is the movie at?”
The next thing you will need to know is what time the movie is playing. There are different times for movies. The first show is called the “early show” while the last show is the called the “late show.” Read these example conversations:
Michael: What time does the early show start?
Michiko: It starts at 6 o’clock.
Michael: When does the late show begin?
Michiko: It begins at 10:45.
Michael: What time does the matinee start?
Michiko: It starts at 12:30.
A “matinee” is shown in the afternoon. How can you find out how long movies are? One way is to check your daily newspaper. Another way is to call the theater and ask someone.
Read this conversation on the telephone:
(ring)
Michiko: Hello, consolidated theaters. May I help you?
Michael: Yes. I’d like to know how long “Schindler’s List” is.
Michiko: Let’s see. “Schindler’s List” is 3 hours and 15 minutes long.
Michael: OK, thank you.
Michiko: Your welcome.
So, in summary, you can ask:
“I’d like to know how long”Schindler’s List” is”
“When does “Schindler’s List” end?”
or
“What time does “Schindler’s List” end?”
If a friend invites you to go to a movie, you might want to know if any other people are going. Read this next conversation:
Michael: Michiko, how would you like to go to a movie on Sunday?
Michiko: OK. Is anyone else going or is it just you and I?
Michael: I called Osamu and Rona. Rona was busy and
Osamu wasn’t sure. He said that he would call me back later.
Michiko: I know. Why don’t we call Polly?
Michael: That’s a good idea.
Read these example sentences:
“Is anyone else going?”
“Is it just you and I?”
“Who else is going?”
After you have decided what movie you are going to watch, there is one more important piece of information that you should know. You should know the rating of the movie.
Read this conversation between a mother and her son:
Son: Mom, let’s go see “The Deadly Wolf”
Mom: What’s it rated?
Son: It’s rated “R”.
Mom: I think that movie is too violent for you to watch.
Son: Please, mom. All of my friends went to see it.
Mom: I’m sorry. You are only eleven years old. You have to be at least 17 years old to watch a movie that’s rated “R”. You can’t see it and that’s final.
Son: That’s a bummer.
After deciding what movie to go to and where, you will have to purchase the ticket. Read this conversation at the box office.
Michael: 2 adults for “The Fugitive” please.
Michiko: Here you are.
Michael: Thank you.
That was easy wasn’t it. By the way, another word for box office is ticket counter. You can also ask for a ticket at a later time.
After buying your tickets, you will have to stand in line. If you go to a place where there is more than 1 theater, you will have to find the right line to stand in. The best way to do this is to ask someone who is already standing in the line.
Read this conversation:
Michiko: Excuse me, is this the line for “The Fugitive”?
Michael: No, this is the line for “Schindler’s List”. Try over there.
Michiko: OK, thanks. (pause) Excuse me, is this the line for “Schindler’s List”.?
Michael: Yes it is, but the line starts over there.
Michiko: Oh no. This line is a mile long.
Read these example sentences:
“Excuse me, is this the line for “The Fugitive”?”
“Excuse me, is this the line for “Schindler’s List”?”
If someone tries to cut in line, you can use one of these sentences. Read these example sentences:
“Excuse me, the line starts over there”
“Go to the end of the line”
“No cutting in line”
In that situation, you should say:
“I’m sorry”
and go to the end of the line. It’s not fair to the rest of the people when someone is allowed to cut in line. After the movie is over, there is usually a long list of names. This is called the credits. Some people like to stay and read the credits but most people begin to leave at this time. Read this conversation after watching a movie:
Michiko: What did you think of the movie?
Michael: It was the worst movie I have ever seen.
Michiko: Really!
Michael: Yes. I wasted my hard earned money.
Michiko: Wow, I’m surprised. I thought it was a good movie.
Michael: I guess we have different tastes.
Michiko: I guess you’re right.
After the movie is over, people usually ask each other about the movie. When you ask your friends about the movie, it’s ok to give your honest opinion. Read these example sentences:
“I thought it was great”
“The ending was really touching. I almost cried”
“I thought it was so - so”
“I thought it was fair”
If you would like to know someone else’s opinion about a movie, you can ask them one of these questions:
“Was it worth seeing?”
or
“Would you recommend it?”
