

● Watch the video and then answer the following questions based on your observations.
1) What is the toast for? It is to celebrate Shelley’s birthday.
2) What is there on the table? There is a bottle of wine and a pair of candles.
3) What can you tell from Michael’s look at the moment? He is in low spirits.
4) Why is Michael complaining about something? Because he is feeling nervous in front of Shelley.
5) Why is Michael so indirect? Because he is going to ask Shelley a very important personal question.

● A. Watch the video and then decide whether each of the following statements is true (T) or false (F).
1) Today is Shelley’s birthday, and Michael is having a drink at a bar in her honor. (T)
2) At this moment, Michael is trying to say something to Shelley. (T)
3) Shelley knows what Michael is trying to tell her. (F)
4) Michael seems to be speaking in circles around Shelley. (T)
5) Shelley does not like the way Michael is ruining(毁了) her birthday. (F)
B. Now watch the video again and then complete the following conversation.
Michael: Cheers! Happy Birthday to you!
Shelley: Thanks. Cheers to you, too. Michael: How are you doing?
Shelley: Everything is fine. How about you?
Michael: Pretty good. But… well… you know…
Shelley: But what?
Michael: I… well…, I feel alone, I’m completely alone. I was wondering… I mean… do you think…
Shelley: Are you trying to say something, Michael? If you are, please just get to the point.
Michael: I was trying to say. I mean, I just feel so alone. I just… I don’t know.
Shelley: You’re so indirect! What are you trying to tell me?
Michael: It’s warm and stuffy in here, don’t you think?
Shelley: I don’t feel anything unusual. But I certainly do dislike it when you beat around the bush like this. So cut this out — just give it to me straight.
Michael: It’s so noisy here. Jeez, you call that singing?
Shelley: Relax, Michael. Honestly, what’s your issue?
Michael: Oh, I don’t know…Shelley: Come on. Out with it now.
Michael: Well, this is the first time in my life I’ve even thought to ask such a question…
Shelley: What question? What’s the deal?
Michael: Well, I was wondering… if there is anyone in your life… if you’re with anybody…
Shelley: Oh that! Well… now that you ask…
C. After watching the video a third time, complete the following third-person account of the conversation.
Today is Shelley’s birthday. Shelley and Michael are having a drink at a bar to celebrate it. Michael is trying to say something important to her, but he is hesitating to do so. Shelley dislikes it when Michael beats around the bush, and so she asks him to get to the point, to give it to her straight. Actually, Michael is afraid of asking Shelley whether she has anyone special in her life, in particular probably a guy. He’s anxious because this is the first time in his life he has asked anyone such a question.

1) Watch the video again, with a female student doing Shelley’s voice.

2) Watch the video once more, with a male student doing Michael’s voice.

3) Watch the video one last time, with a male student and a female student doing both of the voices for the whole conversation.
