Tim is from Oregon. He explains it is such a good place to live in the U.S.
Script
Todd: OK. Hey, hello!
Tim: Hey, how’s it going?
Todd: Doing pretty good. Could you introduce yourself please?
Tim: Yeah, I’m Tim Peterson. I’m from Oregon in the United States.
Todd: Oh, nice. You’re from Oregon.
Tim: Yeah.
Todd: OK, and were you born there?
Tim: Yes, I was born there.
Todd: Oh, really? Did you ever live in any other states or..?
Tim: I lived in Wyoming for a really short time.
Todd: Oh, really?
Tim: And, I’ve lived in California for a short time too.
Todd: OK. Of those three states, which one is the best?
Tim: Oregon.
Todd: Really? Why?
Tim: It’s got lots of nature. It’s really beautiful, I think in the United States probably Oregon and Washington state are the most beautiful.
Todd: Oh, OK.
Tim: Lots, lots of green stuff and the lots of nature. Good mountains, good streams, good water.
Todd: Wow! Well, what about Wyoming?
Tim: Wyoming is nice but it is really dry. And it’s really sort of dark.
Todd: Oh. OK. Wow, so when you grow old and retire someday, you’re a very young guy but when you grow old, would you like to live in Oregon?
Tim: Ah, Oregon or Washington probably. Maybe Alaska.
Todd: Yeah. Not California?
Tim: No!
Todd: Man, the Golden State.
Tim: Yeah, too many people.
Todd: All right, Yeah. OK. Thanks a lot.
Vocab
Learn vocabulary from the lesson!
doing pretty good
[How’s it going?] Doing pretty good.
We can give the answer ‘doing pretty good’ when we are asked how we are feeling. Technically this is not grammatically correct, but it is very commonly used. Notice the following:
- She is doing pretty good at her new job.
- I am actually doing pretty good now.
introduce yourself
Could you introduce yourself, please?
When we ‘introduce ourselves’ we say our name and maybe a little bit about ourselves, like where we are from or what hobbies we have. Notice the following:
- Please introduce yourself to the class.
- I always hated introducing myself in school classes.
short time
I lived in Wyoming for a really short time.
A ‘short time’ is a small amount of time. The actual amount of time changes depending on the situation. In the example, a short time is probably a few weeks or months, but if you wait a short time for a bus it is probably a few minutes. Notice the following:
- She was only here for a short time before she left again.
- We lived in a hotel for a short time at first.
of those
Of those three states, which one is the best?
We use the phrase ‘of those’ to refer back to some different options that were stated already in the conversation. We use this phrase so we don’t have to repeat what has already been said. Notice the following:
- Of those restaurants, which is your favorite?
- Of those countries, which was the most beautiful?
lots of nature
Oregon and Washington State have lots of nature.
‘Nature’ is natural aspects such as trees, lakes, rivers and animals. There is ‘lots of nature’ in a natural place. Notice the following:
- There is lots of nature around the school.
- Does your area have lots of nature?
Quiz
Answer the following questions about the interview.
1) Where was Tim born? 
a) Wyoming b) Oregon c) California
2) Where else had he lived?
a) Colorado b) Wyoming c) Washington
3) Why does he like Oregon?
a) It is cheap b) It has big cities c) It’s got lots of nature
4) What does he not like about Wyoming?
a) It is expensive b) It has too many people c) It is dry
5) Why does he dislike California?
a) Too big b) Too expensive c) Too many people
Show answers
1) Where was Tim born?
a) Wyoming b) Oregon c) California
2) Where else had he lived?
a) Colorado b) Wyoming c) Washington
3) Why does he like Oregon?
a) It is cheap b) It has big cities c) It’s got lots of nature
4) What does he not like about Wyoming?
a) It is expensive b) It has too many people c) It is dry
5) Why does he dislike California?
a) Too big b) Too expensive c) Too many people