Unit 3: I can't stand it when...
- Describing pet peeves
- sympathizing
Part 1
Vocabulary
Check (✅) the things that annoy you.
_______ when people interrupt me
_______ when a server ignores me
_______ when people chew loudly
_______ when people leave dirty dishes
_______ when salespeople are rude
_______ when people stare at me
_______ when people are arrogant
_______ when people have poor driving etiquette
Teacher & Student:
Tell your partner about two of your pet peeves.
Sample Conversation
A: One of my pet peeves is when people interrupt me. I think it's rude because they think what they have to say is more important than what I am saying.
B: I agree. It's one of my pet peeves, too. I try not to interrupt, and I want people to do the same.
A: Another pet peeve is when people chew loudly...
Part 2
Conversation
Listen and answer 2 questions.
1. Why is Marco annoyed?
2. What are other things that annoy Jenny and Marco?
Man: Marco, Woman: Jenny
Transcript
Marco: Hi, Jenny. I’m so annoyed.
Jenny: What’s wrong, Marco?
Marco: I was just at the movies, and there was a guy there who talked through the whole thing. I can’t stand it when people talk during a movie.
Jenny: Yeah, I know what you mean. It gets on my nerves when people are rude like that. But it really gets me when people text during a movie.
Marco: Yeah, I hear you.
Jenny: You know what else bugs me? I hate it when people chew their popcorn really loudly.
Marco: Me, too! Oh, and it bugs me when people leave their popcorn and sodas on the floor after the movie instead of throwing them away.
Jenny: Oh, same here!
Marco: Maybe we should just start watching movies at home from now on.
Example answer
- Marco is annoyed because a guy talked during the movie Marco went to.
- Jenny and Marco are also annoyed at people who text during movies, chew their popcorn loudly, and don't throw away their trash after the movies.
Practice the conversation. Then find the best places to add the sentences below to the conversation and practice it again.
That’s one of my pet peeves, too.
You look upset.
We might get less annoyed
People should turn their phones off in the theater.
Marco
Hi, Jenny. I’m so annoyed.
What’s wrong, Marco? (2) You look upset.
Jenny
Marco
I was just at the movies, and there was a guy there who talked through the whole thing. I can’t stand it when people talk during a movie.
Yeah, I know what you mean. It gets on my nerves when people are rude like that. But it really gets me when people text during a movie.
Jenny
Marco
Yeah, I hear you. (4) People should turn their phones off in the theater.
You know what else bugs me? I hate it when people chew their popcorn really loudly.
Jenny
Marco
Me, too! Oh, and it bugs me when people leave their popcorn and sodas on the floor after the movie instead of throwing them away.
Oh, same here! (1) That’s one of my pet peeves, too.
Jenny
Marco
Maybe we should just start watching movies at home from now on. (3) We might get less annoyed
Part 3
Language Booster
Notice the ways we describe pet peeves and sympathize with the other person.
Describing pet peeves
I hate it when
I can’t stand it when
It bugs me when
It gets on my nerves when
people chew loudly.
people are rude.
Sympathizing
Yeah, I know what you mean.
I can’t either.
Same here.
Yeah, I hear you.
Student & teacher
Take turns describing your biggest pet peeves.
Example conversation
A: So what's your one of your biggest pet peeves?
B: I can't stand it when my roommate leaves her clothes all over the apartment.
A: Yeah, I hear you.
B: How about you?
A: It bugs me when people are arrogant.
Part 4
Listening
Listen to four people describe their pet peeves. Number the pictures from 1 to 4.
Answers
a. 4
b. 2.
c. 1
d. 3
Listen again. In each conversation, does the listener have the same pet peeve or not? Write yes or no.
________
________
________
________
Answers
- no
- yes
- no
- yes
Transcript
1.
A: I was just at the grocery story waiting in line, and the woman next to me just kept looking at me. It gets on my nerves when people stare at me.
B: That’s so weird. I wonder why she was staring at you.
A: I have no idea. It was making me nervous. I kept thinking I had food on my face.
2.
A: I’m getting so frustrated at work. One of my co-workers interrupts me when I’m talking. She does it all the time, especially in meetings. I can’t stand it when people interrupt.
B: I can’t either. That’s so rude. Can you talk to her about it?
A: I have talked to her about it, but she says that she doesn’t realize she’s doing it. I don’t know what to do.
B: The next time she interrupts you, just say, “I wasn’t finished speaking.”
A: I’ll try that next time. I hope it works.
3.
A: We’ve been sitting here for thirty minutes, waiting to try on these shoes, and no one is offering to help us. It drives me crazy when salespeople ignore me.
B: I could go ask one of them to help us.
A: No, let’s see if they notice us. I would understand it if they were busy, but we’re the only people in the store. And they’re just chatting. One of them is on the phone with his friend.
B: I’m going to go over there and ask for help.
A: Good luck!
4.
A: How did your date go?
B: It was awful. My date was texting someone the whole time. I hate it when people text while I’m talking to them.
A: I do, too! It’s so rude. Do you know who he was texting?
B: I think he was texting his boss. I understand that his job is important, but it was ridiculous.
A: How did the date end?
B: He actually asked me if I wanted to have dinner next week!
Part 5
Speak with confidence
Talk about the following topics/questions freely!
Teacher helps student expand and correct the answers
Do you have any annoying habits that you’re aware of?
Do any of your friends or co-workers have any annoying habits?
Do you think people in your country are generally polite or rude?
What’s an example of something that someone has done recently that’s annoyed you?
Do you think pet peeves can change over time?
Can pet peeves affect your relationships with others?