The moment

Omar and Mei are new neighbors in Chicago. He sees her come back from a run on a cold Saturday morning. He wants to start running too, but he's out of practice. Listen to how they plan a run, and how Omar tries to move the start time.

The conversation

OmarMei
  1. Omar
  2. Mei
  3. Omar
  4. Mei
  5. Omar
  6. Mei
  7. Omar
  8. Mei
  9. Omar
  10. Mei
  11. Omar
  12. Mei
  13. Omar

Words to know

in such cold weather

asks what someone means by a word

suggests a different time

I don't like early mornings

Check yourself

1Why is Omar a little nervous about running?
2What does "How slow is slow?" mean?
3How do they agree on the time?

Practice · 4 min

Round one: repeat every line. Round two: mute Mei and answer Omar with your real exercise habits. Round three: mute Omar and try to move the time yourself: "Can we say...?" It's a polite way to change a plan without saying no.

  1. OmarMorning. Did you go for a run in this cold?
  2. MeiFive miles by the lake. It's beautiful early.
  3. OmarWow. How often do you run?
  4. MeiI try to go three times a week.
  5. OmarI used to run, but not for years.
  6. MeiCome with me next Saturday. I go slow.
  7. OmarHow slow is slow?
  8. MeiWe can walk too. Three miles, easy.
  9. OmarOK. What time do you start?
  10. MeiSeven.
  11. OmarSeven? Can we say eight? I'm not a morning person.
  12. MeiSeven thirty. And I bring the coffee after.
  13. OmarDeal. See you at seven thirty.

Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.