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Give the Green Light
Give the Green Light English, baby! Video Lesson

Learn English meaning of 'give the green light'

Date: Mar 29 2016

Themes: Soap Opera, Work

Grammar: Passive Voice

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

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2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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Have you ever worked in a team? Usually, when people work together, someone needs to be the leader. That person gives permission for things to happen. For example, your boss might give you and your co-workers permission to start a new sales campaign. Your professor might allow the class to do a creative project. Or, if you are a boss, you might decide to do something nice for your employees. You might say, “I’m giving you the green light to have an office party!”

We use the expression give the green light to talk about giving permission for something to happen. The person in charge usually gives the green light. For example, sometimes, parents give their children the green light to buy a car. Sometimes, bosses give the green light to hire new employees. If you are in charge of a team, you probably give the green light, too.

Dominique is about to give the green light on an important change for the office. Watch today’s video and find out what happens.

3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Jordin

Jordin

Sheila

Sheila

Kelsey

Kelsey

Andy_H

Andy_H

Dominique

Dominique

Jordin:  Hi! Is Dominique here?

Sheila:  She’s away, for the moment. She’ll be back.

Jordin:  OK. Well, I’m the new intern here. Dominique asked me to come by. I wanted to know if she was going to give me the green light to get cubicles.

Sheila:  Excellent.

Kelsey:  I don’t think so. She likes the openness of the office. I do, too…

Sheila:  Hold on! Dominique asked you to get cubicles?

Jordin:  Well, yes… I mean, she mentioned it.

Kelsey:  Cubicles are so restrictive.

Sheila:  I like the privacy.

Andy_H:  Hi!

Jordin:  Hi, Jordin.

Sheila:  She’s our intern, and she’s going to get us cubicles.

Kelsey:  That’s not decided, yet.

Sheila:  Fine. Raise your hand if you like cubicles. Andy?

Andy_H:  On the one hand, it’s really nice to all be working together like this.

Sheila:  Yeah, but think of all the organizing you could do behind your little cubicle.

Andy_H:  Yeah, that would be nice. Well, I guess my vote is for…

Dominique:  Hello everyone! It’s decided. Jordin, I’m giving you the green light to get the cubicles. Has everyone met Jordin?

Kelsey:  I guess it’ll be cool. It’ll give me something to decorate.

Sheila:  Cubicles, Jordin. Cubicles.

 

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

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Jordin comes to the office to introduce herself. She is the new intern, and Dominique has given her permission to get cubicles. Sheila is excited. She really wants her own cubicle. However, Kelsey does not want cubicles. She likes the openness of the office, and she thinks that Dominique does, too. Sheila proposes a vote: Everyone who wants cubicles should raise their hand. Andy is not sure what to vote. On the one hand, he enjoys working in an open office with everyone. On the other hand, he could do a lot of organizing in his cubicle!

Dominique arrives and tells the team that it is settled. She is going to give the green light for the office to get cubicles. Sheila is happy, and Kelsey decides that it will not be so bad. At least she can decorate her cubicle.

Do you work in an office? Do you ever give the green light for things?

 

Comments

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Hamedrees

Hamedrees

Sudan

yes for afew monthes ago I worked in an office .


so I have some resposibalities of group of workers to arrange them and give them the orders and green light to be done in every day .

12:12 PM May 02 2016 |

tiara2tiara

Philippines

I supervise and manage few people in a small company and giving a green light for just about anything feels great. However, if the result of your decision has gone wrong, you’ve got to take the blame. lol. 

01:39 PM Mar 29 2016 |

julito1

julito1

Argentina

I am self-employed , it´s me or nobody , i can´t delegate resposabilities. – I was in Seattle, Washington State. I know a guy who at that time was chief of engineeres (thousand of them)at the Boing Company. There was a problem with one computer and the plane didn´t have the green light to fly until the problem was resolved. My friend told to one engineer: “I have requested and got an extension of three more days to come up with a solution , go home and work on it. If you dont find the problem i will have to sack you . He will, The plane took off. My friend now is an independent consultant with mayor airlines. Still is remember at Boing for never giving the pink slip to anybody.

12:13 PM Mar 29 2016 |

hermitlady

China


 Yes, I work in an office. I ever had been given  the green light for many things by my boss.



   For I am a mother and need to send  my child to kindergarten and pick up child.  My boss has give me the green light for that I can go to work late for some time and get off work early.



   I can leave the work for some time  when I have to take part the parent’s meeting of children or when there were some activities of kindergarten that the parent must take part in.



  


04:28 AM Mar 29 2016 |

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