Prepare

Everyone likes to be recognized for their accomplishments. But some people like to be recognized a little more than others. OK, maybe a lot more. If you do something just to be recognized for your talent or achievement, you are showing off.

Someone who likes to show off is called a showoff. It can be both a verb or a noun. Ella recently won the Employee of the Year award. She and her boyfriend Jeff are on a double date with Jason and Devan. Will Ella take the opportunity to show off?

Dialogue

Jason:  It’s cool hanging out with you guys in a foursome like this. Hey, congratulations.

Ella:  Oh, yes. I got Employee of the Year. Isn’t that amazing?

Devan:  What? We have employee of the year?

Ella:  Yeah, I know. I think I started it because of all the hard work I’ve been doing, but I mean, it’s nothing new to me. I’ve won beauty contests, rap contests…I had really good cuticles one year…

Jason:  Really?

Ella:  ...at my nail salon that I go to a lot.

Jason:  Cuticles. That’s fascinating.

Ella:  I did! I got free manicures for like a whole year. I could totally give you one of those. You could just wear a little wig and you could go in and get your cuticles done too.

Jason:  I need one so bad.

Devan:  Was I nominated for Employee of the Year?

Jason:  Didn’t you help decide Employee of the Year? Aren’t you co-president of the company?

Devan:  Maybe next year…

Ella:  What else have I won? One time, I made my own dress and it was so beautiful…

Jeff:  Could you maybe not be such a showoff?

Ella:  Showoff? I mean, how is it showing off when it’s fact? And plus, you show off all the time.

Jeff:  Well, I have a reason to show off. I mean, having my law degree posted up in every single room in the house isn’t anything…

Ella:  You have an animated mini-version in your wallet. I mean, I’m not bragging, this is everyday life for me, so it’s not my fault. It’s fact. How’s that showing off?

Jeff:  It’s just useless self-promotion. You didn’t deserve any of that.

Ella:  What? I worked hard for all my accomplishments, thank you.

Jeff:  Just to rub it in everybody else’s face?

Ella:  No, I’m sharing my experiences so they can better themselves, duh.

Jason:  Check please? Check? Can I get a check?

Discussion

Jason congratulates Ella for winning the Employee of the Year award. She says she is not new to winning. She begins listing off contests she has won before including one for having good cuticles.

Devan is confused and didn’t even realize there was an Employee of the Year award. Jason assumed that as co-president of her company, she would have helped to decide the winner. She says she’ll have to do that next year.

Ella continues to brag and Jeff gets upset. He tells her to stop showing off. She denies being a showoff and accuses him of showing off because he keeps copies of his law degree everywhere. While they argue, Jason asks the waiter to bring the check so he and Devan can leave.

Do you think Ella was showing off? Do you know any showoffs? Is showing off something you ever do?

英语口语话题