Lost phone

English Lessons Lost Phone Real Life Feb 29 2008

Intro

Mobile phones and other portable devices make our lives easier. Remember when you used to have to wait at home if you were expecting a call?

But sometimes we depend too much on our gadgets. For instance, where do you store your phone numbers? Do you have a little book where you write them down? Most people keep phone numbers stored in their mobile phone. It’s handy because you can call someone without looking at a piece of paper or entering all the numbers.

But it’s not so handy if you lose your phone. Then, even when you get a new phone, you don’t have any numbers! So you have to go around and ask all your friends for their phone numbers again. Listen to Jason do just that.

Dialogue

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Marni

Jason

Jason: Wait, before I forget, can I get your number…again?

Marni: Yeah, what…I mean, didn’t I just give it to you?

Jason: I mean, I’ve had it but I lost my phone and I had to get a new phone…

Marni: You lost your phone again?

Jason: Yeah, yeah.

Marni: Oh my God.

Jason: Yeah, but the worst part about it is I have phone insurance so I get a new phone for pretty cheap, but I have to get all the phone numbers again from everyone I know and, I don’t know, it’s kind of interesting.

Marni: We don’t commit telephone numbers to memory anymore. I used to have a file of numbers…

Jason: Totally. I still have my first girlfriend’s phone number memorized from like 9th grade, but I had get all new phone numbers for everyone I call nowadays. It’s an interesting social experiment to not have any numbers and just see who calls me.

Marni: There you go. Those are your true friends.

Jason: It makes me seem like a real loner, like a cowboy who just doesn’t need anyone because I’m not reaching out.

Marni: OK. Sure. I hear ya. Well, um, yeah, I’ll give you my number and hopefully you won’t lose this one.

Jason: Yeah, and you should back up your numbers because that’s what I’m doing now.

Marni: Oh, good idea. Yeah, see, never done that.

Discussion

Marni is a little confused when Jason asks her for her phone number because she thought he already had it. But it turns out Jason lost his phone, and it doesn’t sound like it’s the first time this has happened.

In fact, Jason looses his phone so often that he got insurance on it this time so it wouldn’t cost him very much to get a new phone. The only problem is that his new phone doesn’t have any phone numbers in it! So he has to start from scratch collecting all of his friends’ phone numbers again.

Jason says it’s kind of interesting to see who calls you when you don’t have anyone’s number. He hopes that not calling anyone makes him seem cool and that everyone will assume he’s just too busy to call. But it can get kind of lonely when you can’t call your friends. If you have Jason’s number, give him call so that he’ll have your number again!
Image: The location of Jason’s old phone.

Vocab X loner n. Definition: someone who likes to be alone Example: I'm a loner, a rebel. You don't want to get involved with a guy like me. start from scratch expr. Definition: start with no help, from the very beginning Example: I accidentally burned the food I was making so I had to start over from scratch. insurance n. Definition: a service you pay for that provides financial protection from expenses Example: I don't have insurance, so it is very expensive for me to go to the doctor. handy adj. Definition: easy to get and positive Example: It is handy to get gas before we start on our trip because the gas station is right there. gadget n. Definition: a small electronic or mechanical device Example: I love gadgets. I have to stay away from the electronics store or I will spend all my money on them. portable adj. Definition: something you can take with you, that works anywhere Example: My dad got a portable DVD player so he can watch movies on planes. it turns out expr. Definition: what really happened was; it ended up that Example: It turns out he'd been stealing from the company for years. back up v. Definition: to save a copy of information in a different place Example: Remember to back up your computer files before you leave the office. You don't want to lose any information if your computer crashes! I hear you expr. Definition: I understand; I agree Example: I hear you. I know just how bad a divorce can be. My parents got one when I was a kid. reach out v. Definition: to seek contact from other people Example: I've been trying to reach out to him, to help him, but he won't talk to me.

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