Recognize slang
Listen for the idea that slang can have a meaning different from the individual words.
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Slang Vocabulary
Understand casual American slang from everyday conversation and social media, including when it is appropriate to use it.
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Listen with a purpose
Notice the useful language in “Slang Vocabulary”.
Understand common phrases
Notice “what’s up” as a casual greeting and “keep your cool” as a way to say stay calm.
Choose the right setting
Pay attention to why trendy slang may sound less professional in a job interview.
Cultural note
The context makes the phrase land.
Slang changes quickly and depends on context. Understanding a casual expression is useful even when you choose a more neutral phrase yourself.
Try it
Practice the situation.
Write one casual greeting and one professional greeting. Explain when you would use each one. Say your response aloud before checking the examples below.
“What’s up?” is casual with friends. “Hello, how are you?” is safer in a professional setting.
Expression cards · 10 from the transcript
These cards were extracted from the transcript and grouped by the kind of language learners can practice.
Showing 10 of 10 cards.
What’s up?
A casual way to say hello or ask how someone is doing.
Example sentence
“Hey, what’s up?”
Keep your cool.
Stay calm, especially when something is frustrating.
Example sentence
“Keep your cool and take a deep breath.”
Get salty.
Become upset or frustrated about something small.
Example sentence
“Don’t get salty because we lost the game.”
Come across as professional.
Give other people a particular impression of you.
Example sentence
“Clear language helps you come across as professional.”
The main idea
The most important point in a lesson or conversation.
Example sentence
“The main idea of this lesson is how people communicate in social & small talk situations.”
In other words
A phrase used to explain the same idea more simply.
Example sentence
“In other words, the speaker is showing a natural way to handle this situation.”
For example
A phrase used to introduce a specific supporting detail.
Example sentence
“For example, you can use this phrase when talking about social & small talk.”
In this situation
A phrase that connects language to a particular context.
Example sentence
“In this situation, a short and clear answer is often the most helpful.”
A useful phrase
A practical expression worth remembering and reusing.
Example sentence
“That is a useful phrase to remember for social & small talk conversations.”
Try it yourself
An invitation to practise a phrase by making your own sentence.
Example sentence
“Now try it yourself by making one sentence about Slang Vocabulary.”
Check your understanding
What does “What’s up?” communicate?
RTB commentary
Learn casual expressions such as “what’s up,” “keep your cool,” and “salty,” while noticing the difference between slang for friends and language for formal situations.