Listening exercise
American Public Media: Marketplace Money
"Day in the Work Life": Interview with Leslie Slifkin, hairstylist
Audio file
Source page: http://marketplacemoney.publicradio.org/display/web/2004/09/11/ditwl_stylist/


Vocabulary:
Miss America pageant
weekend
let's face it
cheesy
talent
portion
competition
to have seen
contestants
tractors
to bounce on
trampolines
stuff
that really matters
evening gown
swimsuit
excellently coifed hair
to trade one's time for money
natural look
professional
Gretchen
cut and color
Leslie Slifkin
to create a look
to best suit
lifestyle
to range from x to y
haircut
coloring
perming
texturizing (= changing the texture of hair; usually
this means straightening very curly hair)
scary
generally
more than anything
to be filled with
added bonus
to do s.o.'s hair
to trust
what s.o. does best
hairdressing
to share information
to pick up on s.t.
to go miserably wrong
to bring in (money)
tips
to vary
I'd like to think
on the rare occasion
client
under the drier
bleach
gray/grey
pale yellow blond
base color
that's a tough one
graciously
generously
try to do the best you can
there have been times
to be interrupted
to make a left turn
acting skills
to come into play
to care
to go right along with
whatever
to talk s.o. into s.t.
mistakes


Listening comprehension questions:
1. What connection did the program host make between the Miss America pageant and this interview?
2. What is the name of the host of this program, with the correct spelling? How did you find it?
3. Who is "Gretchen"?
4. What are some of the services Leslie says she offers her customers? Give your answers in both English and Chinese. What does Leslie do in her job that she enjoys, besides hairstyling?
5. Why does Leslie say that a hair salon is a "scary place"? What does "trust" have to do with hairstyling?
6. One girl decided to have her long hair cut very short. She was very unhappy with the results. Why?
7. What usually happens when a customer is unhappy with what the stylist has done with her hair?
8. What happens if someone who is getting their hair bleached stays under the drier too long?
9. How does Leslie handle "mistakes"?
10. How have you reacted and handled "mistakes" made by your hairdresser?

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