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English & TV
Learn with UGLY BETTY
In this section, we analyze parts of the TV show script to learn and understand the use of daily English language.
Read the passages and try to understand them. Then, read the vocabulary explanation. Finally, read the passage again.
Move the mouse over the words in red to see the meaning.
From the episode 'Pilot'
AMANDA: So everyone's in the conference room and Daniel's about to start his first
staff meeting. I'm Amanda, by the way.
BETTY: Betty.
AMANDA: Ok. FYI, Betty, assistants are usually here before their bosses.
BETTY: Oh, I was filling out paperwork in HR.
AMANDA: Yeah, just don't let it happen again. So, where do you come from?
BETTY: Queens.
AMANDA: What job did you have?
BETTY: Oh, actually, apart from internships and part-time jobs to pay for school, this is my first real job.
AMANDA: That's funny. I was told I didn't have enough experience for the position.
BETTY: Betty.
AMANDA: Ok. FYI, Betty, assistants are usually here before their bosses.
BETTY: Oh, I was filling out paperwork in HR.
AMANDA: Yeah, just don't let it happen again. So, where do you come from?
BETTY: Queens.
AMANDA: What job did you have?
BETTY: Oh, actually, apart from internships and part-time jobs to pay for school, this is my first real job.
AMANDA: That's funny. I was told I didn't have enough experience for the position.
| conference room | salón de conferencias |
| to be about to do something | estar a punto de comenzar algo |
| staff | personal |
| meeting | reunión |
| by the way | a propósito, por cierto |
| FYI | Abreviatura de For Your Information (para tu información) |
| assistant | asistente, ayudante |
| boss | jefe |
| to fill out | llenar (una solicitud o formulario) |
| paperwork | papeleo |
| HR | Abreviatura de Human Resources (departamento de Recursos Humanos) |
| yeah | Forma coloquial de yes (sí) |
| actually | en realidad. No debe confundirse con actualmente, que se dice at present, nowadays. |
| internship | pasantía, prácticas |
| part-time job | trabajo de medio tiempo, a tiempo parcial |
| position | En este caso, significa puesto de trabajo |
PHILLIPE: What's the story here? I know the type of woman you hire.
DANIEL: My father made me.
PHILLIPE: You're kidding me.
DANIEL: What? She appears to be good, capable...
PHILLIPE: Fugly! Listen to me. You are the editor-in-chief of Mode magazine. This business is all image. Is that what you want representing you? Paparazzi taking your picture and she's standing behind?
DANIEL: Oh, I can't fire her, Phillipe.
PHILLIPE: Well. What if she quits?
DANIEL: My father made me.
PHILLIPE: You're kidding me.
DANIEL: What? She appears to be good, capable...
PHILLIPE: Fugly! Listen to me. You are the editor-in-chief of Mode magazine. This business is all image. Is that what you want representing you? Paparazzi taking your picture and she's standing behind?
DANIEL: Oh, I can't fire her, Phillipe.
PHILLIPE: Well. What if she quits?
| to hire | contratar |
| to make somebody do something | obligar a alguien a hacer algo |
| you're kidding me | estás bromeando |
| to appear to be | aparentar ser |
| capable | capaz |
| fugly | Expresión vulgar del slang, que signfica muy feo/a. |
| editor-in-chief | jefe de redacción |
| paparazzi | paparazzi, fotógrafos que persiguen a famosos |
| to fire somebody | echar, despedir a alguien |
| to quit | renunciar |
DANIEL: In order to show the softer side of Fabia cosmetics, we're going to use the concept of mothers and daughters
focusing on the small, special moments that are usually taken for granted, the theme being, it's
not the big events, but the little moments that matter.
FABIA: I just had a daughter. I do none of those things. But I can understand it. What makes you think it's going to appeal to my customers?
BETTY: Um, if I may, I do have the statistics here. Um, though one might assume that your demographic is very young, in fact, there's been tremendous brand loyalty since you've launched, which means that the people who were teenagers when they began using your cosmetics well, are now, like you, beginning to settle down and have children. Um, fifty-eight percent, to be exact.
FABIA: And you could do this in time?
DANIEL: Of course. Uh, did you want to approve the models and images beforehand?
FABIA: No! Just make sure it's not too sappy.
FABIA: I just had a daughter. I do none of those things. But I can understand it. What makes you think it's going to appeal to my customers?
BETTY: Um, if I may, I do have the statistics here. Um, though one might assume that your demographic is very young, in fact, there's been tremendous brand loyalty since you've launched, which means that the people who were teenagers when they began using your cosmetics well, are now, like you, beginning to settle down and have children. Um, fifty-eight percent, to be exact.
FABIA: And you could do this in time?
DANIEL: Of course. Uh, did you want to approve the models and images beforehand?
FABIA: No! Just make sure it's not too sappy.
| in order to | con el objetivo de |
| softer | más suave. Para aprender a formar superlativos, ver Comparatives and superlatives. |
| to focus on something | enfocarse en algo |
| to take something for granted | dar algo por sentado |
| to matter | importar |
| to appeal to somebody | atraerle a alguien |
| customer | cliente |
| um | Interjección usada cuando se está pensando en lo próximo a decir. Equivale al español "este..., eh..." |
| if I may | si me permite |
| though | aunque |
| might assume | podría suponer |
| loyalty | lealtad. Loyal significa leal. Disloyal significa desleal. |
| to launch something | lanzar algo. Como sustantivo, launch es lanzamiento. |
| to settle down | sentar cabeza, volverse responsable |
| in time | a tiempo |
| beforehand | de antemano, con anticipación |
| sappy | ñoño, tonto |
The scripts and the images are copyright. They are used here for educational purposes only.