Nguồn: listeningenglish.com
Japanese Toilets
- fairy guys [n] – small, magical people from stories (and Harry Potter)
- the powder room [n] – a small bathroom for guests
- jiggle [v] – shake quickly
- the bowl [n] – the part of the toilet that holds water
- the lid [n] – the cover of the toilet bowl
- ol’ [adj] – old (used to show fondness for something)
- take a shit [exp] – go to the bathroom for a bowel movement (very informal)
- weed [n] – marijuana
- a full warranty [n] – a promise to fix or replace something if it breaks
- the top model [exp] – the best or most advanced version of a product
- the bells and whistles [exp] – extra features
- that kind of money [exp] – a lot of money
- high-end features [exp] – special and expensive features
- a bidet [n] – a toilet device that sprays water to wash your bottom
- raise [v] – lift
- mount [v] – install, attach something to a surface
- mad [adj] – crazy or unbelievable
- a test drive [exp] – try something before buying it
[n] – noun, [v] – verb, [phv] – phrasal verb, [adj] – adjective, [exp] – expression
Directions: Write sentences about the video clip using the words given. You can change the word form or add words, but you cannot change the word order.
Use a present time frame (tense).
( ) = optional [ ] = necessary
Sentence 1
Randy / not / let / Stan / play / new / Harry Potter / game
=>Randy won’t let Stan play the new Harry Potter game.
=>Randy isn’t letting Stan play the new Harry Potter game.
Sentence 2
Sharon / first / ask / Randy / fix / powder / room / toilet
=>Sharon first asks Randy to fix the powder room toilet.
Sentence 3
=>Sharon / not / let / Randy / lift / lid / because / she / just / take / shit
=>Sharon [won’t/doesn’t] let Randy lift the lid because she just took a shit.
=>Sharon [won’t/doesn’t] let Randy lift the lid because she has just taken a shit.
Sentence 4
then / she / insist / he / buy / new / toilet
=>Then she insists (that) he buy a new toilet.
Sentence 5
Randy / seem / reluctant / get / rid / Ol’ Blue / first / but / he / eventual / agree
=>Randy seems reluctant to get rid of Ol’ Blue at first, but he eventually agrees.
Sentence 6
at / Home / Depot / sale / associate / show / Randy / all / normal / toilet
=>At Home Depot, a sales associate shows Randy all (of) the normal toilets.
Sentence 7
when / Randy / ask / see / top / model / sale / associate / take / him / Japan / toilet / showroom
=>When Randy asks to see [their/the] top model, the sales associate takes him to the Japanese toilet showroom.
Sentence 8
he / explain / all / high / end / feature / Randy
=>He explains all (of) the high-end features to Randy.
Sentence 9
he / then / invite / Randy / take / one / test / drive
=>He then invites Randy to take one for a test drive.
Sentence 10
after / Randy / use / toilet / he / decide / buy / one
=>After Randy uses the toilet, he decides to buy one.
- Why does Randy decide to buy a Japanese toilet? Try to think of two different reasons.
- What sales techniques did the Home Depot employees use to sell Randy the most expensive toilet?
- How do you feel about bidets? What are the pros and cons?
- What features were mentioned in the video? Did any of the features surprise you? Are there any features you would like to add?
- Do you have a bidet in your home? If not, would you consider buying one? Did this video have any effect on your opinion?
- One reason that Randy wants to buy the Japanese toilet is to show off his wealth. Do you have friends who like to flaunt (show off) luxury items in order to demonstrate their wealth? What items?
- What products, items, services, or experiences are the most common symbols of wealth these days? Have these symbols changed in the past 25 years?
- They use the expression “take a shit” in the video. It is very common, but obviously not formal or polite. Can you think of some other English expressions for “go to the bathroom”? Try to think of both polite and vulgar expressions.
- Despite being married, Sharon doesn’t want Randy to lift the lid. Randy doesn’t seem to care. When you are in a relationship, who are you more similar to?
- Do you think you could fix Ol’ Blue (Randy’s toilet)? What would you do? Describe the steps. (Use the vocabulary in the image below.)
Randy: See, Stan? You’ve got to choose if you want to be in Gryffindor or Slytherin.
Stan: Yeah, can I do it?
Randy: Yeah, see, you’ve got to fight these fairy guys.
Sharon: Randy. Randy! The powder room toilet is broken. Again!
Randy: Did you jiggle the handle?
Sharon: Yes, I jiggled the handle. Will you come fix this, please?
Randy: Okay, okay…
Randy: Huh, well, let’s see. It’s got to be the little black floaty thingy. What’d you do to it?
Sharon: I didn’t do anything.
Randy: Let me see if there’s water in the bowl.
Sharon: No! Don’t lift the lid!
Randy: Why can’t I lift the lid?
Sharon: Don’t, Randy!
Randy: Uh-huh… Hey, guys! Your mom took a shit and doesn’t want me to see it.
Stan: Ew!
Shelly: Gross, Dad!
Sharon: Randy! We need to get a new toilet.
Randy: We can’t just get rid of ‘Ol Blue, Sharon.
Sharon: This is embarrassing. It’s the powder room toilet, the one guests use. You get a new toilet, Randy, or I’m not helping you sell weed anymore!
Randy: All right, all right. Sharron, you win. As usual. Poor ‘Ol Blue…
Employee: Can I help you with anything?
Randy: Oh, yeah, (I’m) just looking for a new toilet to replace Ol’ Blue.
Employee: All right, well, all our toilets here are standard bowl, come with full warranty. How much (are) you looking to spend?
Randy: Well, I’m not poor. I happen to have my own weed business. So that’s pretty much the nicest one you have, right?
Employee: Yeah, that’s probably the top model, you know, before you start getting into Japanese toilets.
Randy: Japanese toilets?
Employee: Yeah, they’re the sort of the super-high-class luxury models with all the bells and whistles. But you probably don’t want to spend that kind of money.
Randy: I’m not poor.
Employee: Oh, well, we can show them to you. The Japanese toilets are right over there.
Employee: Hi, Rick. This gentleman would like to see the Japanese toilets.
Rick: Well, of course, sir. My name is Rick. Let me know if there’s anything you need.
Employee: These toilets are all equipped with the highest-end features, including an automatic bidet system, Bluetooth capability, and seat warmers.
Randy: Seat warmers?
Employee: Of course. And the toilet senses when you’ve come into the room, turns on a small light, plays welcome music, and raises the lid for you.
Waitress: Can I offer you some sparkling water or champagne?
Randy: Oh, sure, I’ll take some champagne.
Employee: All the toilet’s functions are operated by a touch-button remote which you mount where the toilet-paper roll used to go.
Randy: So then where do you keep the toilet paper?
Employee: With a Japanese toilet, you don’t need toilet paper. The toilet washes you completely clean.
Randy: You’re mad.
Employee: No, it’s true. It has warm water and a dryer and cleans you eight times better than toilet paper can. Would you like to take one for a test drive?
Randy: Oh, uh, sure. I did have kind of a big breakfast.
Employee: Right over here.
Randy: Oh! Whoa! Ooh. Oh, oh! Oh. Ahh! Oh, oh…
Randy: Okay, how much?
