ESL Podcast 289 – Communication Problems

Ethel: Can we talk?

Fred: Uh-huh.

Ethel: I don’t think we communicate very well. We don’t talk to each other like we used to. I think we need to have a dialogue about these dysfunctional communication patterns.

Fred: Hmm.

Ethel: I think we need to work on our relationship. We have a strong foundation, but we have problems relating to each other. Oprah says...

Fred: Hold on! Is this something you saw on the Oprah show?

Ethel: Well, yes, it is. Oprah did a show about how couples grow apart after years of being together, and good communication is the cornerstone of a good relationship. Being a sympathetic listener and validating¹ each other’s feelings are very important.

Fred: Stop right there. I’ll make you a deal. I’ll communicate more with you, but you have to promise not to bring up Oprah again. I don’t want a talk show host telling me how to run my life.

Ethel: She’s more than a talk show host. She’s...

Fred: I mean it. I’m putting my foot down. No more Oprah. Okay?

Ethel: Okay, if that’s how you feel about it.

Fred: It is.

Ethel: That’s fine, but I wonder what Dr. Phil would say about your hostile feelings toward Oprah.

Fred: Uh!


Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

1 validating   

v.证实( validate的现在分词 )；确证；使生效；使有法律效力

参考例句：

• His politics at home were validating his efforts in the hemisphere. 他的国内政策也有效地支持了他对本半球所做的努力。 来自辞典例句
• A number of different experimental approaches have aided in validating the concept. 许多不同的实验方法，有助于确证这种概念。 来自辞典例句