Episode 326
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Hi! I'm Georgiana, and I'm back with a new episode. I'm here to help you speak English more easily and with confidence.
Great! Let's start!
A. Booking an Appointment
Many barbershops accept walk-ins, but booking ahead is always a good idea. Here’s an example:
“Hi, I’d like to book an appointment for a haircut and shave.”
You can also ask:
“Do you have any availability today?”
“What’s your earliest opening?”
B. During the Appointment
Now that you’ve booked your appointment, let’s go through some key words and phrases you’ll need at the barber:
Haircut
A haircut is the main reason many men visit the barber. You can say:
“I’d like to get a haircut, please.”
If you have a specific style or length in mind, it’s always better to mention it clearly. For example:
“Can you do a fade?”
“I’d like the sides shorter and leave the top longer.”
Trim
A trim is when you cut just a small amount off, to keep the style neat. You might say:
“Just a trim, please.”
“Can you clean up the edges?”
Shave or Beard Trim
Barbers are skilled at grooming beards and giving clean shaves. You can ask for:
“A full shave, please.”
“Can you shape my beard?”
If you have specific preferences, let the barber know. For example:
“Can you leave the mustache longer?”
Taper or Fade
These are popular haircut styles. A taper gradually shortens the hair, while a fade blends the hair into the skin.
You can say:
“Can I get a skin fade?”
“I’d like a low taper fade.”
Line-Up or Edge-Up
This refers to cleaning up the hairline and sideburns to create a sharp, defined look.
“Can you give me a line-up?”
Wash
Some barbers offer hair washing before or after the haircut. You can ask:
“Can you wash my hair before the cut?”
Styling
After the haircut, barbers often style your hair. You can say:
“Can you style it with a pomade?”
“I’d like a natural look.”
Now, let’s practice.
Want more speaking practice? Continue with a complete audio course.
IMPROVE YOUR SPEAKING
Mini-Story: Speaking Practice
Answer the questions aloud with short and quick responses. Repeat the Mini-Story several times to improve your speaking and listening.
Mark will have an important meeting tomorrow and wants to look sharp.
Will Mark stay at home tomorrow?
No, he won’t stay at home. He has an important meeting.
Why will Mark want to look sharp?
Because he has an important meeting tomorrow.
Mark will decide to visit his favorite barber for a haircut and shave.
Will Mark go to the mall?
No, he won’t go to the mall. He’ll go to his barber.
Where will Mark go?
He’ll go to his favorite barber.
When Mark arrives, he’ll tell the barber:
“I’d like a haircut and a shave, please.”
Will Mark ask for highlights?
No, he won’t ask for highlights. He’ll ask for a haircut and a shave.
What will Mark ask for?
A haircut and a shave.
The barber will ask, “What kind of haircut would you like?”
Will the barber start trimming without asking?
No, the barber will ask what kind of haircut Mark wants.
Will the barber ask Mark something?
Yes. The barber will ask Mark what kind of haircut he would like.
The barber will trim Mark’s beard and clean up the edges.
Will the barber ignore Mark’s beard?
No, the barber won’t ignore Mark’s beard.
What will the barber do to Mark’s beard?
Trim it. He’ll trim it and clean up the edges.
While the barber works, Mark will chat about his meeting.
Will Mark stay silent the whole time?
No, he won’t stay silent. He’ll chat with the barber.
What will Mark talk about?
His meeting. He’ll talk about his meeting to the barber.
After finishing, the barber will show Mark his look in the mirror.
Will the barber show Mark a book?
No, the barber won’t show him a book. He’ll show him the mirror.
What will the barber show Mark?
The mirror.
Mark will be happy with the result and thank the barber.
Will Mark be unhappy with his haircut?
No, he won’t be unhappy. He’ll be happy with his haircut.
How will Mark feel about his haircut?
He’ll be happy with it. Mark will be happy with his haircut.
Before leaving, Mark will say:
“Thank you so much! I’ll see you next time.”
Will Mark forget to thank the barber?
No, he won’t forget. He’ll thank the barber. He'll remember to thank the barber.
What will Mark say before leaving?
He’ll say, “Thank you so much! I’ll see you next time.”
Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode.
Review
Vocabulary
Review the most useful words and expressions before listening again.
walk-in
a customer who arrives without an appointment.
availability
an open time when someone can see you.
trim
a small haircut that keeps the same basic style.
fade
a haircut that gradually changes from very short to longer hair.
taper
a gradual shortening of the hair near the neck and sides.
line-up
a precise shaping of the hairline and sideburns.
beard trim
cutting and shaping facial hair.
pomade
a styling product used to hold and shape hair.
Want more speaking practice? Continue with a complete audio course.
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