Mónica Robles: Slang and Cultural Expressions

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Approx. time Expression Explanation
1:37 Spokane, WA http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spokane,_Washington
3:06 a bit of a tomboy a girl somewhat like a boy in culturally non-traditional ways (clothing or physical activities)
3:26 quinceañera major celebration in Latin cultures when a girl reaches her fifteenth birthday
4:19 machismo cultural attitude that says men must be strong and aggressive (but not allowed for women)
5:08 Motorcycle Safety Foundation www.msf-usa.org
5:17 major acquisition very large purchase
5:57 aviator hat http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviator_hat
6:44 ground lessons learning about airplanes, instruments, weather, and other flying topics before going up in the air
6:45 very disciplined having a very controlled way of behaving or working
6:47 American Consulate U.S. diplomatic mission on foreign soil
7:40 endorsed officially approved and licensed
7:44 come in handy become very useful
8:07 multilevel marketing industry (MLM) a marketing system where the sales force is paid not only for sales they make, but also for the sales of the salespeople that they recruit
8:23 Amway Corp. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amway
9:14 entails involves
10:35 acronym a kind of abbreviation
10:36 Mo(ther) Nat(ure) www.monatglobal.com
12:06 take under the wing guide or nurture (like a mother hen with baby chicks)
12:12 on the spot right there in that place
12:16 hit the ground running not hesitating, begin moving forward immediately
12:28 engaging left and right making connections in all directions
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Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.