to bear the responsibility

Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 674: Threatening Other Countries.

This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 674. I’m your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California.

Our website is eslpod.com. Go there to download a Learning Guide for this episode.

In this episode, we’re going to hear a conversation between Tania and Emilio about threatening other countries. When two countries are having difficulties, shall we say, and might even in fact start fighting each other. Let’s get started.

Tania: Did you see the news today? Canada has been doing military exercises near the Canada-U.S. border. I think they’re trying to send us a message.

Emilio: They’re just saber-rattling. They think we’re amassing weapons near the border and they’re posturing.

Tania: I don’t think they’re just posturing.

Emilio: Canada is no real threat. No one in the government wants to bear the responsibility of violating Canada’s treaty with us.

Tania: How can you say that? All of this military aggression makes me