Lesson 19: When Do I Start?

Summary

Anna has to walk to work because the Metro is closed. She calls to tell her boss she is late. Ms. Weaver wants her to come and talk about a new assignment. What will Anna do?

Speaking

Learn to pronounce the new words for this lesson and the months of the year. Learn about using which for offering choices and every or next with time words.

Pronunciation

In this video, learn how English speakers say the second month of the year.

Conversation

Let's Learn English Lesson 19: When Do I Start? (2:50)

Anna: Hi there! Summer in Washington, D.C. is hot and sunny. I always ride the Metro to work. Riding the Metro is cool and fast. But today it’s closed. So, I am walking to work.

(On the phone) Ms. Weaver, I am late this morning. The Metro is closed. So, I am walking to work.

Caty: That’s too bad. It’s really hot today.

Anna: Yes it is.

Caty: When you arrive, please come to my office. I have important news to tell you.

Anna: Of course. Good-bye. My boss has news for me. The question is: Is it good news or bad news?

(At work)

Anna: Hello, Ms. Weaver.

Caty: Anna, I have good news and I have bad news. Which do you want to hear first?

Anna: The good news. No … okay, the bad news.

Caty: The bad news is you are not good at reading the news.

Anna: Oh. I am very sorry to hear that.

Caty: So, starting next month you will not read the news.

Anna: Next month is July. You are firing me in July.

Caty: No. I am not firing you in July … or in August or in September. That is the good news.

Anna: Okay. You are not firing me. I am not reading the news. What will I be doing?

Caty: Well, you are good at asking questions. You are good at talking to people. You are good at showing your feelings. And you are great at being silly.

Anna: Thank you, Ms. Weaver. But what does all that mean?

Caty: I have a new assignment for you! Your skills are perfect for a new show … a children’s show.

Anna: A children’s show ... That is awesome! When do I start?

Caty: You start next month. Start thinking of ideas for the show.

Anna: I have tons of ideas! I can show children what it’s like in outer space ...

Caty: Great …

Anna: … or in the deep, dark ocean …

Caty: Those are great ideas, Anna. Please go think of more … at your desk.

Anna: Yes. What other things can I show them? Mt. Everest! Everyone has different skills. You have skills. I have skills. The important thing is to know what you are good at. Until next time!

Writing

What are your skills? Do you use them at work or at school? Tell us about a couple of skills you have. Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice with a friend.

Activity Sheet - Lesson 19

Learning Strategy

Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective.
The learning strategy for this lesson is Summarize. In this week's video, you hear Ms. Weaver tell Anna, "Well, you are good at asking questions. You are good at talking to people. You are good at showing your feelings. And you are great at being silly." Anna does not understand why Ms. Weaver is telling her about her skills. She asks, "But what does all that mean?"

In answering the question, Ms. Weaver summarizes, "I have a new assignment for you! Your skills are perfect for a new show … a children’s show." When we summarize we tell a story or report on information in fewer words. We tell the most important information and do not include many details. Summarizing helps us remember new information and practice using new words.

How do you summarize when learning English? Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy.

Quiz

​Listen to short videos and test your listening skills with this quiz.

Quiz - Lesson 19: When Do I Start?

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New Words

arrive - v. to come to or reach a place after traveling

assignment - n. a job or duty that is given to someone

child - n. a young person (plural: children)

closed - adj. not operating or open to the public

deep - adj. having a large distance to the bottom from the surface or highest point

everyone - pron. every person; everybody

fire - v. to dismiss (someone) from a job

idea - n. a thought, plan, or suggestion about what to do

mean - v. to cause or result in (something)

month - n. any one of the 12 parts into which the year is divided

Mt. Everest - n. a mountain in Asia; it is the highest mountain in the world

ocean - n. the salt water that covers much of the Earth's surface

other - adj. used to refer to the one person or thing that remains or that has not been mentioned

outer space - n. the region beyond the Earth's atmosphere in which there are stars and planets

perfect - adj. having all the qualities you want in that kind of person or situation

silly - adj. playful or funny

skill - n. an ability to do something that comes from training, experience, or practice

ton n. informal: a large amount; in the US, a ton is a unit for measuring weight that equals 2,000 pounds (907 kilograms)

Lesson 18: She Always Does That

VOA
Anna: Hello, from Washington, D.C.! Today at work I am reading the news for the first time. I am really nervous. But my boss, Ms. Weaver, is here to help me.

Caty: Now, Anna, remember. When we read the news we are always reading facts. We never show our feelings.

Anna: Sure thing, Ms. Weaver.

Caty: Great. Are you ready?

Anna: Yes.

Caty: Okay, let’s try the first story!

Anna: Hello, and welcome to The News.

Anna: A new book is very popular with children and families. This is it.

Anna: It is about a lost duckling. The duck's mother cannot find him.

Caty: Stop! Anna, when you say the words “duck” and “duckling” you look really sad.

Anna: I do?

Caty: Yes. Sad is a feeling.

Anna: Sad is not a fact. Sorry. Let me try again.

Caty: Okay, she’s trying again! And go.

Anna: Hello, and welcome to The News. A new book is very popular with children and families. This is it.

Anna: It is about a lost duckling. The duck’s mother can not find ‘im. But a family gives him a home.

Caty: Stop! Anna, you are doing it again.

Anna: This story is very sad.

Caty: I have an idea. Let’s read the second story. She’s reading the second story. And … go!

Anna: Hello , and welcome to The News. In Indiana, a grandmother is the first 80-year-old woman to win The Race Car 500.

Anna: That is awesome!

Caty: Stop! Stop! Anna, please -- no feelings.

Anna: Right. But it is awesome that an 80-year-old grandmother wins a car race.

Caty: Just the facts, Anna.

Anna: Right.

Anna: Hello, and welcome to The News. In Indiana, a grandmother is the first 80-year-old woman to win The Race Car 500.

Anna: She rarely talks to reporters. But when she does, she often says, “Nothing can stop me now!”

Anna: I am very happy for her!

Caty: Stop, stop, stop!! Anna, you cannot say you are happy.

Anna: But I am happy.

Caty: But you can’t say it.

Anna: Why?

Caty: This is the News. Happy and sad are feelings. You can’t have them in The News.

Anna: Okay. I got it.

Caty: Okay. Let’s try the third story. She’s reading the third story!

Anna: Hello and welcome to The News.

City politicians in Big Town are using city money to have a big party on a cruise ship. They are taking the money for the party from the children’s library.

Anna: What?! That makes me very angry.

Caty: No, no, no! Anna, you cannot say you are angry! This is The News!!!

Anna: What can I do, Ms. Weaver? Take out my feelings and put them here … on the news desk?

Caty: Yes. Yes. That’s right! Now you’ve got it!

Caty: Let’s repeat the first story.

Anna: This is going to be a very long day.

Anna: Until next time!

Writing

In this lesson, Anna is nervous because she is reading the news for the first time. How do you feel when you do something for the first time? Write to us to tell us about yourself or a friend doing something at work or school for the first time. Send us an email or write in the Comments section.
Use the Activity Sheet to practice writing and using ordinal numbers.

Lesson 18 Activity Sheet

Learning Strategy

Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective.
The learning strategy for this lesson is Classify. We can classify kinds of words we learn, or groups of things we need to remember.
In the video for this lesson, you see Caty classifying the way she wants Anna to read the news. Caty says, "When we read the news we are always reading facts. We never show our feelings." She is classifying two different things: facts and feelings. Anna needs to learn the difference to read the news the way her boss wants her to do it.
How do you classify when you are learning English? Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy.

Lesson 17: Are You Free on Friday?

Anna: This city is very interesting, I really like my job, and I have some good friends! Speaking of friends … I see one now! Marsha! Hi!

Marsha: Hi, Anna. What’s going on?

Anna: Not much. How about you?

Marsha: Busy as usual. Hey, do you wanna see a movie with me?

Anna: Sure! I never have time to see a movie. When?

Marsha: Are you busy this Thursday at 6pm?

Anna: Let’s see …. I’m busy. I am going to tap dance with my friends Thursday night.

Marsha: Tap dancing? That sounds fun!

Anna: I’m still learning. But it is fun!

Anna: Are you busy on Friday night?

Marsha: Yes. Friday nights are when I visit my parents.

Anna: What do you and your family do together?

Marsha: We always eat dinner together and sometimes we play board games.

Anna: Playing board games is fun, too! The word game Scrabble is my favorite.

Marsha: I like Connect Four!

Anna: I’m not busy Monday night. Are you?

Marsha: I am busy on Monday night. I’m going to jog in the park with my friend. Do you jog?

Anna: Oh! I always jog. Well, sometimes I jog. Okay, I never jog. But I will try because it is good for you.

Marsha: I always feel great after I jog.

Marsha: How about on Wednesday night?

Anna: Wednesday night I am not busy. Oh, no, wait. This Wednesday night I will be busy.

Marsha: What are you doing?

Anna: I’m going to teach children how to play the ukulele.

Anna: Now, children, play “C.” Good. I like your “C.”

Marsha: The world does need more ukulele players.

Anna: Marsha, it looks like we’ll never have time to see a movie.

Anna: Wait a minute. Are you busy now?

Marsha: It’s Saturday afternoon. This is always when I do my errands.

Anna: Okay, but the new Star Wars movie is gonna start in 30 minutes.

Marsha: I’ll do my errands on Sunday. Let’s go!

Anna: Most days of the week, people are really busy. But it’s important to find time to be with your friends!

Anna: Until next time!

* Connect Four is a two-player connection game using colored discs.

Writing

What do you like to do with your friends? Is it easy or difficult to find time to be with your friends? Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email. Tell us two or three things you do with friends using words like always, usually and sometimes. You can also download the Activity Sheet and practice writing about your schedule.

Activity Sheet Lesson 17

Learning Strategy

Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective.
The learning strategy for this lesson is Evaluate. When we evaluate our own language learning, we think of how well we are learning, remembering and practicing the language.
We evaluate after doing many things. For example, in the video for this lesson, Anna and Marsha talk about jogging. Anna evaluates her plan to jog: "I will try because it is good for you." Then, Marsha evaluates her feelings after jogging. "I always feel great after I jog." You can evaluate any time you stop to think about your learning (that is, monitor, the strategy in Lesson 16). Ask yourself: "Am I listening often to English? Am I practicing English every day? How can I learn more?" Evaluating helps learners to understand what is working well and make new plans for learning well.
How do you evaluate your own learning? Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy.

Quiz

Quiz - Lesson 17: Are You Free on Friday?

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New Words

Note: You can listen to the definitions of these words in the Speaking Practice Video.

always - adv. at all times; on every occasion; in a way that does not change

board games - a game (such as chess) that is played by moving pieces on a special board

important - adj. having serious meaning or worth

jog - v. to run slowly especially for exercise

movie - n. a recording of moving images that tells a story and that people watch on a screen or television

night - n. the time of darkness between one day and the next

play - v. to do activities for fun or enjoyment

Scrabble - trademark. a board game in which players use lettered tiles to create words in a crossword fashion.

sing - v. to use your voice to make musical sounds in the form of a song or tune

sometimes - adv. at certain times; occasionally

Star Wars - n. an epic film series chronicling the rise, fall, and redemption of Anakin Skywalker

start - v. to do the first part of something : to begin doing something

tap dance - n. a kind of dance in which you wear special shoes with metal plates on the heels and toes and make tapping sounds with your feet

teaching - v. to cause or help (someone) to learn about a subject by giving lessons

ukulele - n. a musical instrument that is like a small guitar with four strings

week - n. a period of seven days - in the U.S., a week is usually considered to start on Sunday and end on Saturday, while in the U.K. a week is usually considered to start on Monday and end on Sunday.

will - modal verb. used to say that something is expected to happen in the future

Days of the Week:

In the U.S., the week starts on Sunday and ends on Saturday.

Sunday / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday / Saturday

Lesson 16: Where Are You From?

Conversation

Anna: Hello! Washington, D.C. has many tourists! People from different countries come here. Today, my job is to interview tourists. I have to learn why they come here. This is very exciting! Excuse me. I’m Anna Matteo from The News. Do you have time for an interview?

Sabrina: Sure, I have time.

Anna: What is your name?

Sabrina: My name is Sabrina.

Anna: What country are you from?

Sabrina: I’m from Bangladesh.

Anna: So, you are Bangladeshi.

Sabrina: That’s right! My nationality is Bangladeshi.

Anna: Do you like Washington, D.C.?

Sabrina: Yes! The city is very beautiful!

Anna: What do you like to do in Washington D.C.?

Sabrina: I like history. So, I like walking around and looking at all the monuments and memorials. They make history come alive!

Anna: Washington has many monuments and memorials. The Washington Monument is behind us! Which is your favorite?

Sabrina: I really like Lincoln Memorial. It is very beautiful. And it feels like Abraham Lincoln is still alive.

Anna: Awesome. Thank you for your time, Sabrina!

Sabrina: You’re welcome.

Anna: Let’s find another tourist.

Anna: Oh! Excuse me. I am Anna Matteo from The News. Do you have time for a couple of questions?

Louis: Sure!

Anna: Are you from Washington, D.C.?

Louis: No, I’m not.

Anna: What is your name and where are you from?

Louis: My name is Louis. And I’m from China.

Anna: What languages do you speak?

Louis: I speak Chinese and English.

Anna: What do you like about Washington DC?

Louis: I like the museums. I really like the art museums.

Anna: Many of the museums are free.

Louis: I like that too!

Anna: Awesome! Thanks for your time, Louis.

Louis: You’re very welcome. Bye!

Anna: Now, let’s find another tourist!

Anna: Hello! I am Anna Matteo from The News. Do you have time to answer a couple of questions?

Mehrnoush: Sure!

Anna: What is your name and where’re you from?

Mehrnoush: My name is Mehrnoush. I am from Iran. I’m Iranian.

Anna: What language do they speak in Iran? Is it Persian?

Mehrnoush: They speak Farsi.

Anna: What do you like to do in Washington DC?

Mehrnoush: Well, I like learning about government and politics.

Anna: Washington has many politicians!

Mehrnoush: It does! I want to see the U.S. Capitol.

Anna: Look, you are very near.

Mehrnoush: I am!

Anna: Have fun!

Mehrnoush: Thanks!

Anna: There you have it. Tourists from all over the world come to Washington, D.C. They all like doing and seeing different things in the city. This is Anna Matteo reporting for The News. Until next time!

Anna: Is that okay? Awesome! Now, I want to do my favorite thing in the city … ride the carousel!

Writing

Where are you from? What languages do you speak? What do you like to do when you travel? Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice writing and talking about countries and nationalities with a friend.

Activity Sheet Lesson 16

Learning Strategy

Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective.
The learning strategy for this lesson is Monitor. We monitor to check on what we hear and say when we are speaking and listening in English. Here is an example from this lesson's conversation.

Anna asks, "What country are you from?" She monitors to make sure Sabrina understands the question. Sabrina answers, "I’m from Bangladesh." Now, Anna knows that Sabrina understands the question.

Anna thinks she knows how to say Sabrina's nationality. She tries it: "So, you are Bangladeshi." Anna is listening to monitor what Sabrina says. Anna is not sure: is "Bangladeshi" the right way to say Sabrina's nationality? Some people use the word, "Bengali" to say this nationality.

Sabrina answers, "That’s right! My nationality is Bangladeshi." In Anna's mind, she monitors her understanding. She thinks, "I can say Bangladeshi for the nationality of a person from Bangladesh."

How do you monitor when learning English? Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy.