Lesson 18: She Always Does That

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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.