Lesson 21: Can You Come to the Party?

Anna: Hi there! Washington, D.C. has some great coffee shops. My favorite is this one -- Busboys & Poets.

Anna: Actually it’s more than a coffee shop. It’s also a bookstore, a restaurant and a theater!

Anna: Marsha and I love coming here.

Marsha: Hey, Anna, my friend is having a party on Saturday. Can you come with me?

Anna: Sorry, I can’t come with you. I have to get my driver’s license.

Marsha: Will you be busy all day?

Anna: I don’t know. First, I have to take a test on the computer. Then I have to take a test in the car.

Marsha: But you have to take the test during the day, don't you?

Anna: Yes.

Marsha: The party is at night.

Anna: Oh. Then I can come with you to the party on Saturday night.

Marsha: Great! I have to help my friend with the party. Can you help me?

Anna: Sure. That sounds like fun.

Marsha: Everyone has to bring something or do something. You can bring food, or you can perform.

Anna: Really, I can perform?

Marsha: You can! Can you?

Anna: Yes! I can recite poetry. (Anna is in a club reciting a poem)

- A poem -

Light dark

Light dark

Darkness

Dark

Marsha: In this country, nobody recites poetry at parties. Um … can you do anything else?

Anna: Hmm, yes. I can do a card trick. (Anna is doing a card trick)

Your card is the 10 of diamonds! No?

Pick a card. Any card.

Here, just pick this one.

Great!

Marsha: Anna, maybe you can just bring food.

Anna: No, I can’t cook. And I really want to perform. You know, there is one thing I can do. (Anna plays a song on the ukulele and sings)

Trouble in mind. I’m blue...

But I won't be blue always

The sun's gonna shine in my back door some day.*

Marsha: That’s it! You can sing at the party. Now, I have to go shopping for food.

Anna: Can I help? I’m not busy right now.

Marsha: Sure, let’s go!

Anna: We have to go. I have to help Marsha shop. And I have to practice my song! Trouble in mind. I’m blue...

Anna: Until next time!

*The song Trouble in Mind was written by jazz pianist Richard M. Jones.

Writing

In this lesson, Marsha asks Anna to come to a party on Saturday. What do you like do on the weekends? Write to us to tell us about what you plan to do next weekend. Send us an email or write in the Comments section.
Use the Activity Sheet to practice talking about your talents and skills.

Activity Sheet Lesson 21

Learning Strategy

Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective.
The learning strategy for this lesson is cooperate​. When we work together to help others we are cooperating. We also cooperate when we help someone understand their second language.
In this lesson, Marsha tells Anna about a party. Everyone who comes to the party cooperates by bringing food or performing something. Anna wants to cooperate by performing at the party.
Can you find another time in the video when Anna or Marsha cooperate? Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy.