Sunday, November 27, 2016

Lesson 37: Let's Agree to Disagree

Anna: You know, I am from the country and sometimes I miss it. But I really like life in the city! I love the city. Oh, look. Someone lost a bag. Maybe it's theirs. Excuse me. Is this bag yours?
Dr. Jill: No. It's not mine. It might be hers.
Anna: Excuse me. Is this bag yours?
Sarah: No. It's not mine. It might be his.
Anna: Thank you. Hello. Is this bag yours?
Phil: Yes, that's mine. These are all my travel things. Thank you, thank you!
Anna: Are you okay? You seem ... nervous.
Phil: Well, this is my first visit to Washington, D.C. I'm from a small town in the country. I feel a little lost.
Anna: I am from the country too! And I understand. When I first came here, I felt lost ... all the time.
Phil: So, do you like living in the country or in the city?
Anna: I like to live in the city.
Phil: Why?
Anna: The city is exciting! It has more culture than the country. There are many museums and restaurants. Every night, there is theater and music. And, there are more jobs. That is why I'm here.
Phil: Well, I agree. There is more culture in the city and there might be more jobs. But the country has more nature! It's peaceful and beautiful. There are more trees and mountains. The air is clean. You can go hiking and camping. The city is not beautiful. It's noisy and dirty.
Anna: I disagree. I think all the different buildings are beautiful. And I like to watch all the different people.
Phil: That's another thing that is different. People in the country are friendly. They always say "hello!" Here, no one says "hello." I think city people are rude.
Anna: Well, I agree. Country people are friendly. But I don't think city people are rude. I think they're just busy.
Phil: That's a good point.
Anna: Look at me. I live in the city and I said "hello" to you.
Phil: But you are from the country.
Anna: I have an idea. Let's say "hello!" to people -- to many people!
Phil: What? Why?
Anna: Well, if we say "hello," maybe they will say "hello" to other people ... Hello!
Phil: ... and they will say "hello" to more people! That's a great idea! I'm glad you found my bag.
Anna: Come on. Let's go say "hello" to people.
Anna: We don't have to agree with people. They have their opinions. We have ours. And as we like to say, you can always agree to disagree! Until next time...! Hello!

Writing

What is the best place to live? Tell us about where you live now or where you want to live. Be sure you give a reason for your opinion. Write to us by email or in the Comments section.
Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice sharing opinions.
Activity Sheet Lesson 37
Activity Sheet Lesson 37

Learning Strategy

Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective.
The learning strategy for this lesson is Personalize. This means connecting new information to our own feelings and experiences. When we are listening in English, we personalize by thinking about how what we hear is like our own experience. When speaking or writing, we can use what we know to communicate.
In this lesson, Anna tells Phil why she likes living in the city. She is personalizing by thinking about the things she likes: "The city is exciting! It has more culture than the country. There are many museums and restaurants. Every night, there is theater and music. And, there are more jobs."
Can you find another example in this lesson of someone personalizing and giving a reason for their opinion? Write to us about it 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.

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Lesson 36: I Can Fix This!

Anna: Last time on Let’s Learn English, Marsha and I invited friends to a dinner party but I shopped with the wrong list. Guests are coming soon. Marsha is worried but I have a plan. Let’s see what it is.
Anna: I just need a couple of ingredients. Marsha, please hand me the flour.
Marsha: Anna, where is the flour? It's not in the cabinets.
Anna: I put the flour inside the refrigerator.
Marsha: Why?
Anna: It’s cold and dry in the refrigerator. See, it says: “Put in a cold, dry place.” Okay, now, Marsha, please hand me the eggs.
Marsha: Anna, where are the eggs?
Anna: The eggs are inside the cabinet under the sink.
Marsha: Anna, why are the eggs in here?
Anna: On the farm, we always put the eggs there. How else can the chickens see them? Okay. You clean the living room. I will make dinner.
Marsha: What are you going to make with these ingredients?
Anna: I have a plan.
Marsha: Okay, the apartment is clean. The kitchen is not. What are you cooking?
Anna: I made my favorite recipe: peanut-butter-banana pancakes!
Marsha: You made breakfast.
Anna: Yes! I call it let’s-eat-breakfast-for-dinner dinner!
Marsha: Anna! Mmm! Hey, this tastes good! Anna, you made it work!
Anna: That’s our guests!
Marsha: I’ll answer the door.
Anna: I’ll finish here.
Anna: Like I said, sometimes Marsha worries too much. When something goes wrong with your plan, just change the plan! Till next time!

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Lesson 35: Let’s Make Dinner!

Anna: Hi there! Washington, D.C. has many fun places to eat. But, sometimes it's more fun to cook. In fact, tonight Marsha and I are cooking for friends. Well, she is cooking. I am doing the shopping.
(phone rings) It’s Marsha. Hi, Marsha.
Marsha: Hi, Anna. Do you have the shopping list?
Anna: Yes, I told you: I have the shopping list. Can you hear it?
Marsha: Okay, good. I hear the list. Anna, please buy all the ingredients on the list.
Anna: Yes, Marsha, I will.
Marsha: And do not spend too much time shopping.
Anna: No, Marsha, I won’t. See you later.
Anna: Sometimes, Marsha worries too much. I love shopping! And, I did not spend too much money. Oh, no! But I did spend too much time! I have to return home now!
Marsha: Anna, what took you so long? Our guests will be here soon!
Anna: Don’t worry, Marsha. I bought everything on the list.
Marsha: Let me see. You bought a bunch of bananas, a box of pancake mix, a bag of coffee … Anna, this is all wrong!
Anna: What do you mean wrong? I bought a jar of peanut butter and a loaf of bread … no, wait … two loaves of bread.
Marsha: Anna, these are the wrong ingredients!
Anna: These ingredients are all on the list! I took this list from the counter.
Marsha: Anna, this is the shopping list for breakfast. I said, take the shopping list - on the refrigerator - for dinner!
Anna: Marsha, there was no shopping list - on the refrigerator - for dinner!
Marsha: Oh no! It’s on the floor!!
Anna/Marsha: Ahh!!! Ahh!!!
Marsha: What are we going to do?
Anna: When do our guests arrive?
Marsha: They arrive in 30 minutes!
Anna: I can fix this. Do you trust me?
Marsha: Do I have to?
Anna: Yes.
(The story continues next week)

Writing

Do you like shopping for food? What do you like to make for a dinner with guests? Write to us by email or in the Comments section.
Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice talking about foods and measure words.​
Activity Sheet Lesson 35
Activity Sheet Lesson 35

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 meet a goal we are cooperating.
In this lesson, Anna and Marsha are planning a dinner party. They cooperate to share the work. Anna says, "In fact, tonight Marsha and I are cooking for friends. Well, she is cooking. I am doing the shopping.​"
We can also cooperate by practicing English language skills with a friend or classmate. How do you use this cooperating strategy in your study of English? Write to us about it 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.