Summary
Anna meets with her boss, Ms. Weaver, for her yearly review. Ms. Weaver wants Anna to have higher numbers for the audience of her show. How will Anna make her audience numbers go up?
Speaking
In this video, learn how to say the new words. Then learn about sentences that include the words "if" and "will." These are called present real conditional sentences.
Conversation
Anna: Hi. I am walking to work. Today my boss will tell me what she thinks of my work. Is it good? Or is it bad? Okay, time for work. I am going right now. Okay, okay, I’m going!
Ms. Weaver: Anna, hello.
Anna: Hello.
Ms. Weaver: Sit down. As you know, at the start of a new year we have a work review.
Anna: Yes. It’s time for mine.
Ms. Weaver: Yes. Anna, this chart shows the audience of The Time Traveling Treehouse. If you look at it, you will see something bad. Your audience is going down, down, DOWN!
Anna: Ms. Weaver, I think the chart is upside down.
Anna: Here, let’s flip that around. Now, it’s right-side up.
Ms. Weaver: Oh. If you look at this chart, you will see something good. Your audience is big.
Anna: Good!
Ms. Weaver: But not big enough.
Anna: Not good.
Ms. Weaver: I want to see these numbers go up, and up, and UP!
Anna: How?
Ms. Weaver: I have something -- idea posters!
Anna: (whispers) Idea posters.
Ms. Weaver: You really ought to think seriously about them. I like this one. Please read it.
Anna: “If at first you SUCCEED; you will be a success.” Well, it's a cute cat.
Ms. Weaver: Here’s another one. I like it.
Anna: “WORKING HARD looks hard because it really is hard.” I see. It's another cute cat.
Ms. Weaver: This is my favorite.
Anna: “TEAMWORK works best with a team.” A team of cats. Look at all those cats!
Ms. Weaver: So, Anna, do you understand what I want?
Anna: Yes, Ms. Weaver. I understand.
Anna: Okay, team. There is a problem in the Treehouse.
Amelia: Problem? What's the problem?
Anna: Our audience is big.
Bryan: But that's a good thing.
Anna: No, it is not big enough.
Anna: Please don’t worry. I know what Ms. Weaver wants. Here’s the plan. (whispers)
Bryan: Is that what she wants?
Amelia: Are you sure?
Anna: Yes. Let’s get to work!
Anna: Good job, team. This is exactly what Ms. Weaver wants!
Anna: Welcome to The Time Traveling Treehouse! Today you will learn about a very popular pet … cats!
MINDY: Anna. Did I give you enough cats?
Anna: I don’t know, MINDY. I think we need more cats!
Writing
In this lesson, what do you think Ms. Weaver wants? Do you ever have trouble understanding the advice that others give you? Write to us by email or in the Comments section.
Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet, and practice making sentences with "if."
Activity Sheet Lesson 41Learning Strategy
Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective.
The learning strategy for this lesson is Use Selective Attention. When you are listening in English, sometimes we can't understand every word. At those times, you can listen for the important words and try your best to understand.
In this lesson, Anna tries to understand Ms. Weaver. Ms. Weaver wants Anna to get a bigger audience. But Anna pays attention to the cats in the posters that Ms. Weaver shows her. She thinks Ms. Weaver wants to see more cats in The Time Traveling Treehouse.
When you use selective attention, you may not always understand perfectly. But you can always ask a question to check on your understanding. Anna did not ask to make sure of what Ms.Weaver wanted. In real life, you should check your understanding when you use selective attention.
Do you ever use selective attention? Do you think Anna made a mistake when she used selective attention in this lesson? 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.
