Lesson 40: The Woods Are Alive

Summary

Anna's New Year’s Resolution is to try something new. She auditions for a play. Will she get the part?

Speaking

In this video, learn how to say the new words. Then learn about asking for and giving feedback.

Let's Learn English Lesson 40 Speaking Practice

Pronunciation

Use this video to learn about projecting when public speaking. Learn one way to make your voice sound more confident when you speak to a group.

Let's Learn English Lesson 40 Pronunciation Practice

Conversation

Lesson 40: How Am I Doing?

Anna: Happy New Year! Some people, at the start of a new year, make a resolution -- a promise to yourself to be better. I thought about my resolution carefully. I want to be an actor on the stage! Today I will audition for a show called "The Woods Are Alive!" Wish me luck!

Director: Next! What is your name?

Anna: My name is Anna Matteo.

Director: Are you ready to audition?

Anna: (warms up voice) Yes.

Director: Great. Let's begin on page 1. Here is the story. You are lost in the woods. You are searching desperately for a way out. Suddenly, you hear something.

Director: Now, say your line.

Anna: 'What was that? Hello. Is someone there?'

Director: Anna, you are speaking too softly. Can you speak more loudly and a little more, um, seriously?

Anna: Yes, of course I can. 'What was that? Hello. Is someone there?' Is that loud enough?

Director: Yes, that is loud enough. Let's turn to page 25. In this scene, you are moving slowly and quietly through the woods.

Director: Anna. Anna! You are walking quickly and loudly. Walk slowly and quietly.

Anna: I'm walking slowly and quietly. I am walking…

Director: Anna. Anna. You don't need to say "slowly" and "quietly." Alright, let's try the last scene. Turn to page 48. I say my line first, then you say your line.

Director: 'You will never get out of these woods alive! Mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha Mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!'

Anna: 'Yes, I will.'

Director: Okay, Anna, you said that line -- you said that line really late. You need to say it earlier.

Anna: Sorry. Sorry. Let me try again.

Director: 'You will never …'

Anna: 'Yes, I will.'

Director: '… get out of the woods alive.'

Anna: I was too early, wasn't I?

Director: Yes. Yes, you were.

Anna: Director, how am I doing?

Director: You know, Anna. I think that I have the perfect part for you.

Director: The costume is in the back. Please go try it on.

Anna: Awesome! (Anna returns as a tree.)

Director: Oh, Anna, that fits you perfectly!

Anna: I'm a tree. I'm a tree in … "The Woods Are Alive!" Yes!

Anna: My new year is starting awesomely! Excuse me, Director! I have a great idea for my tree. Oh, wait! Until next time!

Writing

In this lesson, Anna tries something new. What new activity do you want to try in 2017? Why do you want to do it? Write to us by email or in the Comments section.
Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice using adverbs as well as acting out and guessing everyday activities.

Activity Sheet Lesson 40

Learning Strategy

Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective.
The learning strategy for this lesson is self-evaluate. When we speak English or try to do something new, it helps to self-evaluate, or check how well we are doing it.
In this lesson, when Anna asks the director of the play, "How am I doing?" she wants to learn how well she is acting. The director tells her that she said her line too late. Later, Anna notices a problem: "I was too early, wasn’t I?' She is self-evaluating. This strategy can help to make her a better actor.
Do you ever self-evaluate when you speak 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.

Let's Learn English Holiday Greetings

This week, we are sending a special greeting out to all of our audience members: learners and teachers around the world. It has been a wonderful year filled with the adventure of producing this course, getting feedback from every corner of the globe, and making new friends online. Learn some holiday words with the video and audio files here. We'll be back with a lesson for you next year!

Anna: Hello, from Let’s Learn English! Happy Holidays!

Dr. Jill: During the holidays, we spend time with our families and friends.

Anna: So, we made a holiday video card for you!

ALL: Happy Holidays!

Anna: People in the United States celebrate the holidays in many different ways.

Dr. Jill: There are three big holidays at this time of year: Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and Christmas.

Phil: Hanukkah and Kwanzaa last for many days.

Anna: Candles are important to both celebrations. Sometimes people call Hanukkah the Festival of Lights.

Pete: Kwanzaa celebrations often include music, songs, dance and storytelling.

Phil: Christmas falls on December 25.

Penelope: Christians believe this holiday is the birthday of Jesus Christ.

Anna: Religious people often go to places of worship to celebrate the holidays.

Phil: But many religious and nonreligious people celebrate the holidays.

Pete: Some families decorate their homes and put up Christmas trees.

Phil: Presents are a big part of Christmas.

Penelope: Young children tell Santa Claus what they want. They write him letters or visit him in department stores.

Dr. Jill: All these holidays have one thing in common – big meals and special foods!

Anna: The most important part of this time of the year is spending time with family and friends.

New Words

candle - n. wax that has been formed into a stick or another shape and has a string in the middle that can be burned

celebrate - v. to do something special or enjoyable for an important event, occasion or holiday

Christmas - n. a Christian holiday that is celebrated on December 25 in honor of the birth of Jesus Christ or the period of time that comes before and after this holiday

Hanukkah - n. an eight-day Jewish holiday that is celebrated in November or December - n. the 12th and last month of the year

holiday - n. a special day of celebration

holiday card - n. an illustrated piece of card or high quality paper featuring an expression of friendship usually given on holidays

Jesus Christ - n. the man who Christians believe is the son of God and whose life, death, and resurrection as reported in the New Testament of the Bible are the basis of the Christian religion

Kwanzaa - n. an African-American cultural festival held from December 26 to January 1

present - n. something that you give to someone especially as a way of showing affection or thanks

religious - adj. believing in a god or a group of gods and following the rules of a religion (nonreligious = not following the rules of a religion)

Santa Claus - n. a jolly man with a white beard and a red suit who gives toys to children at Christmas

worship - n.the act of showing respect and love for a god especially by praying with other people who believe in the same god

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Holiday Songs

Want to sing carols or just practice singing in English? Here's a cute video you can sing along with.

Review of Lessons 35 - 39

How was 2016?

English learners who are using Let's Learn English enjoy writing to tell us about their lives. At this time of year, we are looking back on the year and thinking about what we learned and what we want to do in the coming year.
Do you want to practice your writing in English? Write a note telling us about your year. Were there any big changes in your life? What did you learn? How did you learn it? What is your goal for 2017? We really want to get to know you better. You can write in the comments section below this article or send us an email using this link.

Review Quiz

In this quiz, you can test your listening skills and review the last five lessons. Watch a short video and answer each question.​

Lesson Review

Did you miss a lesson? Look back and see if you remember these grammar points and topics.
Lesson 35 Let’s Make Dinner!
Grammar focus: Partitives (measure words); Count/Non-count Nouns (review)
Topics: Giving reasons for concern
Learning Strategy: Cooperate
Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Reduced “of” before consonants and vowels (in partitives)
Lesson 36: I Can Fix This!
Grammar focus: Prepositions of location
Topics: Asking the location of items; Names of locations in the kitchen
Learning Strategy: Substitute
Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Intonation patterns of compound nouns
Lesson 37: Let's Agree to Disagree
Grammar focus: Possessive Pronouns (mine, ours, their, theirs, her/hers, his/his)
Topics: Exchanging Opinions; Agreement & disagreement; Comparing things, places, & people
Learning Strategy: Personalize
Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Giving a reason for your opinion; Pronouncing possessive pronouns
Lesson 38: She's My Best Friend!
Grammar focus: Superlative Adjectives
Topics: Describing people, places, & things; Reporting details; Identifying positive & negative personal qualities
Learning Strategy: Evaluating
Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Stressing superlative adjectives
Lesson 39: It’s Unbelievable!
Grammar focus: Adjectives with negative prefixes (in-, un-, dis-, im-)
Topics: Shopping online, Interpreting factual statements; Critical thinking about advertisements
Learning Strategy: Ask questions to clarify or get more information
Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Using negative prefixes with adjectives; Pronouncing "comfortable" and "uncomfortable."

Holiday Songs

Want to sing carols or just practice singing in English? Here's a cute video you can sing along with.

And here's another especially for kids:

Now it's your turn. How are you using Let's Learn English? Tell us about where you live and how often you do these lessons. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of these lessons.