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Conversation Lesson 29
 
Lesson 29 - A Long Time Ago

In this lesson Anna and Marsha have a lot of work to do. An advertisement makes them remember their childhood dreams. What do you think they wanted to be?
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Lesson Video

Watch the video and then do the activities on this page.
Video Script

Anna: Hello! In Washington, D.C., there are many places that bring history to life. But people who live here often do not have time to see them. They are too busy with work -- like me. Hi, Marsha!
Marsha: Hi, Anna! Have a seat.
Anna: Thanks. This was a good idea. Working outdoors is nice.
Marsha: Um-hum, it is.
Anna: I am tired. Today was a busy day at work. And I still have work to do!
Marsha: Hmm, that’s too bad.
Anna: How are you these days?
Marsha: I'm really busy too, Anna. Let’s get to work.
Anna: Marsha, look! That bus has a photo of Abraham Lincoln!
Marsha: That’s an advertisement for Ford’s Theatre. They have a new show.
Anna: They have shows where Abraham Lincoln died?
Marsha: Yeah, it’s a working theater and a museum.
Anna: I love Lincoln. You know, Marsha, that advertisement reminds me of something.
Marsha: Um-hum. What’s that?
Anna: When I was a little girl … When I was a little girl … I was not like other children.
Marsha: Um-hum, I can believe that.
Anna's voice: I was tall, serious child. At the playground the other children played silly games. They played with dart guns. They played on the swings, the slide and the teeter-totter. They also played ball But not me. I loved to read serious books about U.S. presidents.
Anna: In fact, I wanted to be … don’t laugh … President of the United States.
Marsha: (laughs)
Anna: Stop! I know it’s a silly childhood dream.
Marsha: I’m sorry. It’s not silly. Guess what I wanted to be?
Anna: What?
Marsha: I wanted to be... an astronaut.
Anna: Really?
Marsha's Voice: When I was a kid, I studied the stars and planets. I wanted to fly into outer space!
Anna: You know, Marsha, childhood dreams are really important.
Marsha: They are. And it’s good to remember them.
Anna: Hey! I have an idea. Let’s go.
Marsha: Go where?
Anna: Let’s go make our childhood dreams come true.
Marsha: We’re going to the Air & Space Museum! Yes!
Anna: No. We’re going to see a show at Ford’s Theatre just like Abraham Lincoln! It’s not far from here.
Marsha: Uh huh. That is your childhood dream.
Anna: Good point. Okay, next week, we'll come here and be astronauts.
Marsha: Honestly?
Anna: Honestly.
Anna: Tonight we are seeing a show at Ford’s Theatre, where a man shot President Abraham Lincoln. This is history come to life … and a childhood dream come true! Until next time ...
Listening

Now practice listening to only the audio portion of the conversation.
Speaking

In this video, learn to say the new words for this lesson. You can also learn about how to use adjectives.
Pronunciation

Use this video to learn about the noises English speakers make to show they are listening.
New Words
  • advertisement (ad) - n. something (such as a short film or a written notice) that is shown or presented to the public to help sell a product or to make an announcement
  • astronaut - n. a person who travels in a spacecraft into outer space
  • ball - n. a usually round object that is used in a game or sport or as a toy
  • believe - v. to accept or regard (something) as true
  • childhood - n. the period of time when a person is a child
  • come true - expression. to materialize, to become a reality, or become fulfilled
  • dart gun - n. a small toy weapon that throws out small objects with a sharp point at one end
  • die - v. to stop living
  • dream - n. something that you have wanted very much to do, be, or have for a long time
  • Ford’s Theatre - n. Ford's Theatre is a historic theatre in Washington, D.C., used for various stage performances beginning in the 1860s. It is also the site of the shooting of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865
  • planet - n. a large, round object in space (such as the Earth) that travels around a star (such as the sun)
  • really - adj. without question or doubt—used to make a statement more definite or forceful
  • serious - adj. thoughtful or quiet in appearance or manner
  • shoot - v. - to fire a weapon such as a gun (the past tense is shot)
  • slide - n. a structure with a slippery surface that children slide down
  • star - n. any one of the objects in space that are made of burning gas and that look like points of light in the night sky
  • swing - n. a seat that hangs from ropes or chains and that moves back and forth
  • teeter-totter - n. a long, flat board that is balanced in the middle so that when one end goes up the other end goes down
  • tired - adj. feeling a need to rest or sleep
  • true - adj. agreeing with the facts or not false
  • um–hum / uh-huh - interjection used to express affirmation, agreement, comprehension, or interest
  • working - adj. doing work or in operation
Activity

In this lesson you learn about Anna and Marsha's childhood dreams. What was your childhood dream? What did you want to be? Write about it in the Facebook Comments section below. Then practice using adjectives and talking about your career dreams with a friend. Click lesson activity to get the printable PDF version. The page opens to a new window.
Source: Voice of America
 
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