Classroom Pronunciation Reductions Grammar Conversation Reading Listening Vocabulary Activities Videos
Idioms Slang Acronyms Phonics Portmanteau Words Handwriting Alphabet Surveys Tests
Holidays Movies Everyday Environment Learning News Places Flashcards Study Literacy
World America History Drive Education Teaching Dictionary Resources About Contact
 
Conversation Lesson 9
 
Lesson 9 - Birthdays

Dialogs for everyday use. Short situational dialogs for students of English as a Foreign (EFL) or Second (ESL) Language.
Quick Links
Conversation
Beginner
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Birthdays

Patty: How old are you?

Susan: Nine... but I’ll be ten on May sixteenth.

Patty: I’m older than you! I’ll be ten on May fourteenth.

Susan: Are you going to have a birthday party?

Patty: Maybe. I’ll have to ask my mother.
Conversation Notes
  • Nine...
  • A short form equivalent to I’m nine years old.
  • sixteenth
  • Notice that the strongest stress in this word is on the second syllable. (The stress pattern, as well as the final /n/, differentiates sixTEEN from SIXty.) Some speakers insert the between the month and the numeral: May the sixteenth, May the fourteenth.
  • I’ll be ten on May fourteenth
  • The contrastive stress on the first syllable of FOURteenth. Normally, the stronger stress falls on the second syllable of this word: fourTEENTH (like sixTEENTH in the line above). However, to bring out the contrast, the speaker emphasizes the contrasting element, four­.
  • going to
  • The rhythm pattern of English requires that this weak stressed, potentially three­syllable, element be reduced in length. In the process of reduction some of the consonants are lost or modified and the vowels changed to more centralized, lax forms.
  • birthday party
  • Notice that the normal stress for a compound noun falls on the first element of the compound.
  • Maybe
  • Notice that the intonation falls only slightly—indicating doubt, indecision, or lack of completion. Have to. See Lesson 7.
Source: U.S. State Department
Additional Conversation Lessons
Conversation

This is a collection of 36 situational conversations which focus on spoken American English in a relatively natural way....these lessons are for intermediate students.
Conversation

This is a collection of 30 situational conversations. Each conversation is accompanied by language notes....these lessons are for advanced students.
Conversation

English conversation lessons. 52 lessons covering pronunciation, speaking, writing, and grammar topics....these lessons are for beginning students.
Conversation

English conversation lessons. 30 lessons focusing mostly on communication and grammar topics....these lessons are for intermediate students.
 
 
Conversation Information
Are You How You Talk?
(Beginner - Listening, reading)

A video lesson to help with your understanding of American dialects.
The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page.
Are You How You Talk?
(Beginner - Listening)

An audio lesson to help with your understanding of American dialects. The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed. Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this audio program.
Improve Your Pronunciation by Training Your Ears
(Beginner - Listening)

An audio lesson to help with your pronunciation and English language reductions. The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed. Great English pronunciation tips. Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this audio program.
 
More Conversation Information
Disagreements in Everyday Conversation - Part 1
(Beginner - Listening)

An audio lesson to help with your understanding of American conversation. The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed. Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this audio program.
Disagreements in Everyday Conversation - Part 2
(Beginner - Listening)

An audio lesson to help with your understanding of American conversation. The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed. Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this audio program.
Giving and Receiving Compliments
(Beginner - Listening)

An audio lesson to help with your understanding of American conversation. The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed. Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this audio program.
How to Make a Complaint in English
(Beginner - Listening)

An audio lesson to help with your understanding of American conversation. The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed. Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this audio program.
 
Search Fun Easy English
 
 
 
 
About    Contact    Copyright    Resources    Site Map