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Additional Lessons |
 About These
Lessons
The following classroom lessons are great for students
who want additional conversation, listening, and reading
practice. |
-
Conversation Lesson -
Beginner Level. Let's
Learn English conversation lesson
with a conversation video, a video script, audio
listening practice, video speaking practice, video
pronunciation practice, a new
words section, and a writing activity.
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 Conversation Lesson
29 - A Long Time Ago
(Beginner -
Conversation, Listening, Reading)
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? |
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. |
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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
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 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. |
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Conversation
Lessons
Study all 52 English conversation lessons. Let's Learn
English conversation lessons each with a conversation
video, a video script, audio listening practice, video
speaking practice, video pronunciation practice, a new
words section, and a writing activity.
These
lessons are for beginners. |
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Source:
Voice of America |
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