Birthday

Birthday customs vary in different cultures.  In America, we sing "Happy Birthday to you!" to celebrate birthdays, offering birthday presents.  Gift giving is an important part of birthday celebration.  So, Americans are always trying to remember whose birthday comes next.

Today's episode is a case of a young man who forgot his girlfriend's birthday.  Listen carefully to the dialogue and find out what happens next.

1. Where does this conversation take place?
2. Who is the other speaker in this dialogue?
3. What type of gift is he trying to find?
4. Does the lady in the dialogue talk about someone who also forgets an important date?
5. What does he forget?

Here is the link to the audio part of this lesson.  Please listen to the dialogue several times.  Please write the dialogue on a sheet of paper.  

I do not post the text. This is my teaching method. Dr. Han's Method No.1 is: " Listen, listen, and listen to the native speakers."  Get used to the sounds of English, the speed of English, and guess the content.

Are you ready?  Please click the next word, Audio. 

Be sure to repeat after each sentence.

I'll be back soon.

Dr. Han
Institute for Intercultural Studies

Appointment

Different countries, cultures, and communities seem to have different visiting customs and manners.  In Southern California, stores are open and ready to receive visitors, but professional offices may be open for visitors by appointment only.  Especially, if you want to visit a medical doctor, a dentist, or an attorney, you need to make an appointment.  In Los Angeles, we normally call the office by telephone, and ask for an appointment. 

If you are a visitor, it is important for you to consider the appointment as a social obligation.  Be sure to be on time, and if anything happens and you cannot meet the appointment, you must call the office as soon as you can, and request changing the appointment time or cancel it. 

Listen carefully to the dialogue posted today.  As usual, listen to it several times and write the script.  It may become useful when you come visit us in Southern California.

Can you answer the following questions?
1. What kind of appointment does this visitor need to make?
2. Why is the office unable to schedule the appointment for tomorrow?
3. Is this appointment scheduled on the day after tomorrow in the afternoon?
4. At what time is the appointment set?
5. What would you say, if you want to call the office of Mr. Hansen, an attorney, for a legal advisement?

Here is the link to the audio part of this episode.  Please click the next word, AUDIO.

In the repetition part, please speak aloud. Listening and repeating after a good model is an effective way to become fluent in a foreign language. 

I'll be back with a new lesson.

Dr. Han
Institute for Intercultural Studies English School

Supermarket

Supermarkets in Southern California are very nice. They are spacious, clean, and pleasantly air-conditioned all year around. They have an abundance of fresh vegetables and good looking fruit. Shelves and shelves of all kinds of food items are there.

But, if you need something special and don't know where to find it, what will you do in such a big place?

Today's episode will take you to a supermarket and let you hear how a young lady finds someone to help her.

Listen carefully to the dialogue and find out the answers to the following questions.
1. What was the special item she needed?
2. Was the item available at this market?
3. Where was it?
4. What other things did she need?
5. What kind of salad is she planning to prepare for dinner tonight?
Please write the answers on a sheet of paper.

Listen once more and write the script of the dialogue. Spell out all the words.

In the repetition part, there are enough pauses. Please repeat after each sentence aloud. Repeat several times until you can memorize the dialogue and act out the scene as a skit.

Here is the link to the AUDIO file.  Click!

If you can find a native speaker of English please ask him or her to check your answers and the script you wrote.

I'll be back again soon.

Dr. Han
Institute for Intercultural Studies English School