English, baby!

Sincerely Yours

Date: Aug 17 2007

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

When is the last time you sat down and wrote a letter by hand? If it’s been a while, you should try it. There’s something nice about putting ink to paper. You can do it outside or in an easy chair without the glow of the computer.

It’s also much more personal to open an envelope and unfold a letter. When Kevin left the country for a while, he found the best way to stay connected to his friends was to write letters and send them snail mail.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Kevin

Mason

Kevin: So you know I know that everyone uses email and that’s all people want to do…

Mason: I, like, don’t even use paper anymore.

Kevin: ...and text messages. I was definitely going down that path for a number of years and then about two years ago when I was working in Japan, I just…I was really far from all my close friends, so I started to send them letters…

Mason: From Japan?

Kevin: Yeah.

Mason: Wow.

Kevin: Just, like, it was nice to send one and get one and one of my best friends loves to write letters so he was really excited that I loved to write him letters so I’d send him a letter every week and he’d send me one, and it was awesome.

Mason: That’s so classical. I like the [def ]romantic[/def] idea of it, but I don’t know if I’d be patient enough to wait for the interchange of an overseas letter.

Kevin: But if you know that it will come like every week, like you send one and get one back that same week, it’s fine, you know. And it’s kind of exciting. It just means a lot more than an email.

Mason: I completely agree with that, but I gotta say my handwriting is terrible.

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Discussion

People usually communicate electronically now that most everyone has an email address and mobile phone. Mason says he hardly uses paper anymore. Perhaps that’s what makes him so surprised when Kevin says he likes to write letters. In this day and age, writing letters is a rare thing to do.

Kevin started writing letters when he was in Japan. One of his good friends was really into it and the two of them exchanged letters every week. This regularity made up for how long it takes to send a letter overseas. Mason’s not sure if writing letters sounds like fun to him. He agrees it’s a significant gesture, but complains that his writing is bad.

When is the last time you wrote a letter? Can you think of anyone who would like to receive one?

Comments

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Tracy Dong

China

I like this way to connect with friends.It can make me recall the times of middle school,in that period,everyone have many handwriting friends.

ashely0026

China

i think that handwriting is terrible should not be an excuse for not writing by hand,just on the other way around, your unique handwriting shows your onw character ,and that makes the peaple who receice it feel more moved . what is more, it is easier for me to express my complicated emtions deep from botton of my heart.putting ink to paper is much better than clicking the keyboard to let your feelings flow smoothly.only in that way can i say out completely what i mean to say

Longking Penn

China

I ALWAYS ENJOY THE MOMENT WHEN I REVIEW THE LETTERS IN ENVELOP. IT HAS BEEN A VERY LONG TIME SINCE I SENT MY LAST HANDWRITING LETTER.

tweiyu

China

yea maybe i haven't wrote letters by hands for ten years. we always use mobile phone and instant message and email. you know useing these kinds of tools are more convienent and cheaper. you know there is something very strang ,some of my friends like to collect all kinds envelops. they say some of them are rare and costful after several years!!

naddito

Saudi Arabia

ya i agree with . computers and mobiles dont let any chance for us to write by hands

liru

China

I just can not remember when is the last time I wrote a letter by hand. email, telephone, messenger, I just don't use paper anymore.Maybe now it is the best time to drop a line to family and friends.No matter how your handwriting is!