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Where You're From

Where You're From

Date: Jun 04 2021

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.

Hi Friends!
When getting to know someone, it’s common to talk about where you come from. Your background has a lot to do with who you are, so you can help someone understand you better if you tell them about your hometown and your history. Also, it’s interesting to hear what someone else’s opinions are about the place where you grew up. Often, his/her idea of it will be much different than yours.
Josh and Beth recently compared their upbringings, which were very different. Listen in to their conversation to learn more!

Dialog

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

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

Beth

Beth

Josh

Josh

Beth:  Josh, when was the last time that you, uh, went home to visit your friends and family?

Josh:  Um, trying to remember, I think I was up there… Oh yeah – I was just up there in February for my birthday and for my dad’s birthday.

Beth:  Where are you from again?

Josh:  Oh, I’m from Alaska.

Beth:  Oh, right on. That’s cool. I’ve always wanted to visit Alaska. What’s it like?

Josh:  Well, I mean, I wouldn’t have the same perspective as someone visiting there. It’s a, it’s a great place to visit and I guess for a lot of people it’s a great place to live too. But, I felt really isolated growing up there. I mean, it is beautiful, there’s tons of beauty. But it’s so far away from everything, and when I was a kid, you know, we didn’t have the internet, you know, my town didn’t have a bookstore, a music store. It’s just, like, hard to feel connected to the rest of the world.

Beth:  I can see that. Growing up in New York, I felt very connected to millions of people. I mean, it’s just a, a really, I guess, different experience living in a place where you’re inundated with, uh, media and people and action…

Josh:  Yeah, I mean, I would’ve, I would’ve loved to grow up in New York, you know. We got, like, big blockbuster movies came out six months late in Alaska, ‘cause we only had two screens, you know. It’s just, uh, it’s a… It was a real different way to grow up than a lot of people in the U.S., I think.

Beth:  It seems really peaceful there. I mean, at least that’s my impression of it.

Josh:  Yeah. I mean, it’s quiet. We had a lot of land to ourselves. We didn’t really have neighbors. Um, wildlife and forests, like, all around us, like right at our house. But, but, I don’t know, I couldn’t have a conversation with the wildlife. I want to be around people.

Beth:  It must have been cool, I mean, were there wild animals roaming through your backyard, or…?

Josh:  Literally.

Beth:  Wow.

Josh:  Yeah, I mean, moose or bears. We had a bear visit our house for a couple days once, and that kind of stuff is just constant. It was cool, I guess, I mean, reflecting back on it, but when I was, when I was living there I just wanted to get out.

 

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Discussion

Like Beth, many people think Alaska is a beautiful, peaceful and majestic place. Josh doesn’t disagree, but it’s easy to understand why he’s not as enthusiastic about it as Beth is. He spent many years in the cold and lonely state, and he’s happy to be in a big city with lots of things to do. Josh probably has the ideal situation now, because he can live in Portland, but visit Alaska whenever he wants.
Where are you from? Are you able to describe your hometown and your history in detail (in English)? If not, you should find somebody to tell your story to. It’s a great way to practice your English!
Have a great week!
Tanis

 

Comments

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x Steffi

x Steffi

Germany

Hello everybody,


 


i’m from Germany. :) I’m new here and i search friends all over the world!


Add me. Laughing

02:48 PM Aug 26 2011 |

Snowbird

Snowbird

China

Hello everyone,I am from China,this is my first time to visit englishbaby,i want to improve my english here =)

07:26 AM Aug 26 2011 |

Bruce_zhou

China

Same as some guys following,I m from sichuan province of china,as you all know ,si chuan in southwest of china,many delicious foods and friendly people here waitting for you,welcome all of you come here and,you can call me up anytime when u r in sichuan,I ‘d like show you around my city and take you try some delicious spicy food,I know you may love hot pot,have u ever try it,if not ,coming please.my skype account is bruce_zhou2

02:27 PM Aug 25 2011 |

小猫。

小猫。

China

Hi,everybody.i’m a 19years old girl.i can’t use this…my Engish is bad.Now i am confused.but,nice to meet you.ahaha…

12:59 PM Aug 25 2011 |

*Donna*

China

I’m from a beautiful and quiet city in China.People here like peace .We enjoy our life in working,shoping,sports.We cherish today’s happy life .I want to make friends with you

08:35 AM Aug 25 2011 |

安军

安军

China

hello, everybody! so many people here .i am a middle high school student from china .my english is so poor. i come here in order to improve my english and make friends with people from all over the world!


my coutry is a beautifull coutry. people in there are friendly,honestand warm-hearted .you can also find beautiful woman and handsome man in my native city—西昌(xichang) a small but beautifull city in sichuan province


oh, my friends! welcome to my country.

04:50 AM Aug 25 2011 |

tafmut

tafmut

Zimbabwe

I com from zimbabwe,my parents are living in rural areas of Kadoma where I use to visit them during holidays as I’m currently living in South Africa,I miss my father’s farm where I used to plough using cattle or donkeys to pull de plough while I’m holding it,my mother and my sister following behind throwing the seeds of cotton or maize in a farrow that I’m creating with a plough

08:45 PM Aug 24 2011 |

gat1997

Portugal

Hello, my name´s Marilia and I live in lisbon. My native town is Santarem. It’s a small town with a wonderfull views.

10:02 AM Aug 20 2011 |

souadjamal

souadjamal

Morocco

hi iam from morocco its in the nourth of africa its beautifull country


it has different wheather. 

02:37 PM Aug 19 2011 |

Kotisha

Kotisha

Russian Federation

I am from Russia. My native town is Petrozavodks. It`s located in the northern part of my country. Petrozavodsk is the capital of the republic of Karelia. My native town was founded in 1703.


I like my town a lot, because it`s a very good place to live. Petrozavodsk is washed by Onego Lake. Also my town is very beautiful with its picturesque views!


 

12:52 PM Aug 19 2011 |

1 person likes this

JULIA1208

JULIA1208

China

i am JULIA ,i am from CHINA ,a ancient country,and she is very nice ,welcome to have visit

05:52 AM Aug 16 2011 |

san1973

san1973

Spain

Hi, I’m from Barcelona, Spain. A really cool and nice city for living, not so big neither so small city. We have sea and high hills in less than 2 hours in car. Good weather, good food, nice people…

09:28 PM Aug 15 2011 |

1 person likes this

wwongsapun

wwongsapun

Thailand

Hello! I am from Thailand.It’s a beautiful place and a lot of kindly people.This’s a different of cultur and nature etc. The people live in here are helpful each other. You can see some picture on my profile. Welcome to Thailand land of smile.

09:00 AM Jul 17 2011 |

Madline

Madline

Jordan

I am from the most beautiful kingdom It’s the hashmite kingdom and it also called jordan I’m so proud for benig Jordanian it’s so cool country .it has a nice weather and It has one of the seven wonders in the world PETRA .and If I want to talk about  the most beautiful seas in the world we have mention the Deadsea and red sea . furthermore it is one of the holy lands in the earth because the baptizing which happend in jordan rever 4 jesus christ .If i want to tell u about my great country that will sure take alot of pages I love it so much till death ….

04:41 PM Jun 16 2011 |

wehel Amir

wehel Amir

Somalia

i’m from somalia

06:13 AM May 06 2011 |

wehel Amir

wehel Amir

Somalia

from somalia

06:11 AM May 06 2011 |

149613

149613

Azerbaijan

Hi.My name is Gunel and I ‘m from Azeribaijan.I love my country very very much.I’m proud of being Azerbaijanian.

04:53 PM Mar 25 2011 |

i love life

Palestinian Territory, Occupied

hello every body i.m from palestine my names marwan we live under israeli occupation since 1910 even now i want to every one just see suffering on tv and knows what happened in my country palestine

we are good people and we respectable each other and the conflict not with the jews no never our conflict with just occupation i wish to god give us freedom as each country around the world and we can enjoys calming momments enough killing enough to kill dreams we wants freedom as each other

finally thank a lot very much to all peolpe feeling with my country palestine

سوف ياتي يوما من الايام وينتهي هذا الاحتلال الغاشم وسوف نرفع علم بلادي فوق كل الارض الفلسطنية

03:37 PM Mar 25 2011 |

wilbrain

wilbrain

Colombia

Hi,i am from Colombia, the emerald country, the most famous coffee around the world (i don´t drink it, haha) the only country of Suramerica that has two seas, i am grateful and  pride to be colombian! greetings and blessings for all! 

07:30 PM Mar 24 2011 |

shalhofa

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I am from iran

09:49 AM Mar 19 2011 |

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