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Prom

Prom

Date: May 29 2009

Themes: Party, School

Grammar: Simple Past Tense

Intro

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The biggest day in many American high school students’ lives isn’t graduation. It’s prom. Prom is a formal dance held at the end of senior year, when students get dressed up, rent limousines, and dance the night away at a special venue. When the dance ends, they usually attend after-parties, which is often where the real fun begins.

But prom can also be stressful. First of all, you have to find a date, which can be quite challenging for some. Then, if you’re a girl, you have to get the perfect dress. Many girls also buy new shoes and jewelry, and get their hair and makeup done at a fancy salon. Guys have to rent a tuxedo, buy their date a corsage, and pay for the tickets, the limousine, and dinner before the prom. That’s a lot of money to spend for one night of awkward slow dancing.

Prom season is happening right now. Listen to Ella and Devan share their memories of prom.

Dialog

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Devan

Devan

Ella

Ella

Devan:  Did you go to your prom?

Ella:  I did. It was really fun and now it’s coming around that time again where prom…Everyone’s getting their gowns and tuxes. It’s kind of exciting.

Devan:  So you’re big on prom. Do you think that it’s an important ritual?

Ella:  Well, I wouldn’t say it’s an important ritual. I just like to get dressed up. I think that’s one of the biggest reasons I started going to proms. I went to my friends’ proms, and they came to mine, so…Just an excuse to dress up.

Devan:  So did you…you got a nice fancy gown, and did you have a corsage and everything?

Ella:  Yeah, did the corsage, got the makeup done, had the hair done. All that stuff.

Devan:  Did your date wear a tux?

Ella:  Yes. Yes he did. All that good stuff.

Devan:  Were you voted prom queen?

Ella:  I was not!

Devan:  I actually didn’t even go to my prom.

Ella:  Oh my god!

Devan:  Um, well, I wasn’t into the whole prom thing when I was in high school. I was kind of a rebel, so…

Ella:  Nice. Cool.

Devan:  We went to the bowling alley instead.

 

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Discussion

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Ella liked prom so much in high school that she not only went to her own prom, but also attended her friends’ proms. She loved getting dressed up and having her hair and makeup done. It sounds like she didn’t have any trouble finding a date.

Devan, on the other hand, didn’t go to her prom. She and her friends didn’t have much school spirit. They were rebels who thought prom was lame. On prom night, instead of following the crowd by going to the dance like all their classmates, they went to the bowling alley.

Do you have prom in your country? Do you think it would be fun to go to prom, or would you be a rebel like Devan and skip prom?

 

Comments

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Fernandinha

Brazil

Prom where I live is not exactly the same of prom in the United States. In the prom's day, people wear their best clothes, they have a great dinner with friends and family and then they go to a party too. What matters is enjoying the party! No pressure with nothing.

07:13 PM Jun 01 2009 |

class820

class820

Malaysia

never had it at my high school..but i was known to proms…

12:32 PM Jun 01 2009 |

katerinka_25

Poland

hey I'm from Poland we also have a similar party like the Americans, it's called "Studniówka" – it takes place more or less 100 days before the school living examination which ends secondary education in Poland. The party is great, everyone is dressed perefectly, grils are so beautiful in their dresses and boys look so great in uniforms, here in POland the parties end in the eartly morning hours on the next day, we are at the party venue all the time. don't go for "afterparties" – we have them every saturday after friday parties :) so it's nothing spacial:d   for us. I have great memories from my own "studniówka" ... it's a great party

10:29 AM Jun 01 2009 |

lovebabymild

Thailand

hi! amnuey

07:54 AM Jun 01 2009 |

sahar.

sahar.

Saudi Arabia

in our private schools we have aprom, of cours it’s not like usa prom but it’s cool too,
her we don’t have aboys in the same party or limousines or corsage, we only have a singer or dj and sure we have to buy a new dress and jewelry, it’s really cool

01:54 AM Jun 01 2009 |

z_do

China

there are diffient customes in diffient country, and you can have funny and pleasure any way if you want, for example, you can go to countryside and stay with peasantry for several days, because there are lot of folk art in village. you can not only have special food, but also learn lots of knowledge (kirigami, boorish drawing and so on) which could not get in school course. If you are a chinese coulture fans, you can contant me,

11:33 PM May 31 2009 |

Crazy_Monk

Crazy_Monk

Russian Federation

oh… i remember just first Official part of our promt… (

Next was… russian vodka….

but next morning was…full of discovery (or openning… How it say right?)... Who felt it knows it))

Mother told me that I won a first Prize in… something… )))))))It was a Big Orange bear… I Has presented it for my little sister) (sorry for my ENG)

Since that time I never ever drank alcoholic drinks

still not drink))))

10:01 PM May 31 2009 |

sary64

sary64

Saudi Arabia

Frownme too we don't have proms in our country

each country has it's own cultures but when I go to US I will try to go to a prom and have fun. can I? Smile 

09:52 PM May 31 2009 |

Patriot83

Germany

now it's coming around than time again where prom… It was very nice time.

08:28 PM May 31 2009 |

bon vivant

United States

I went to prom when i was in high school and yes it was expensive.

There was alot of presure to have sex and drink.Embarassed

We just made outInnocent

I think alot of people lie about their experance to be cooler than they really are.

Is this the same all over the world?

07:33 PM May 31 2009 |

***angel***

Italy

Prom is really interesting event for youth people!Kiss.. you need to get dressed with grown or tux.. the corsage..a limousine ..and last but not least the first important dateMoney mouth!

Well it's an expensive way to grow up!Surprised

05:11 PM May 31 2009 |

songlin043@gmail.com

China

prom sounds interesting and funny,but it really costs a lot of money.is it really neccessary to cost so much money in prom. i think it is a party to enjoy the happyness and pleasure. in China there is no prom in senior year.

03:14 PM May 31 2009 |

levitabris

levitabris

China

It's a surprise to me that you don't have proms in France.

A    romantique country.

03:05 PM May 31 2009 |

rebel lee

rebel lee

China

we don't have that kind of thing。。。

02:41 PM May 31 2009 |

z_do

China

my email:

12:32 PM May 31 2009 |

z_do

China

hi,if you want have more friends, i am one of them

12:31 PM May 31 2009 |

z_do

China

hi,if you want have more friends, i am one of them

12:31 PM May 31 2009 |

happy 4 ever

Oman

we don't have proms in schools in my country. we make parties end of the academic year . there are plays, drams and then giving rewards to the outstanding students. that' all. no need to find a date or getting dressed up. 

 

09:39 AM May 31 2009 |

XxXlizaXxX

XxXlizaXxX

Kazakhstan

We have prom in our country.. Usually it's going on 17 of June. It's intresting and a little sad..

09:37 AM May 31 2009 |

sallyvictor

China

oh, so lucky for those who have had before. i have never had it in my high school… so pity!!

09:09 AM May 31 2009 |

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