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Fourth of July

Fourth of July

Date: Jul 03 2009

Themes: Food, Holidays, Party

Grammar: You're vs. Your

Intro

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

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Once again, it’s time to celebrate the birth of our nation. Don’t forget the beer!

Each year on the Fourth of July, Americans watch fireworks displays, have potlucks and barbecues, and eat foods like hamburgers, watermelon, potato salad, and apple pie. For many people, Independence Day is more about kicking back and having fun than remembering the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. But it seems like the founding fathers were pretty cool guys. So maybe they would have wanted it that way.

Listen to Ella explain to Mason why she loves the Fourth.

Dialog

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

Ella

Ella

Mason

Mason

Ella:  I’ve gotta say, Fourth of July is my favorite holiday.

Mason:  Really?

Ella:  I don’t know, the fireworks are just so awesome, and everyone’s just happy.

Mason:  I gotta say, I crossed that threshold at some point in the last few years where, like, the fireworks stopped being awesome and started just being loud. And I was like, “I need these ears.” So, I’m just a grumpy old grouch about that aspect of Fourth of July.

Ella:  Well, one of the fireworks displays I went to, it actually started a forest fire.

Mason:  Really?

Ella:  So, you know, I’ve seen the bad side of things. But it was kind of exciting at the same time, you know?

Mason:  So as someone who’s into the holiday, do you feel that it’s more about the fireworks and the hot dogs and the potato salad, and it’s been abstracted from the anniversary of the founding of our nation?

Ella:  Yeah, it kind of is distracting, but I feel like it brings everyone together too. ‘Cause it’s not a holiday where you have to fly out and try to meet the family. It’s just like you’re with your friends, you’re enjoying the time, eating food, potlucks, cook outs. It’s just like you’re all together.

 

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

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Mason is surprised to learn that the Fourth of July is Ella’s favorite holiday. She loves it because it brings people together and makes people feel good. She also enjoys the fireworks. But Mason doesn’t like fireworks anymore. He thinks they’re too noisy and he’s worried about losing his hearing.

Ella admits that the way we celebrate the Fourth of July doesn’t have a lot to do with the anniversary of the founding of the country. But a lot of holidays are like that. The way we celebrate them doesn’t always reflect the true meaning of the day.

Do you have a national holiday like the Fourth of July? How do you celebrate it?

 

Comments

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efcla

China

Happy Birthday, America !Laughing

Happy Birthday, America !Laughing

Happy Birthday, America ! Laughing

MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA !Smile

08:46 AM Jul 05 2009 |

admire you

admire you

China

i  don't  known what  colour  is  life  look  like ?but i  am  sure  life won't  be  black forever .maybe sometimes  liife will  become  dark ,but  i  think it  will turn  to  light.

08:15 AM Jul 05 2009 |

Luizinha

Luizinha

Brazil

Yeah, we're not very patriotic in Brazil, we just enjoy staying home on the september 7th. There are people who don't even know which day is Independecy Day, so here it's really just another day off.

06:25 PM Jul 04 2009 |

Azzan013

Indonesia

it's my brother's birthday

 

03:53 PM Jul 04 2009 |

flm19

flm19

Philippines

In the Philippines, Independence day happens every 12th of June. Of couse, goverment officials will declare it as a holiday. We dont celebrate it with fireworks, barbeque and hamburgers but I think most Filipinos take it as another day off. We might go malling, sleep all day, out of town or any activity as long as they find it relaxing.

01:24 PM Jul 04 2009 |

Ina Wong

Ina Wong

China

For me, I love the spring festival and autumn day of China and I will be served most delicious traditional Chinese dishes. Hmm, yummy! What about you all?

12:20 PM Jul 04 2009 |

alexa1

alexa1

Saudi Arabia

i think that . and i like watermelon in the hot day

10:35 AM Jul 04 2009 |

junaidasif

junaidasif

Pakistan

ohhhhhhh:) it,s  so beautiful today is very important day of US peopel enjoy it. Tongue out

10:23 AM Jul 04 2009 |

Mary**

Mary**

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Nice …!!

09:14 AM Jul 04 2009 |

ilker19

Turkey

hello i name ilker from turkey english speak for add i am learining english speak

09:09 AM Jul 04 2009 |

Miss·Daisy

Miss·Daisy

China

by the way,Born on the Fourth of July is a significant movie,starring by Tom Cruise.

 

05:36 AM Jul 04 2009 |

Aeir

Aeir

China

good 

04:23 AM Jul 04 2009 |

dinhquyen87@yahoo.com

Viet Nam

we celebrate the independent day on 2nd, semptember

01:03 AM Jul 04 2009 |

dinhquyen87@yahoo.com

Viet Nam

hi everybody, its long time since i had a plesure to talk about this topic.hjij. u know, we celebrate the independent day on 2nd, semptember. and its often rain theseday,so we can't go out or do somethings on that day, i like my father talking about the countrie's history, such as talking about heros,  it make me to rebuilt knowleage about history, its interesting.and made me remember to uncle Ho, a my great people..It's an important holiday, all of media agency talk about them, on tv,newspaper, radio,too.

01:01 AM Jul 04 2009 |

elham larra

Morocco

hi how are you im moroccan im 19.and you? i like to will be just your freinds.ok this my email ok :

10:38 PM Jul 03 2009 |

elham larra

Morocco

hi how are you im moroccan im 19.and you? i like to will be just your freinds.ok this my email ok :

10:38 PM Jul 03 2009 |

mikemichal

Czech Republic

Hi friends,

 I am from Czech Republic .We celebrate the Independent Day on October 28th (Creation of Czechoslovakia in 1918.)  and on January 1st (the independent Czech Republic was created in 1993, after dissolution of Czechoslovakia). Our national flag is hang out on the state buildings (parliament, bank) and on the schools in these days.

 

 

08:25 PM Jul 03 2009 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

For those who don’t know,setember 7th is our Independence day,when Brazil became independant from Portugal…I prefer staying at home resting hihihi

07:49 PM Jul 03 2009 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

Hahaha Holidays are great! I love it! Mainly to stay at home resting! hihihi

Look,I admire American People,'cause I'm not the half what they are patriots! hehe On holidays such as setember 7th (day of our independence),I prefer to do other things instead of to celebrate in the street watching the military parade! That annoying! hehehe

I think for many Brazilians,holidays is the same that a "Rest day" hehe

07:45 PM Jul 03 2009 |

Ca_Brazil

Ca_Brazil

Brazil

Yes, we do. Our Independency Day is in September, 7th, its kind of the same of yours. Most people (like me) just enjoy the holiday, like any holiday, though, there are some people that go to downtown to join the celebration of the this day. 

07:19 PM Jul 03 2009 |

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