Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in
 
Fourth of July

Fourth of July

Date: Jul 03 2009

Themes: Food, Holidays, Party

Grammar: You're vs. Your

Intro

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

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

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

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

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

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

Log in to Listen

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

Go Super to learn "You're vs. Your" from this lesson Go Super!

Quizzes

Go Super to take Quiz Go Super!

 

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3 Go Super!

The iTEP® test

  • Schedule an iTEP® test and take the official English Practice Test.

    Take Now >

Discussion

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

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

Log in to Comment

eerina

Albania

Hi,we celebrite one universary indepedence of Kosova 17.02.2009.All we go on the city from the 10am until 11pm.We danced a lot,a lot of people drunks and we did diferent things.17..02 is the most importatnt date in my country.And we will celebrite evry year.Because now my country is freedom.

06:04 PM Jul 03 2009 |

boddi

China

It  seems that all of the people from different countries celebrate the birth of their nation.It always had some awesome fireworks and a lot of marchs for the festival.In China,we had  pretty days vacation for the anniversary,then we usually go to travel or visit families and friends at the mean time. To tell you the trues, a lot of Chineses are looking forward these days.

04:32 PM Jul 03 2009 |

ZoOm In

ZoOm In

Saudi Arabia

Actually, we started to celebrate our national day recently ( 3-4 years ago ) .

Before that, it used to come and go without any one knows about it _

 

But now, you can see fireworks in general parks and people celebrating in streets by driving crazy and rising music sound -the traditional way for idiot Saudi young people to show happiness – .In addition, there are celebrations done in schools ( the days before and/or after the national day ) . But they are often so boring . They just collect us in the courtyard of the school and start talking about the countrie's history and these stuff . 

 

however, it's now much better than past and celebrating the national day in Saudi Arabia is becomming more fun year by year .

 

03:37 PM Jul 03 2009 |

rosendo

rosendo

Mexico

here we celebrate our independence september 15 , we always cook out with our family or with friends. no school , no work , just kick back :)

VIVA MEXICO CABRONES !!!!

03:33 PM Jul 03 2009 |

fadel san

fadel san

Saudi Arabia

we have national day in saudi arabia but I rarely do anythings, just as every holiday sleep, go to friends and talk. No work, no schools.

here they do firework and celebrate in some places not all places. 

02:17 PM Jul 03 2009 |

alice197

alice197

China

wow,patriosts!

08:38 AM Jul 03 2009 |

sofree

sofree

China

Yes, Oct 1st is our National day. It's some like the US, just turns out a holiday, everywhere crowded, no fun. The only reason I like it is for the 3 days break, that's all.

07:47 AM Jul 03 2009 |

Adam Smith

China

Yes,I know 4th july is US National Day.Enjoy your  holidays, US frends! Well,I'd like talk about national day in china, 1st October.It's an important holiday in China,and last 7days to celebrite it.We usually travel, see frends and have a rest at home.It's really a good chance to relax and refresh ourselves.

07:10 AM Jul 03 2009 |

L_a_d_a

L_a_d_a

Ukraine

In Ukraine there are several national holidays but the most important are the 28th of June, the Constitution day and the 24th of August, the Independence day

06:46 AM Jul 03 2009 |

zhzloverzy

zhzloverzy

China

Obviously our national day is first October, we will be singing our national song when national flag have be raising in the monery and firework is necessary in the evening when the huge party  have begun. I love this day.

06:38 AM Jul 03 2009 |

Glass

China

In china, our national day is 1st of October, fireworks have been banned by law in some city ceter, but some countryside will be allow to do.

02:55 AM Jul 03 2009 |

jkin

Colombia

In Colombia the independence day is july20Th, here is holiday the same way to E.U but here there are no fires only the people take out their flag.

02:28 AM Jul 03 2009 |

julywidiawati

Indonesia

Yeah, we also celebrate our national holiday for independence at 17 of August.

We celebrate it by ceremony at schools, public offices and at the president building in Jakarta.And there will be 17 fires when the ceremony held. We have to raise our national flag in every house.

We also have many games and sport competitions in every corner of the city like "panjang pinang" games, volley ball, etc. It's a lot of fun.

02:26 AM Jul 03 2009 |

clkankan

clkankan

China

beijingers do you?

01:35 AM Jul 03 2009 |

clkankan

clkankan

China

software programming and Philosophy…

 and english learning…

 Because I am a beginner, so only simple English

However, I want more friends

 and Freedom of expression

 my email:

01:34 AM Jul 03 2009 |

emmashow1280

China

October 1st is our national day. usually i am going to see raise a flag in tian an men square with my friends. there were many people stand in there and wait for flag in the morning

01:30 AM Jul 03 2009 |

Likes (26):

See all >

Share this lesson:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Bebo
  • Share on Myspace
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email this to a friend
  • Share on Sina

Post Ebaby! lessons on your blog:

Ebaby! Cast