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Pen Pal

Date: Sep 15 2009

Themes: Soap Opera

Grammar: Count and Noncount Nouns

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Intro

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

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

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It’s common for people who are kidnapped to bond with their kidnapper, believe it or not. It’s called Stockholm syndrome and named after a famous case in which some hostages in Sweden later defended their captors.

Earlier this year, Beren was kidnapped by her evil twin. She was saved by Dale and Ella some time later. But since then, she hasn’t really been around much. It’s understandable. She’s been through a lot. But watch as Marni discovers that Beren has been busy corresponding with a pen pal...in the pen. Who could it be?

3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.

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.

Marni

Beren

Marni: Oh, Beren! How are you? Oh my God. How are you?

Beren: I’m good.

Marni: Yeah?

Beren: Yeah.

Marni: We haven’t seen you in so long. Where have you been?

Beren: I’ve been…busy. Really busy. I was in Costa Rica working on coffee…

Marni: Really?

Beren: ...making espressos…

Marni: Making espresso in Costa Rica?

Beren: In Venezuela?

Marni: They’re two different countries.

Beren: I went to both, I went to both.

Marni: OK.

Beren: I just got back.

Marni: Well, wow. It’s so good to see you. We’ve missed you…

Beren: It’s good to see you too! I should go…Like, really. I’m busy. But it was good to see you.

Marni: OK, well, you dropped…

Beren: No, no, no…ah!

Marni: This is…This is from the prison. This is…Is this from your…

Beren: She writes to me. I never write back. It’s just one of those things. It’s interesting. I’m curious about prison life.

Marni: You’re just writing? Corresponding?

Beren: I’m not…Well, it’s not a correspondence if it’s one-sided. I just keep on receiving the letters.

Marni: So you’re not visiting her…You’re visiting her!

Beren: It’s my sister!

Marni: She’s not your sister. She’s your evil twin!

Beren: Can I have that back?

Grammar Point

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

Go Super to Listen

Beren hasn’t been hanging out with her friends much. When Marni runs into her, she drops her mail and Marni discovers that Beren has been exchanging letters with her evil twin who is in jail for kidnapping her. It turns out that Beren has also been visiting her evil twin!

Clearly, it is not healthy for someone who has been kidnapped to stay in touch with his or her kidnapper once it’s all over. But Beren’s case is complicated. She was kidnapped by her sister, who she never knew she had.

And how much trouble could Beren’s sister really cause while in jail? Do you think it’s OK for Beren to visit her?

Comments

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21 through 33 of 33
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Ca_Brazil

Brazil

I dont think beren`s evil twin could cause her trouble, since she is jailed. its kind of complicated her case, she got kidnapped for a sister she didnt even know she existed, its like one day you win a sister and then you lose, too bad for her. I might be wrong, who knows, but if her sister regreted honestely it would be good for them both.

jorin08

China

i believe that its just fraternal love,not stockholm syndrome.

reyhaneh

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I think Beren worried about her devil twin although she was kidnapped by her!!!

~MemoTheHun~

Germany

:S.. prison break or what? :D

Milasa

Russian Federation

I think that it's not good idea to visit your kidnapper even though the kidnapper is your sister. Such meetings just can remind Beren about that bad experience and hurt her more. Actually, it doesn't let Beren to forget about it, and it makes her life more complicated and perhaps even more dangerous.

rosendo

Mexico

Stockholm syndrome i havent heard this , but believe it or not here in Mexico i think this not exist , backward the hostage after the rescue by the police wants to kill the kidnapper.

Christoph07

Germany

I don't understand this lesson. I know the Stockholm Syndrom but its also her twin ("the evil twin") And why you can not tell her "sister"? Is a twin not a sister or brother isn't it? Thats weird. I think every one has the right to ask her own members of family: "Why…"