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Learn about Modal Verbs

Date: Jan 13 2012

Themes: Hobbies, Tech

Grammar: Modal Verbs

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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With bookstores closing all over the US, some believe it’s the death of the book. But that doesn’t mean people aren’t reading. New electronic devices like the iPad and the Kindle are making it possible to ditch all your heavy hardbacks and read on a small, lightweight computer. But is this new kind of high-tech reading really the same? Marni believes that reading on an eReader just isn’t the same as reading a traditional book. But Amy thinks eReaders are the way of the future.

如果全美的书店都关闭,某些人认为这是图书的末日。但这并不意味着人们不再读书。新的电子设备(例如 iPad 和 Kindle)可以让你丢弃笨重的硬皮书,并在小巧、轻便的电脑上阅读。但这种新的高科技阅读方式真的与纸质阅读一样吗?玛尼认为,在电子阅读设备上阅读和阅读传统图书不尽相同。但艾米认为,电子阅读设备是未来的方向。

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.

Amy

Amy

Marni

Marni

Amy:  Check out my new Kindle, Marni. Pretty sweet, huh.

Marni:  Yeah, I mean, I guess, if you’re sort of into those things. But for me, I like a real book.

Amy:  Really? But these things are so convenient. I mean, eReaders are really great if you’re on a trip, you know, you don’t want to lug around a big heavy book. And you can download so many books for pretty low prices. You can have online book groups about whatever you’re reading on your Kindle…

Marni:  For me, it’s just not…I can’t give up that tradition of cracking open a new book. I love the way it smells. I love the way it feels. And I love being able to just kind of toss it off my bed. At night when I’m going to sleep, I don’t have to worry about breaking a book, whereas a Kindle, I would just constantly be worried that I was gonna drop it. It’s just not for me. I don’t know.

Amy:  Think about this. Think about all the times you’ve moved to a new house, and you’ve had to take boxes and boxes of books. For me that’s always the worst part about moving, is packing up and unpacking all my books. And now I’ll never have to do it again.

Marni:  That never bothers me. There’s something I love about looking at my bookshelf and seeing all the books that I’ve read or want to read. I just don’t think I’ll give them up.

 

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Discussion

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Amy recently bought a Kindle, a small electronic device for reading eBooks. She loves it and thinks that eReaders are the way of the future. They are convenient and easy to take with you wherever you go. They also allow you to download many different books at low prices.

But Marni doesn’t like eReaders. She prefers traditional books. To her, the experience of reading on an eReader is not as satisfying as the experience of reading a regular book. She says that if she had an eReader, she would worry about breaking it. She also likes seeing all her books lined up on her bookshelves.

Do you prefer traditional books or eReaders? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

 

Comments

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roberthornsbySuper Member!

Canada

I will be adding this lesson to my teaching schedule

03:05 PM Feb 24 2018 |

La Princesse de la vie

Egypt

I prefer ereaders, since my first novel was on my laptop, I liked it very much not caring about where or how I read this. I mean the words are the same indeed :D I even read it for free, and this is the best thing about e-books. I have a library of thousands of books on my laptop, books of various topics.


Actually, I wouldn’t pay for a book not knowing whether I’ll like it or not, that’s a waste for me :D Besides to have such great amount of books, I’m afraid you should have enough room for shelving them.


All in all, I go with Amy’s side, e-books are of great advantage now, but owning a paper book still something invaluable. I have a friend that reads e-books and then she just buys the ones that had taken her just for keeping them as her treasure :))


I went to Cairo Book Fair this year, which is held in late January to early February every year, and I must refer that I was fascinated by the great numbers of people were there and they were not only Egyptians, there were others from other nationalities. It was great to know that there are so many committed readers. I liked the view very much. :)

10:53 PM Apr 18 2015 |

DarknessLight

Germany

I actually like them both. I can read whatever book I want online, but I might not find it in a library, I can also download a book for free so I can save money that way. However, I sometimes prefer buying traditional books, I find going to libraries super fun!! Going from this bookshelf to the other, I completely become lost in their, that I don’t even feel my surroundings!! XD and I agree with Marni about seeing all of my books lined up on the bookshelves, it makes me feel smart!! XD

05:34 PM Nov 02 2012 |

1 person likes this

SuzySDA

Germany

I prefer reading traditional books, but I don’t buy them. I am a member of my town’s library. That’s how I save money and space in my bookshelves. On the other hand I have to admit the advantages of having an eReader like the Kindle. They are: having the possibility to store many books in one electronic device and to just buy them cheap online without visiting a bookshop or ordering per mail. I have never tried to read with an eReader, so I am lacking the experience as how fragile they are.

08:36 PM Jan 25 2012 |

Gobsmacker

Germany

I definitely prefer traditional books to eReaders! For one I like having every book I read standing in my shelf. I don’t know why but it feels better. My gran has a Kindle and I used it when I was over at her house. Looking at the screen just hurt my eyes and it totally ruined the experience of reading which to be honest currently the only non-electronical thing I do. And you can’t get your eBooks signed! Of course it is a huge advantage to be able to take a whole load of books on trips or holidays without using up half your suitcase. You can always have your whole bookshelf in your handbag! Plus eBooks are mostly less expensive tahn normal ones. But even despite these very practical features I find it ruins it for me. In general though I think it might be a good idea for some people.

08:35 PM Jan 18 2012 |

catherineduron

Honduras

I prefer traditional books, because im not too careful with electronics, besides i like underline some phrases with my pencil and put some notes over the letters

01:17 AM Jan 18 2012 |

Learner of Life

Indonesia

I prefer traditional books… the reason is that through it I acquire deeper understanding from what I read…

01:04 PM Jan 17 2012 |

unniz

unniz

India

Ereaders are great….I love amazon kindle..  I can change the font size .. search dictionery easily .. and its screen is exactly like paper …

10:20 AM Jan 16 2012 |

ElikaAli1367

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I think it isn’t Fixed for all kined of book. I mean I like read some book in traditonal way and some book in new way. for example i prefer that scientific book be eReaders because in some sciences like Information Technology the  content get change very soon then i prefer eReader becuse its cheap and if the content be old i can change that book and refresh my library comfortable. 

04:09 AM Jan 16 2012 |

sibby724

sibby724

Taiwan

“Like”. :D

12:50 AM Jan 16 2012 |

Pezhman02

Pezhman02

Germany

I prefer the eReaders because of their convenience. Indeed you can download lots of books for a low price. The new generation of eReaders don’t make any eyeache and they are auite comfortable.

11:55 PM Jan 15 2012 |

Gopalshakya

India

It is portable and carry it esaly we can store many more books as libeary and esaly maintain these books and it is so economik to purchage and easy to use it is not only for the students but also for every persone someone is intrested

06:24 PM Jan 15 2012 |

Sir_pouria_H

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

All things that mentioned about the advantages of ebooks is totally right.But they can never be an alternative for paper one.


Whenever I read a book I recall my Grandpa.Nothing can be instead of the sounds of leafing through the papers when your grandfather is reading you a story.

01:57 PM Jan 15 2012 |

kotlesya

kotlesya

Belarus

01:47 PM Jan 15 2012 |

kotlesya

kotlesya

Belarus

parionI like the picture you have posted here so much. It looks so romantic. Romanticism makes our lives fantastic! Romantic members of eBaby, are my words correct?Wink

01:45 PM Jan 15 2012 |

kotlesya

kotlesya

Belarus

I completely agree with parion about  his opinion that books and children are good friends !! There is no day and no evening without a reading for my children. They don’t like me to read the “dead” eReader for them, because it has no interest for them whatsoever. The real books are the real friends for our children. The real book is a wonderful entrance into the life of our kids. Smile

08:25 AM Jan 15 2012 |

nezar bnj

nezar bnj

Morocco

today the high tech cover all the world by its tools,also this high tech can lead to do the forgivness of the traditionel things like the book for exemple…but book has private things especially when we turn the pages , for me it’s something nice and has a privete taste Cool

11:45 PM Jan 14 2012 |

1 person likes this

TranceSoul

TranceSoul

Poland

parion that’s true!! :)

10:09 PM Jan 14 2012 |

1 person likes this

aziz al kun

United Arab Emirates

i think that we are spending alots of time of the computer or laptop whatever and then going and watching tv so my point is that we are ruinning our eyes a lot and know although the book , we should have a break really its really better to read in the book better the ebook

07:17 PM Jan 14 2012 |

Melina M

Melina M

Argentina

I’ve read some eBooks, but I definittly prefer traditional books, much better.


whats the problem in carring a book when you are on a trip??

07:14 PM Jan 14 2012 |

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