English, baby!

简体

Big Birthdays

Learn the First Conditional

Date: Mar 09 2012

Themes: Party

Grammar: First Conditional

Go Super!

Intro

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

Go Super to Listen

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

Go Super to Listen

When you’re a kid, every birthday is a big deal. But as you get older, some birthdays seem more important than others. Twenty-one is an important birthday in the US, because that’s when it’s finally legal for you to drink alcohol. And 30 is another birthday that people like to go all out for. On the other hand, even some adults feel that every birthday is a big birthday. Find out which birthdays Amy and Mason think are the most important.

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.

Amy

Mason

Amy: I’m so excited, Mason. I’m about to kick off my birthday month.

Mason: Birthday month?

Amy: Oh yeah.

Mason: Is this like a big…you hitting one of the big milestones this year?

Amy: Twenty-eight. Big enough. It’s another year of life. I’m gonna celebrate it.

Mason: I mean, sure, but 28? That’s super not important.

Amy: What? I think every birthday is important. I think it’s important to have special days.

Mason: Well, I appreciate that you go all out and treat yourself right for your birthday. But if you set the bar so high for 28, what are you gonna do for an actual important birthday, like 30?

Amy: Well, I guess next year I’m just gonna have to party all year, pretty much.

Mason: Really? Wow. I would love to see the kind of birthday presents you get.

Amy: You know, it’s not just about the presents. I mean, it’s about recognizing the milestone, you know? Just throwing a big party. I mean, I like to do things for other people during my birthday month, too, like bring cupcakes to work.

Mason: That’s cool. At least you’re not one of those people who expects everybody around them to do everything for them for their birthday. You know, there are those people who, like, make a big deal of it, like, “Hey, you know, my birthday’s coming up, I hope somebody does something nice for me!”

Amy: Well, my feeling is, if you do that, just drop some friendly reminders, then you won’t be disappointed.

Grammar Point

Go Super to learn "First Conditional" from this lesson

Quizzes

Go Super to take Quiz

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3

Go Super to Ask Ebaby! teachers your questions!

The iTEP^® test

Sponsored by

Schedule an iTEP^® test and take the official English Practice Test.
Take Now >

Discussion

Go Super to Listen

Amy likes to celebrate her birthday for a whole month. She is about to start celebrating her birthday month, even though she is only turning 28 this year. Most people don’t think that 28 is a milestone birthday.

Mason doesn’t make a big deal out of his birthday, especially if it’s not a milestone year. He doesn’t like it when other people expect him to go all out for their birthdays, either.

But Amy thinks that every birthday is important. It marks another year of life. For her, that’s milestone enough.

What are the most important birthdays in your culture? Do you like to go all out for every year, or only for milestone birthdays?

Comments

1 through 20 of 66
Next >
1 2 3 4

sijopux

Barbados

Lesson of the birthday has been improved for the terrific insight for the people. All the charges have been instilled for mypaperwriter reviews for the formation of the new themes for the people.

rverdin

Brazil

In Brazil to reach 18 years old is a big deal. You are permitted to do things by law like driving, work and drink alchol. People celebrate a lot because you turned in an adult.

julito

Argentina

In my country for girls to reach 15 years is an important event . Parents go all the way to celebrate their daughters birthday. Usually , one year or more in advance they start paying off salon and catering costs ,so expensive is to invite to the banquet all family members and daughter´s friends. What is happening now is that girls prefer instead of a birthday party a trip to Disneyworld . Definitely, times are changing .

bahus

Kazakhstan

As for me i don’t like Birthday party. Every year you feel you become older.

★beauty girl◑♥◀

South Korea

today is my bithdayss

Skywalker84

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I just turned 28. No big deal!

Life is the same as it was

rebel lee

China

I am old, I am also 28

emi0808

Philippines

The most important birthday in my country Philippines is the 1st, 7th and 18th birthday. We usually have big celebration and party. for me every birthday is special and memorable and we should always be thankful to God. I used to celebrate my birthday at home and with my family. I used to have simple party at home but it is always special for me because my whole family is always there to celebrate with me. :)

To all the people who have their birthday today Happy birthday and God bless! mwah: )

usamedin

Macedonia

Me, personally, I don’t celebrate my birthday, i was used so becouse in my culture it is not anything very important, but nowadays things started to change, the new generations celebrate it in some ways,and to not forget Facebook plays a great role in sending wishes or smth like that… it ’s this week when I was born 26 years ago (14 march)...

sniperfou

Algeria

at this time when i write on this subject it’s big deal form me because i was born in this time and day

so happy birthday for me and all people

sniperfou

Algeria

at this time when i write on this subject it’s big deal form me because i was born in this time and day

so happy birthday for me and all people

esztersun

Hungary

I don’t like celebrate my birthday. My family and my friends sent a massages from me, and give a little present, it is enough for me.

If I had do, i forgot my birthday.

julito

Argentina

leerena , well, at least our father deserves part of the credit , hehehehe

leearena

Malaysia

it is a good thing when your birthday is come out, award your mother with some prensent or treat her with a delicious food…because she is the reason you are here (in this world)

wwongsapun

Thailand

We’re like to celebrate with every birthday. I just to pass my brithday in this week. It’s seem like bored day than funny. I feel like disappoint on that day.

mudgal.bharat87@gmail.com

India

i am belong to village, in my view 5 to 10 year age is good for celebrate birthday.

vip1

Canada

Well, HaPpY BirThDaY to All of you guys in Advance ^,

jossef 002010

Morocco

i think the most important birthdays are the first 1-10 i mean when we step our first steps in life and grow up front of your parents eyes (we do not celebrate it in our culture) , some do celebrate it especialy new generations !

There is another important stage starts in 18 it’s a declaration that you become mature and you should take your responsibilities and it’s consequences !

ElChino

Venezuela

In my country (Venezuela) the people is considered older at 18 years old, and it’s cool because: You can drink, smoke and get your driver license. I’ve just turned 22 years old three days ago.