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Theme Parks

Learn English with this theme parks English lesson

Date: Sep 20 2013

Themes: Family, Holidays, Travel

Grammar: Adverbs

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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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What’s the big deal about theme parks? The tickets are overpriced, the lines for everything are long, the souvenirs cost too much, and the food is usually unhealthy. By the end of the day, everyone is tired, sunburned and fighting off a stomachache. And yet, everyone wants to go again. In fact, we can’t get enough of them!

So, why do we love them? It’s not about that one crazy rollercoaster or that one huge ice cream cone, it’s about the feeling we take home with us. It’s all about the big picture, all of the pieces of the day put together. These are the places where families make memories and laugh about those memories for years.

Find out if Mason and Marni think their children should visit a famous theme park in the following English lesson.

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.

Mason

Marni

Mason: Marni, now that you’re a mom, are you thinking ahead for experiences that you want your child to have? Are you going to take your kid to Disneyland?

Marni: That’s a good question. I have thought about that, actually, somewhat, and I’m terrified of those places. I did grow up going to Disneyworld quite a bit, but I now as an adult look at those long lines and the expense, and I just see the other side of it. And it just seems like a total nightmare.

Mason: Now that you mention it, the waiting in line… what kid is going to put up with that?

Marni: There’s something to be said for those places. They’re obviously a lot of fun. You make memories. I just now look at it as the tickets are incredibly expensive, the souvenirs are overpriced and junky.

Mason: There are so many little theme parks.

Marni: True.

Mason: We have a couple in our area, so I can only assume that every area has some weird, little, old-school theme park that, honestly, as I’ve gotten older, they have a lot more charm to me.

Marni: I see what you’re saying. I kind of agree that those places have a little more charm to them. But to kids, they look at the big picture, and they see Disneyland as the end all be all. So, we’ll have to see!

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Discussion

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Mason is interested to know if Marni plans on taking her child to a popular theme park. It’s almost expected that all parents will take their children to Disneyland, for example. But even though Marni grew up going to a similar park in Florida, she has different feelings about it as an adult. To Marni, theme parks are simply too expensive and not worth the time and money.

Still, Marni understands that going to a place like Disneyland is really important to a lot of kids. Mason points out that there are plenty of smaller, less famous but just as fun theme parks close to where he lives, so maybe Marni could go to one of those. She likes the idea, but she isn’t so sure that it will be a hit with her family.

Have you ever been to a popular theme park? Where did you go, and what was it like? Is it important that all kids have that experience?

Comments

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whipiry

South Korea

The first impression in Disney land was so big and impressing to me cuz I met those stuff like that for the first time.. I guess I didn’t know whether it was overprised or not, cuz i was overwhelmed with the size and fame of Disneyland. Inside it, All of thing are kind of money and long line to take the attractions ..it couldn’t help it.

souveniors, total expense….many people packed all around the corners.

it’s worth going there sometimes….it can make family make goo memeories.

when it comes to big picture,...it could cause kids to think about those memories as well as parents and couples do.

roze1997

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

parks here . . . in my city are too different . . . they dont have too modern facilities . . . ! but there are many big and small park around our house . . .

it is true when i go there maybe my body become tired but my mind really get ride of some bad obsessions !

sitting on the bench and seeing around really make your mind open and free . . . going there for doing some sports or playing foe example vallyball with friends can be a really good idea !

good luck

Seiyf_khawas

Turkey

PARKS ARE FOR ALL PEOPLE ,

Drmahsa1995

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

oh Disdeyland paris is also wonderful unfortunately we couldnt catch the time to visit there :( . we were confused cuz we couldnt actually find the addrees with our car so we had to use TGV.. i wish some day i can go there :)

Quiiii

China

maybe Theme parks will let us relax for our busy life, i ve never been to the big Theme parks.such as Disneyland . but always go to the just a little small parks.

renwda

Canada

Definitely will take my child to famous amusement park like disneyland or Lego park, that’s really are not just for fun, but also build the interest and imaganation of a child. But the huge long line is typical in China every single day, worse in weekends, so will try close country like Japan ,Singapore and Malaysia.

Seiyf_khawas

Turkey

Julito, I agree with you :)

julito

Argentina

SEIYF. Couldn´t t agree more. Life is a wonderful playground when we are swinging only that sometimes we have to ride a roller coaster and the only fun is when the ride is over. hahahahah!!!!

Seiyf_khawas

Turkey

WORLD IS A PLAYGROUND OR A PARK FOR ALL :))

THX M.FOR PIC

djsami88

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Ive never been to this park because I have not had the time to do such things .

I think people would be good fun, and Gives us peace .

fcf515

Taiwan

I have been to a few local amusement parks, but I have never been to Disneyland. I have always wanted to visit it and make memories. When I was young, my mom also took my sister and I to the amusement park and it was a lot of fun. I could still remember until now. I think it is important that all kids have that experience. However, as an adult, I don’t think it is worth going to an amusement park as the ticket is overpriced and the rides are too exciting for me.

Yuanyy

China

This is my first time to come to this site ,though my English is not well,I am looking forward making friends with you.

Yuanyy

China

I have never gone to a theme park,but I hope one day I can visit one.

julito

Argentina

Dear Nijar. You are so kind. Also I, am sure others members as well appreciate your wise comments, not to mention your sense of humour .

Nijar

Egypt

Welcome back Mr Julito.

Travelling gives us extra energy, and I do feel that in your eyes, soul and everytime I read your comments.

Enjoy your life as much as you can Mr, wish you the best..

Nijar

Egypt

I adore this place, I do love it, however there are many other choices all round the world, and the Water Parks which are my cup” Discovery Cove” ,”Wild Wadi Water Park” ,” Aqua Park”. Don’t know what attract me more there? Maybe those tales are for me a dream became true when I go, meet, and shake hand my dears; Mickey ,Goofy, Donald Duck, Snow White, Princesses and Fairies, maybe it looks like I became one of them, play with and have extremely fun, join them in their own world. As if you are not on the earth, nevertheless you will find millions of different nationalities over there, that’s why it’s unique.

The ‘MagicLand’ inEgyptis awesome I enjoy much. Unusual times I and my friends go screaming and pushing out the negative energy there after a hard exam, this way we feel relaxed and be ready for the coming. Those crazy highest speed trains ,rides, roller coasters which send me to the sky with a big joy, fear, hysterical laugh and scream, as if my heart will drop down or pump out from my chest, dom dom.It’s adventure ,when I start , I can’t stop, and my family know well none can forbid their daughter try all the magic:)

mitya09

Russian Federation

I never was in Disneyland and other popular theme parks. And I feel very good because we have own park at home without any thoughts about money. Others attainments don’t get so pleasure to me than myself. And so interesting to create something with kids. They make memories about real processes. I don’t understand what can get for kid’s mind big-eared Mouse, toys of Lego or painted dolls except question: for what that?

julito

Argentina

I have just came back from Los Angeles. This glamorous city is not only the mecca of the film industry, also home of one of the gratest attractions due the genius of Walt Disney and his famous Theme Park Disneylandia. The only drawback, at least for me, to get in you have to pocket WOW about 100 dollars .i have visited it in the past on two occasions and it was an unforgetable experience An utopic thought came up in my mind,that every children in the world should at least once be able to visit this amusement park .100 dollars was this time too much money to pitch in , I had to decline the invitation. No problem !!!!

Seiyf_khawas

Turkey

there were simple parks in the past ,

they were smaller,more silent,easier,slowier,more dangerless,more colorless,but free..:))

I would like playing in that parks when ı was in my childhood,with a few swings,seesaws and slides…

today ,there are very big and theme parks ,

they are very complicated,very fast,very funny,very tall,very dynamic,very loud,very colorful,very risky,..and very expensive,:((

everything changed by time ,parks too,

I can go all kind of park,except Jurassic Park :))

Drmahsa1995

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

yep i have been to EUROPA Park which is located in Rust, in south-western Germany, between Freiburg and Strasbourg, France….that was my best experience yeh i think kids should have that wonderful experience :)