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San Francisco

Learn about San Franciso in this English lesson

Date: Mar 24 2020

Themes: Travel

Grammar: Simple Past Tense

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Intro

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San Francisco, the beautiful “City by the Bay!” Would you like to visit this famous city? You can explore the winding streets and walk up Telegraph Avenue. You can see sights like the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz island. If you’re hungry, you can pick up some Chinese food in Chinatown or some Italian Food in North Beach, or you can head down to Pier 39 for some fresh seafood. And if you’re in the mood for dessert, you can go to the Ghiradelli Chocolate Factory.

San Francisco is a popular destination to visit, but some people think it is a tourist trap. It is too crowded, and the transportation system is confusing. However, most people who visit love the city. They love the beautiful sights and the exciting mix of cultures, and they can’t wait to go back.

Jessica and Dominique are talking about visiting San Francisco. Find out what they think in this 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.

Jessica

Dominique

Jessica: I went to San Francisco a few years ago, and I really, really want to go back. I absolutely loved it! I went on a tour of Alcatraz, which was really cool, and then I had some seafood in one of those chowder bowls at Fisherman’s Warf. It was awesome!

Dominique: That sounds like fun. I just couldn’t get around all of the walking up the hills, and I was getting lost… but the wine was good.

Jessica: Yes, the wine is delicious. I’ll agree with you that the transportation really raises my stress level. Trying to take a cable car, and then also the BART transportation system was really confusing. I had to ask people for help, and that was really intimidating.

Dominique: You know what was confusing and nerve-wracking? It was the one-way streets. I actually went down a one-way street. It scared me. And I was walking!

Jessica: Oh my gosh.

Dominique: Yeah.

Jessica: I’m glad I didn’t have to drive in San Francisco. Especially after the fabulous wine!

Dominique: And it’s really crowded. There are so many people. I mean, you get to see so many different people, but it’s just too many different people.

Jessica: I know, but there’s so much culture. It’s really cool. I loved listening to the music as I was walking down the street. I don’t know. I would go back in a heartbeat.

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

Go Super to Listen

Jessica and Dominique are talking about visiting San Francisco. Jessica loved the city. While she was there, she went on a tour and tried a lot of delicious wine and food. Dominique has also been to San Francisco, but she did not enjoy it as much as Jessica did. She thought that the transportation was stressful and confusing. The one-way streets were hard to navigate. She also felt like San Francisco was too crowded and busy.

Jessica agrees that the transportation system was very confusing. However, she loved the culture of San Francisco. She would go back in heartbeat!

Do you want to visit San Francisco? What do you want to do there?

Comments

forugh

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

there is a joke about Sanfrancisko:

when people from Sanfrancisko go to heaven,they say it’s nice,but it’s not Sanfrancisko:)

buttafly

Germany

Julito, for several years I feared that some stern looking officer would ask me to step aside. Imagine the tension I felt when I recited the reason for my stay. I always envisioned someone questioning me: ‘And you are sure you are not here for violating the law again??’ :))

julito1

Argentina

Hi Anja, i was wondering if you have had to pay the ticket to the rental company. Obviously ,you didn´t. hahahaha. well, i wouldn´t be so sure that they have forgotten about you. You will know as soon as you are face to face with the inmigration officer. I can hear him saying: Hey Sheriff,”I have a case for you !!! hahahaha. I have so many beisbol caps , no big deal ….

buttafly

Germany

Hi Julito, yeah, who knows what other treasures the bay holds. I am curious to know if you ever bought a second SF cap :) I wasn’t really unhappy about the speeding ticket but I admit that not paying for it would have an impact on my visitor status at immigration. The idea haunted me for some years after ;)

julito1

Argentina

Hey Anja , the same with me , i couldn´t believe that my ” precious cap ” with the logo of San Francisco that i had just bought as a souvenier, was drifting away in the ocean. One of the party saw the brigh side of it. She Remarked: It means that you have to come back to this city. Still it gives me goosbumps hearing Tony Bennet singing ” I left my heart in San Francisco.” Well, i left my heart and a beisbol cap. :)))

buttafly

Germany

I would love to go back to SF. After Chicago it’s my second favorite city in the U.S.

All in all I’ve been there three times. Besides the rich, vibrant sights of the San Francisco bay and the mouth-watering smell of seafood, there’s still this one incident lingering in my memory. It so happened that we crossed the Golden Gate Bridge en route to Eureka. While rolling down the top of our rental car, a cool breeze got a hold of the speeding ticket we received somewhere on a scenic route and carried it away. For a split second we followed it with our eyes only to realize that it would be gone forever. I can still hear our laughter because back then we were so young and free and wild. Perhaps it was the incredible spirit of the city :)

julito1

Argentina

Yeah, but let me tell you.As I was travelling on a budget i couldn´t afford it , but if you ever go to SF don´t miss to eat crabs at Fisherman´s Wharf. If necessary, skip Ghirardelli.:))

ola3

Ukraine

I know Julito. Every one who finds out I can’t eat chowder, are very sympathetic with me. They describe this dish with so much love that I came to the conclusion that it’s better than chocolate:) But wine ! Thanks God! I can drink it. :)

julito1

Argentina

Ola 3… Hi, what a pity you are milk intolerant. Nothing like a creamy chowder soup after a day of sightseeing.. But no mind, you still have the Central Valley wines for consolation.:)))

ola3

Ukraine

Visiting a place you’ve never been is amazingly refreshing. If I’m gonna visit San Francisco, I’m sure cover some of the site landmarks like Golden Bridge, chocolate factory. Unfortunately cream chowder soup will not be in my menu :) I’m milk intolerant. And another thing I’ll do before going to San Francisco is to read a book that will introduce me better to the city. Literature can give you the feel, the atmosphere, something that makes you feel not an alien in the unknown place. :)

julito1

Argentina

I can relate 100% to what both are telling. I have been twice in San Francisco and I even was fortunate enough to have walked cross the Golden Bridge on a perfect day, it was sunny and fogless, only a little windy and it blew my beisbol cap into the Pacific Ocean. If any of EB´s members is thinking of going to SF remember that it is a nightmare to find a place to park the car.