Conversation Sample

The following sample is from the
Intermediate Student Manual - Conversation

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Lesson 6

Contentment: Possessions

1. What are the things that are the most valuable in life?

2. How would you describe a person who is content?

Read the following story silently, while your teacher reads it out loud. Then answer the response questions.

The Magic Fish

Once upon a time there was a poor fisherman who lived in an old hut by the sea. One day when he was fishing in the ocean, he caught a large fish, but when he went to take it out of the water, the fish cried, “Put me back in the water! I am a magic fish!”
“Well,” said the man, “if you are a magic fish, I will put you back into the water.” And he did.
That night, his wife asked him why he hadn’t caught any fish. He said, “I did catch a fish, but it was a magic fish, so I put him back in the water.”
“Why didn’t you ask for a wish?” asked the wife. “Go back and ask him for a pretty house.”
Even though the fisherman didn’t want to, he went back to the sea and called to the fish. He asked for a wish from the magic fish.
“What do you want?” asked the magic fish.
“My wife wants a pretty house,” said the fisherman.
“Go home,” said the magic fish. “You have your wish.”
The wife was content with her pretty house for about a week. Then she decided that she wanted more, so she told her husband to go back to the magic fish and tell him that she wanted to live in a castle. Even though the fisherman did not want to go, he went back to find the magic fish.
“What does your wife want now?” asked the fish.
“She wants to live in a castle,” replied the fisherman.
“Go home, she has her wish,” said the magic fish.
The wife was happy with her castle for about two weeks. Then she decided that she wanted more, so she told her husband to go back to the magic fish and ask him to make her queen of the land. Even though the fisherman did not want to go, he went back to find the magic fish.
“What does your wife want now?” asked the fish.
“She wants to be queen of the land,” answered the fisherman.
“Go home, your wife has her wish,” responded the fish.
The wife was happy to be dressed in gold from head-to-toe. She enjoyed being queen for about three weeks. Then she decided that she wanted more so she told her husband to go back to the magic fish and tell him that she wanted to be queen of the sun, moon and stars. Even though the fisherman didn’t want to go, he went back to find the magic fish.
“What does she want this time?” asked the magic fish.
“She wants to be queen of the sun, moon and stars,” admitted the fisherman.
“NO! She wants too much. She cannot be queen of the sun, moon and stars. Now she must go back to the old hut,” replied the fish.
So the fisherman went home to his old hut.

Adapted from: The Magic Fish by Freya Littledale, New York: Scholastic Inc., 1966.

1. How is the fisherman’s wife like many people?

2. Rockefeller, an American who was one of the richest men who ever lived, was once asked the question: “How much money is enough?” His response? “A little bit more.” What do you think about this comment?

You will be assigned a position of either agreeing or disagreeing about the following American expressions. You must come up with support for your position.

• Money can’t buy happiness.

• Money is the root of all evil.
• You cannot love both God and money.
• To possess nothing is to be truly rich.

What would you do if you won a large amount of money? The rule is that if you won, you could only keep half the money and you must give the other half away to help others. What would you do with the half you gave away? Use information from the Grammar Point to help you as you present your information.

1. What are you most content with in your life? With what are you most discontent?

2. What can you do to become more content in the areas in which you lack contentment?

Pronunciation Sample

The following sample is from the
Intermediate Student Manual - Pronunciation

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Lesson 2

Voiced and Unvoiced /th/

The voiced and unvoiced /th/ sounds are made by blowing air out of your mouth continuously, while placing your tongue between your teeth. It is important to concentrate on the placement of the tongue in order to pronounce the sound correctly. Don’t forget to put your tongue between your teeth!!

Repeat the following words after your teacher says them. Then go back to the beginning and listen carefully while your teacher says one of the two given words. Circle the word that you hear.

1. sick	thick
2. sink	think
3. sigh	thigh
4. mouse	mouth
5. pass	path
6. sank	thank
7. sin	thin
8. closing	clothing
9. teas	teethe

Song:

My Mother Talks to My Father

Oh, my mother talks to my father. My sister talks to my brother, We all talk to each other, ‘Cause we’re a family, We’re a family, We’re a family, We all talk to each other, ‘Cause we’re a family

Question:
Do you ever take time to talk to each other in your family? Share your thoughts with the class.

OUR FAMILY

Let’s talk about your own family. Watch as your teacher draws a family tree on the board. Then, make your own family tree, but do not let your classmates see t. Next, find a partner and tell him about your family. Your partner will draw your family while you are talking. After you finish talking, check your partner’s drawing. Compare it to yours. Are they the same? Next, change roles.

Questions
1. What do you think about your partner’s family?

Example: I think that ____________________________.

2. What are the birthdays of the people in your family?

Example: My mother’s birthday is the 25th of June.