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Happy New Year

Date: Dec 30 2005

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Intro

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

hanging out

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

New Year’s Eve is so much fun. When I was a child my mother would make all sorts of goodies. My brother, sister and I would stay up all night eating junk food and watching movies. At midnight, when the ball dropped in New York, we would prank call strangers and yell, Happy New Year! into the phone, and then quickly hang up. O, the memories.

Now that I’m older, I like getting all dressed up and going out to big parties to ring in the New Year. Listen to Kevin and I chat about our New Year’s Eve plans.

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.

Kevin

Dave

Kevin: So, what’s on tap for New Year’s Eve?

Dave: I don’t know. I’m going to be in Minneapolis with the family.

Kevin: Oooh.

Dave: So, very cold.

Kevin: Cold and living in the ‘burbs.

Dave: Yeah. So, probably going to be hanging out with the neice and nephew…

Kevin: It can be fun, though.

Dave: ...watching the ball in New York.

Kevin: Relaxing.

Dave: Yeah. It’ll be alright.

Kevin: I’ve always wanted to go to the thing in New York. But then when I see that, I mean, because I watched it on TV most years…

Dave: Yeah.

Kevin: But I wonder if it wouldn’t be as fun in person. You know? I mean, it seems like it could just be packed with people and, you know, lots of security.

Dave: And you’ve got to get there hours and hours ahead of time.

Kevin: Oh. And it’s cold there, too.

Dave: Where you going to be?

Kevin: Um, I’m going to be here. And I’m going to do a dinner at my place with a couple of friends, and then probably go out. So it’s too bad you won’t be here.

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Discussion

There are a lot of traditions for New Year’s in the U.S. Many families in the south eat black-eyed peas to bring them good luck throughout the coming year.

Also, after the bells ring at midnight, the first person to enter your house will bring either good or bad luck to your family. A tall man with dark hair is supposed to bring good luck; women and men with red or blonde hair bring bad luck.

Of course, one of the most fun traditions when ringing in the New Year is the New Year’s Kiss. When the ball drops and the bells ring, you are supposed to grab the person nearest you give him or her a big, fat smooch.

Have a Happy New Year!