English, baby!

Where You're From

Date: Jun 04 2021

Intro

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

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

Hi Friends!
When getting to know someone, it’s common to talk about where you come from. Your background has a lot to do with who you are, so you can help someone understand you better if you tell them about your hometown and your history. Also, it’s interesting to hear what someone else’s opinions are about the place where you grew up. Often, his/her idea of it will be much different than yours.
Josh and Beth recently compared their upbringings, which were very different. Listen in to their conversation to learn more!

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.

Beth

Josh

Beth: Josh, when was the last time that you, uh, went home to visit your friends and family?

Josh: Um, trying to remember, I think I was up there… Oh yeah – I was just up there in February for my birthday and for my dad’s birthday.

Beth: Where are you from again?

Josh: Oh, I’m from Alaska.

Beth: Oh, right on. That’s cool. I’ve always wanted to visit Alaska. What’s it like?

Josh: Well, I mean, I wouldn’t have the same perspective as someone visiting there. It’s a, it’s a great place to visit and I guess for a lot of people it’s a great place to live too. But, I felt really isolated growing up there. I mean, it is beautiful, there’s tons of beauty. But it’s so far away from everything, and when I was a kid, you know, we didn’t have the internet, you know, my town didn’t have a bookstore, a music store. It’s just, like, hard to feel connected to the rest of the world.

Beth: I can see that. Growing up in New York, I felt very connected to millions of people. I mean, it’s just a, a really, I guess, different experience living in a place where you’re inundated with, uh, media and people and action…

Josh: Yeah, I mean, I would’ve, I would’ve loved to grow up in New York, you know. We got, like, big blockbuster movies came out six months late in Alaska, ‘cause we only had two screens, you know. It’s just, uh, it’s a… It was a real different way to grow up than a lot of people in the U.S., I think.

Beth: It seems really peaceful there. I mean, at least that’s my impression of it.

Josh: Yeah. I mean, it’s quiet. We had a lot of land to ourselves. We didn’t really have neighbors. Um, wildlife and forests, like, all around us, like right at our house. But, but, I don’t know, I couldn’t have a conversation with the wildlife. I want to be around people.

Beth: It must have been cool, I mean, were there wild animals roaming through your backyard, or…?

Josh: Literally.

Beth: Wow.

Josh: Yeah, I mean, moose or bears. We had a bear visit our house for a couple days once, and that kind of stuff is just constant. It was cool, I guess, I mean, reflecting back on it, but when I was, when I was living there I just wanted to get out.

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Discussion

Like Beth, many people think Alaska is a beautiful, peaceful and majestic place. Josh doesn’t disagree, but it’s easy to understand why he’s not as enthusiastic about it as Beth is. He spent many years in the cold and lonely state, and he’s happy to be in a big city with lots of things to do. Josh probably has the ideal situation now, because he can live in Portland, but visit Alaska whenever he wants.
Where are you from? Are you able to describe your hometown and your history in detail (in English)? If not, you should find somebody to tell your story to. It’s a great way to practice your English!
Have a great week!
Tanis

Comments

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Mikobella

Poland

Greetings from Poland;)

sirenia_simons

Panama

I´m front Panamá

tompordin

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

oh i read all your text 3times- i love your contries – i hope arrive onetimes i can see all th world in 90 days

marya91

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I am from iran.I live in pasargad. Tomb of Cyrus the Great in our city., I am proud of our city and country.

rezaaga

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I come from a country called Persia (Iran) is a country that king Cyrus the Great was the first person in the world who wrote human rights law and it will abide for ever. And today, and resistance to state the name of Iran testimony interview force that progress can not see the land of the free, tied with friendly people.

selpie

Indonesia

Hi all

i’m from Bandung, the second most croowded city in Indonesia. i love living here, in Indonesia. it has many islands and beautiful beach scenery. we have too many culture and too many language. i live here for almost 25 years but only can talk with two local language. :)

Uniquefeelings

Turkey

Hi, I`m from Turkey, Bolu which is small but green town :) I like my city cus Bolu has a lot of forest, natural park and some interesting places. And it is famous for its chocolate named by BOLÇİ ;)

Pathologic

Turkey

Greetings from Istanbul, Turkey.

Istanbul is very big and crowded city. It is both in Europe and Asia. It has a wonderful Bosphorus. Great landscape, warm people but awful traffic :(

sara1998

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Hi!

I’m from one of the best countries around the world.people of my country warm up to others even foreigners easilly.my country is from thousands years ago and it’s still independent.I’m proud of my country , my people and my culture!

We have a pure culture.you can see how great poets we have.great scientists , etc.

my 2500-year-country is IRAN and I LOVE IT!

i bet that if you be here for a short period you’ll love it too!!!

best wishes :)

drallon

China

Hello, everyone

I am from AnHui province of China. I am a Chinese which I feel proud. There are many beautiful places and sceneries in China, and Chinese are very kind. I think all of you should have a chance to China for trip or others and I promise you will not disappointed. My city is very comfortable to live both in weather and environment though it is not very developed. .

ahmet_kz

Kazakhstan

hi everyone!!!

I am from Kazakhstan.I live in Almaty.My country is very pretty and big.This is a very coll place in the worl to stay ,visit and live.

xavialo

Taiwan

Hi everyone,

My name is Irene and I come from Taiwan, my hometown is is eastren Taiwan , we have many beautiful nature place and great beach here, I so love my hometown and happy in my life.

Maren16

Germany

Hello everyone :)

My name is Maren and I’m from Germany. I live in a small town near Wuppertal in Nordrhein-Westfalen. Our Country is pretty good and I’m proud to live here. We have a lot of big towns, which has great and powerful Shopping Centres. The people here are also very friendly and always funny and nice.

teenager

Brazil

Hello everyone…

My name is Gustavo, i’m from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil….

Brazil is a great country, here we have all sorts of weather, we can’t complain…

But i also would like to say, that i enjoyed this lesson, because i’m planning on doing some trips, and now, reading some comments, it was possible to learn a little bit more about some different places….

see ya guys….

DominikLi

China

I come from Beijing,it’s a booming city,located in China.China…is a beautiful country,I believe that someone of you have visited her,she’s different from other countries from the world,she has marked characteristic,unique culture，unique people…It’s totally different from what she likes in some movies,and different from what somebodies think,it’s unbelievable but it’s true.I hope one day all of you can take a trip there,and China will always be welcomed:P

CHARIN

China

I’m from SICHUAN,want to learn English,but I found it’s so difficult.

*Negar*

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

hi my friend

im from iran. A beatiful Islamic contry.

i live in susa(shoush). a small hot very old town.it is one of the first city that create in the world.my city has about 7000 years old :)

we have some iranian person here.

i want to be friend with All of you:)

Irene Forever

Ukraine

Hello Ebabians,

Let me introduce myself.:)

I am Irene from Ukraine and I have been living there for all my life.

My Dad is Russian and my Mom in a Polish woman. So I’m not sure what nationality I am exactly. I love Ukraine and proud to be a citizen of one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

I can speak three languages: Russian, Ukrainian and English.

Some people think that Russian and Ukrainian are very similar languages. It’s not like that, they are absolutely different.

Wish loads of happiness to all of you!