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Reading Books

Reading Books

Date: Oct 24 2008

Themes: Hobbies, School

Grammar: Comparing Quantity

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.

In today’s fast-paced culture, many people may feel like they’re too busy to read a book. In fact, a recent survey found that reading rates are falling in the US. Young people in particular are more likely to spend their free time watching TV or surfing the Internet than reading a novel or nonfiction book. According to the survey results, the average 15- to 24-year-old living in the US spends 2 hours per day watching TV, and only 7 minutes reading for pleasure.

Considering all the high-tech forms of entertainment out there, from video games to cyberspace, maybe it’s not surprising that fewer people read these days. But is reading just an old-fashioned pastime, or is it a lost art? Listen to what Marni and Jason think about reading.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

Log in to Listen

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Marni

Marni

Jason

Jason

Marni:  I’m reading the most incredible book right now, and I can’t even imagine not having that in my life, like not loving reading.

Jason:  Wow. Yeah, yeah. So you’re one of those that always has a book going no matter what?

Marni:  Oh yeah. Even, like, sometimes you get super-busy and like I’ll stop for a while and I’ll just, you know, like…But I know it’s there and I make time for it because it’s…it’s so important. I love reading. Yeah.

Jason:  Totally. It’s just surprising to me that there are people who just…years go by and they don’t read a book. I guess they’re just reading newspapers and websites and stuff…Or…

Marni:  Or not reading, which could be even…That’s even more alarming.

Jason:  It’s just interesting ‘cause it’s like, you’d think if you write a book you could like affect the culture. But I guess you’d only affect the small portion of the culture that actually reads books. Ya know?

Marni:  Let’s change that.

Jason:  But what’s the…what’s appeal of reading books? Like how can we sell it to people over like…Like what do you enjoy about reading a book over watching a movie or something?

Marni:  Getting absorbed into a story whether it’s true or not. I mean, I’m reading the most incredible nonfiction book right now called Three Cups of Tea, and it’s… it’s a New York Times bestseller. And it’s incredible and it’s, you know, it’s the most inspiring book that I’ve read, because this man, this real guy, goes into these countries that are completely impoverished and he builds schools. And it’s totally inspiring and I can’t imagine not wanting to know that story.

Jason:  But what makes it better in book form than in documentary film form?

Marni:  Well, documentary film form, it’s like it’s, you know, it’s visual. It’s there. But, like, a book…Actually, you know as a teacher I actually teach kids how to read.

Jason:  Yeah.

Marni:  And part of it is, like, creating pictures in your mind, like creating a story in your mind. So you’re getting the words and you, you know, have this vision of it. And oftentimes, when books are translated into film it’s not as good as, like, the picture you’ve created in your mind. Because if a book is written well, the words are so rich…It’s better.

Jason:  Yeah. Totally.

 

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Discussion

Marni is in the middle of a great book and loves to read. Jason is impressed that Marni reads so much, even when she’s busy.

Jason is surprised by how many people don’t read books. Even people who read other things, like magazines or websites, might not make time to read a whole book.

Marni describes the book she’s reading right now, a true story about a man who builds schools in poor countries. She’d rather read about this story in a book than see a documentary film about it because reading makes you use your imagination more than watching a movie does.

What was the last book you read? Did you enjoy it? What did you like about it? Do you prefer reading books, watching movies, or surfing the Internet?

 

Comments

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Lynn China

China

Yes,Reading can make a person be reasonable.

04:56 AM Oct 28 2008 |

thisisbenmo

China

It will become more difficult to read books everyday if your time is filled with lots of other things, like work and study. However, I do read books everyday - prescribed textbooks. aha~! As documentary books- I hate them!

04:46 AM Oct 28 2008 |

Rosarion

Haiti

I think these days,we're spending too much time on the internet,so we don't take time to read an entire book,not even two paragraphs.sincerely i don't remember the last time i read book.i think i better start reading some interesting books. 

09:56 PM Oct 27 2008 |

hiamber

hiamber

Taiwan

after graduated, I read just for job. the trobles in job took almost all of my mind. there is no easy time to enjoy reading. recently, i noticed this situation and tried to pick books up. it's not easy to make a reading habit.

11:00 AM Oct 27 2008 |

ophelia_0081

Turkey

' Tutankamon olayı' do you advise? never heard about it something, now I'm reading 'bin muhteşem güneş' , it's terrific, my opinion :)

09:39 AM Oct 27 2008 |

gureli

gureli

Turkey

It is just a different thing and relaxing time to read a book for me. I have spent a lot of time to reading books , novels in English and in Turkish. I have read nearly two hundred books in my life. I had a list of these books. And last book which I am reading it at present is TUTANKAMON OLAYI.

08:58 PM Oct 26 2008 |

gureli

gureli

Turkey

It is just a different thing and relaxing time to read a book for me. I have spent a lot of time to reading books , novels in English and in Turkish. I have read nearly two hundred books in my life. I had a list of these books. And last book which I am reading it at present is TUTANKAMON OLAYI.

08:56 PM Oct 26 2008 |

ophelia_0081

Turkey

reading a book takes me another world, my book and me! fabulous feeling!

08:51 PM Oct 26 2008 |

hao100

hao100

Viet Nam

It’s a good lesson but it would be better if everyone can try listen to the mp3 and get the vocabulary download :)

03:06 PM Oct 26 2008 |

hao100

hao100

Viet Nam

To be honest, i don't like reading books. However, as i want to improve my English, i have to start reading books on my free time. You can build up a wide range of vocabulary through reading books and so does your writings. You know, it was quite hard for me to read a whole book at the first time because there were too many new words . Moreover, i also lost my patence when i just sat and read the book for hours…Even now i'm still trying …

03:03 PM Oct 26 2008 |

dashka-sweet

Russian Federation

good lesson

11:15 AM Oct 26 2008 |

dashka-sweet

Russian Federation

I like reading books and find it very interesting! Most of all I prefer classical literature.

Such an incredible book I've just finished! It was "The Thorn Birds" of Colleen McCullough, breathtaking story ;)

 

11:14 AM Oct 26 2008 |

kaira_harry

Yemen

i start now to reading a book

but i think he wanna a long time

 

06:20 AM Oct 26 2008 |

Daniel_Sam

Daniel_Sam

Colombia

I think reading books is great experience, people usually prefer watch movies on tv based in novels. personally i like films more than other kinda of art representation  the called silver screen¡¡—whatt happens is that you can leave fly your imagination when you take a bood you like..and is commun see movies based in novel but its not the same, most of the time a film coulden´t represent a story in totally and with the same impact in front of  spectators. but both are the better complement --choose leave fly the imagination or see the better of the seventh art..

04:27 AM Oct 26 2008 |

Dafi

Dafi

Malaysia

By Now I’m start reading a book.. ;)

02:46 AM Oct 26 2008 |

jenn007

jenn007

Russian Federation

Now I'm reading a very interesting book MAN AND BOY by Tony Parsons!

Well,I like the plot,problems raised there are acute,it is also easy to read & even without a dictionary(that's a really good thing about it)!The book appeals to me because the characters are older than me,&the author depicts how people in their 30 cope with the troubles!

In fact,I actually prefer watching TV,surfing the Internet & like to reading.Nevertheles,I respect books,they are like other worlds which capture you with their beauty & special atmosphere!!!!!!!!!!

07:21 PM Oct 25 2008 |

Loai M

Loai M

Saudi Arabia

well I actually read one book in the week and I make that happen in the weekend If I was not busy or something  and the last book I read Is ((And then there were non )) I love this novel It's great

 

03:35 PM Oct 25 2008 |

nash MVP

China

yeah, we now can kill time in many many ways, like what you said, but i think reading book is necessory undoublty for us, especially for youngth, now and always, do you aggree with me,. just only in this way, we can hear the whisper of the trees in dark slient night, the song of lark sing. yeah, i cannot be given this by others way, i think.

09:24 AM Oct 25 2008 |

nash MVP

China

yeah, reading book for hours in a quiet place is my custome everday, reading never be wrong and it's not old fashioned, now and always. in my memory, yeah, i 've totally aggree whith what francis bacon ever said long long ago. reading book is necessory for us, particularly for younth, there's nothing can take the place , i think.

09:18 AM Oct 25 2008 |

Jerry-chen

Jerry-chen

China

when i was in high school , i was a guy fond of reading books for pleasure , but now , i am a college student ,i seldom spend my free time reading books any more . i prefer to surf the internet to read ,about news novels and other things interesting .i found it 's now a common phenomenon in universities .i am afraid ,one day , whether books will be far away  from us for the existence of internet .

05:19 AM Oct 25 2008 |

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