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Four Christmases

Four Christmases

Date: Dec 24 2008

Themes: Holidays

Grammar: Present Perfect Tense

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.

Seeing your family is one of the best things about the holidays…or the worst, depending on who your family is. Sometimes holiday gatherings can be more of a chore than a pleasure.

In the new movie Four Christmases, Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon play a couple who always take a vacation instead of visiting their parents on Christmas. But this year, their plans get ruined and they have to spend the holidays with their families. Since they both have divorced parents, they end up celebrating Christmas four times.

Four Christmases is the holiday movie Marni and Amanda plan to watch this year. Listen to them talk about it.

Dialog

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

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

Marni

Marni

Amanda

Amanda

Marni:  So it’s that time of year.

Amanda:  What time?

Marni:  Holiday movie time.

Amanda:  Oh, I’m normally not into those. They’re so hokey.

Marni:  I know. But there’s always…You know, every year there’s always one, and this year I’m thinking Four Christmases.

Amanda:  You know what, I’d see that because of the actors in it. Vince Vaughn.

Marni:  Yeah.

Amanda:  Oh, one of my favorite actors. It’s the height.

Marni:  He’s very tall.

Amanda:  Yeah. Well, the weird thing is, Vince Vaughn is real slapsticky, kinda in-your-face, one-liners, punchlines. But Reese is known for being real subdued and subtle in her acting. More serious roles.

Marni:  Yeah.

Amanda:  Do you think it’s gonna be a clash?

Marni:  No, I think it’s gonna work well together. I think that there’s some real good comedic charisma there.

Amanda:  I’m kinda concerned that it might not be believable that they’d be a couple. Maybe it’s the opposites attract thing. Maybe that works.

Marni:  Well…You know, I think the whole movie, the whole plot of the movie is that they avoid Christmas, but then they get sucked into it with these whirlwind four Christmases. They have to hit all the families. You can anticipate a lot of squabbling, which we can all relate to, right?

Amanda:  And it’s kinda neat, ‘cause it’s very realistic. The family unit today is 50% divorced. So you’ve got four Christmases. It’s not this crazy, foreign idea. I’m sure every family has gone through it at some point.

 

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Discussion

Every year, a new Christmas-themed movie comes out just before the holidays. Amanda normally doesn’t enjoy holiday movies, but she’s interested in seeing Four Christmases because she likes Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon. But even though she likes these actors, she thinks they might not have good chemistry together, because their acting styles are very different.

Marni thinks that Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon will be good together. She also thinks the plot of this movie sounds interesting. Amanda agrees that it sounds realistic. Children with divorced parents often celebrate Christmas multiple times so they can spend the holiday with both of their parents.

Do you like spending time with your family during the holidays? Have you ever celebrated the same holiday more than once?

 

Comments

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jukmenez

jukmenez

Brazil

I´m gonna watch this movie for sure with my students

11:50 AM Dec 14 2009 |

Sculpture

Latvia

I like spending my time with my family during the holidays.

11:37 AM Apr 08 2009 |

adam issakha

Chad

hello i like my country

02:23 PM Dec 30 2008 |

creamysally

Philippines

Christmas is fun!!!!

03:55 AM Dec 29 2008 |

milena_1

milena_1

Ukraine

very thanksLaughing

10:54 AM Dec 27 2008 |

duyhai100

Viet Nam

enjoy christmas with only myself is greatest…

08:50 AM Dec 27 2008 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

My family is quiet in this point…it happened already that I have to travel and spend holidays away from my family,but in this christmas we stay all together :)

03:46 PM Dec 26 2008 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

sometimes I like to spend my time during a holiday with my family,sometimes not…for example,depends if I have some money to travel to somewhere place…

03:37 PM Dec 26 2008 |

JackXuEnglish

China

I don't think i will enjoy this movie. but still marry christmas every one!

04:12 AM Dec 26 2008 |

lukeyy

lukeyy

China

Maybe it is a good movie. I will try it.

03:21 AM Dec 26 2008 |

cherry9620

China

it is said that they spent their holidays outside a few years ago,why didn't they spend holidays as usual this year?

yes,it would be happen to them to spend holidays with their family,but once is enough,since they don't like to celebrate so many times.so they can celebrate together,it don't seems impossible,for they are parents.

12:44 AM Dec 26 2008 |

0marsit0

0marsit0

Mexico

Merry christmas every one!

12:11 AM Dec 26 2008 |

colean

Moldova, Republic Of

can you please tell me how to watch this movie? Thank you.

 

 

01:51 PM Dec 25 2008 |

helen2569

helen2569

China

I am sure I will enjoy the movie,four Christmases, I like the actress Reese, I know her from Legally Blonde.So if anyone knows where I can watch the movie,four Christmases on line, please inform me,thanks.

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!

07:22 AM Dec 25 2008 |

karing520

China

yea, get together, is somehow nothing more than a chore, but i like it!

06:55 AM Dec 25 2008 |

sadegh.ghasemi

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

All the celebrats around glob can increase love among people , despite of all problems and pains in our hearts . So we must get celebrate to save our families and people connections .

Smile 

07:04 PM Dec 24 2008 |

sinam

sinam

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

The sound is good.I’d like watch this movie.

06:54 PM Dec 24 2008 |

salmsalm01

United Arab Emirates

thanks alot

04:37 PM Dec 24 2008 |

yajiya

yajiya

China

more than half here are Chinese?

02:39 PM Dec 24 2008 |

minw

minw

China

i do n't think i will enjoy in movie,

i believe we should celebrate the same holiday at once with all of our family!that is a wonderful time!that is why i feel so gulty ,so sorry,so upset that i can n't go back China to celebrate our spring festival with my parents, my brother!what a shame!

01:26 PM Dec 24 2008 |

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