English, baby!

Siblings

Date: Feb 27 2009

Themes: Family, Friend

Grammar: Plural vs. Possessive "S"

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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.

Sometimes your siblings are your best friends, sometimes they’re your worst enemies, and sometimes they’re both at the same time. But whether you get along well with them or fight with them all the time, they’re a part of you, just like your parents. So you’re basically stuck with them, whether you like it or not.

Of course, not everyone has brothers or sisters. Only children don’t have to worry about fighting or sibling rivalry, but they probably get lonely sometimes. On the other hand, they don’t have to share their parents’ love or attention. Or presents.

Jason is an only child. Beren spent most of her childhood trying to kill her brother. Listen to them discuss the joys and pains of having (or not having) brothers and sisters.

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.

Beren

Jason

Beren: Do you have any brothers and sisters?

Jason: No, I don’t. I’m an only child.

Beren: Woah! I seem to meet a lot of those. It’s funny, I used to wish I was an only child.

Jason: I used to wish I had brothers and sisters so bad!

Beren: I probably would’ve given you mine. I have an older brother and a younger sister, and the little sister, she’s fun. Stacey. When she was really little I could get her to do anything. And that’s fun because it’s like having a doll that could talk and go get me things.

Jason: Yeah.

Beren: My brother, like we would have karate fights on the concrete. He almost killed me, actually.

Jason: Oh my gosh. Really?

Beren: Yeah, a couple times. But the big one was we played a game called “Chase,” where I was on my bike and he would throw a ball and try to bounce me off. And the ball got stuck in the spokes and I flew over the handlebars.

Jason: See that’s the thing, I wanted a playmate, but I guess I missed out on some of the hazards as well.

Beren: Totally. There’s the rivalry, like the sibling rivalry. My brother and I were really competitive with each other, we were always trying to out-do one another.

Jason: How has it translated to adulthood, though? How do you guys get along now?

Beren: He’s like my best friend. He’s awesome.

Jason: Really?

Beren: Yeah, totally. And we can joke about it. He’s like, “Remember the time I almost killed you?” And I’m like, “Ha ha! Yeah!”

Jason: And it’s totally OK because it was so long ago that you guys don’t hold a grudge?

Beren: Yeah, totally.

Grammar Point

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Discussion

Beren has an older brother and a little sister, but she used to wish she was an only child. Jason is an only child who used to wish he had brothers and sisters.

Beren liked having a little sister when she was younger because she could boss her around. On the other hand, she and her older brother used to fight all the time. Once he even seriously hurt her when she was riding her bike. So maybe Jason was lucky to have no siblings growing up.

These days, Beren and her brother get along really well. They’re like best friends. They don’t want to kill each other anymore. They can laugh together about the fights they used to have when they were kids.

Do you have siblings? Do you get along with them or do you fight with them?

Comments

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徐慧

China

I’ve a sister,I love her,she’s always concerned about me,we get along very well,but ten years age we fought each other too,when those momeries recalled, laugher aroused.She’s been working in Nanjing for two years while I am still studing on campus located in Wuhan,we contact by cellphones several times a week,we are both the proud of our parents.

Psyche-piao11

China

I'm a older sister and a younger brother,we are get along well with each other,i love them and they also treat me very well.Three of us are work outside , far away from hometown and not live in one place,but we can always contact each other by phone!Thanks my lovely siblings!I'm happy with your!

Xiaomif

China

i have an old sister and she has been married now and i got a nephew, he is 7yrss old. i love him and both my old sister even we fought sometime when we are children.

kashamir

Sudan

what is right way for having siblings?

Razan_Tulip

Syrian Arab Republic

I have siblings..A sister and a brother..

we ftight all the time.. but we get along most of the time..

I think it's something normal to fight with your siblings

Ralfik

Poland

I have got one bother. He is in my age. We are twins and I think that we are friends. He knows a lot of my secrets and I know his. Of course, we have got sometimes a violent argument but afterwards we make up. :)

iman82

Palestinian Territory, Occupied

i have sister and 2 brothers, we are not friends becouse they are so oldest than me, i would like to an old child its great to everyone who have sibiling oldest than him

zoebaby

China

i'm the youngest amony the children in my family. i love them so much.when we were young,we didn't get along well with each other.i and my older sister were always at the same boat and flight my older brother…. now, we'd like to talk about the chlidhood now,which is funny…

polozhao

China

i agree with you.

you look like chinese girl,where are you? can we become friend?

polozhao

China

i have one brother.when i was a child,my father want to give me better education, so arrange me to study in the big city, my sibling and me living different place,my brother always miss me much.but when we stay together,no more than 3 hours,we must fighting.now we are both growing up,no fighting any more.we love each other.

Ibrahim71

Jordan

I have 2 brothers and 4 sisters. I think the relations between siblings are complex, it depends on the parents. They can make us friends and they can make us enemies. I love them all and i'll do any thing to make them happy.

susu afroo

Eritrea

I think it is fun to have siblings if you get along with them and I used to be like lil stacy and my big sister was boss me around

qdgerry

China

Now in china the onlychildren are born after 1990

Gellerke

Slovakia

Gosh, this new version is cool

hameedwali

Pakistan

I have 5 bro and 4 sis.I am the second last.My younger sis and me always fought with each other now she get married but I am missing her as we grow together and we wrere very closed with each other.We lost our mum when we were 3 and 4 years so we got attention of every one in our family.some time we start beating each other but whenever she cried that would start my bad time as she was the youngest.Now when I remember that Time I wish I can back to that time.

heyaqi

China

Now it is rare that there are at least two children in each family.I have a little brother .Now I am delighted to be his sister ,as he is my listener that when I have trouble or unhappiness,I am used to talking with him .As we have secrets of each other.whenever I will help him if he need

nevardo

Colombia

I have not thought about that but after I have studied this lesson I realize that it is very important for my life. Let me tell you I have an older sister and one younger son and sister too. Of course my older sister wanted me to help with the chores but if I had a soccer game I went away immediately, so I got to trouble with her. but there was a special situation with my brother because we did not a presencial father with us consequently he looked at me as if I was your father and he had a lot expectatives on me. I did not know anything about that, how could I realize that?. Later he told me his feelings and how bad he felt.

Nowaday all of us are good friends, but let me tell you that it is like if something lacks in our relationship, something that we will never reach it because we have an adult life right now.

nakoo0

Turkey

hi.. I am searching my real friend.. I read your tex and ı decide you are my new friend:).. if you reply my text, we will agree each other.. see you soon take care