English, baby!

Graduation

Date: Jun 12 2009

Themes: School

Grammar: You're vs. Your

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Intro

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

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In most American high schools and universities, graduation is a pretty big deal. It involves a long (some would say boring) ceremony in which all the graduating students receive their diplomas in front of their friends and families. The head of the school usually makes a speech, as does one of the top students of the graduating class. Then everyone takes off these funny-looking hats and throws them in the air. Seriously!

Many schools also have a commencement speaker, an important person who offers some words of wisdom to the students before they head out into the wide, wide world. The best and biggest schools get the best and biggest speakers. For example, President Obama recently spoke at the University of Notre Dame’s graduation ceremony.

Ella graduated from college last year. Listen to her and Marni share their feelings about this rite of passage.

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.

Marni

Ella

Marni: So, it is getting to be that time of the year, you’re about to graduate, aren’t you?

Ella: Well actually last year.

Marni: Oh, you did? I’m sorry, I was thinking it was this year. OK, so, how’s it been, you know?

Ella: There was just so much hoopla about, you know, the cap and gown. It was just such a hassle. I mean, I did it for my family and friends, but I’m glad it’s over with.

Marni: Well it’s a rite of passage, right? I mean it’s one of those moments in life that are pretty monumental.

Ella: Yeah. Definitely.

Marni: Do you still like look at your diploma…

Ella: I can’t even find any pictures. I stare at my degree, I’m like wow, I just paid over a hundred grand for this sheet of paper.

Marni: Well, I mean…is it because you haven’t reached that next step where you’re thriving in your career?

Ella: It just feels like they build it up so much, but then when you’re out in the workforce and…I don’t know. It was just kind of depressing and cynical after you finished it, like, this is it? And I worked that hard? But I mean, it was a good thing. It was the last time you see your friends.

Marni: Right. Well, it was a big moment in life and you took part in it.

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

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Marni asks Ella about her graduation. Ella explains that she didn’t really enjoy the ceremony. She mostly participated in it to make her friends and family happy. Even though graduation is an important rite of passage, it was a little disappointing for Ella. She worked really hard in college, but she had a hard time entering the workforce and starting her career after graduation.

Ella also mentions how expensive college was for her. Most American students have to pay for college, and it can cost a lot of money, depending on which school you go to. Many students have a hard time paying for college, or graduate with a lot of debt.

Is graduation a big deal in your country?

Comments

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jupiter1986

China

in china, studing is all of students life.

happy star

El Salvador

i think Graduation means you are ready to help ur family and nation a little more… Every ceremony is the commemoration of ur hardwork all those years….Congratulations to everyone who will get a graduation someday…..

sannyasb

India

hi frd plz cal 9509409138

tiagon85

Brazil

Graduation is a important time of students´lives because is the first step achieved in the real world. But this is not the end, but the start to they own lives. In Brazil graduation is really a big deal!!

fatto

Tunisia

graduation the end of study and the start of searching job

ramosyul

Colombia

IN MY COUNTRY, TO GET GRADUATION IS VERY IMPORTANT MOMENT IN THE SOMEBODY LIFE, IN COLOMBIA THERE ARE MANY TYPES OF SCHOOL, LIKE A GOVERNMENT SCHOOL AND PRIVATE TOO, BUT YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO CHOSE IN WHICH YOU WANT STUDY IF YOU HAVE MONEY TOO,, JEJEJEJE MANY ARE EXPENSIVE AND OTHER YOU CAN TO PAY, BUT ABOUT ME I STUDY MY PRIMARY GRADES IN A PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND MY HIGH GRADES IN A GOVERNMENT SCHOOL. IN COLOMBIA THE GRADES DIVIDE IN KINDER GARDEN THEN 1° TO 5° IT IS PRIMARY AND FINALLY 6° TO 11° THAT IT IS THE LAST YEAR FOR TO GET A BEAUTIFUL CEREMONY OF GRADUATION, I GRADUATED 5 YEARS AGO AND THE NEXT STEP IT´S MY UNIVERSITY GRADUATION. I THINK THAT IT IS THE BEST MOMENT FOR ANYBODY BUT ANYWAY EVERY PEOPLE THINK DIFFERENT AND HAVE DIFFERENT RITES AND CUSTOMS

aliceangelliu

China

There are many types of graduation,from kingdergraden to collage,every step is rite of passage,every ceremony is monumental,they combine to make what you are,mainly.But do not graduate from school of life until one day you are not part of it.Wish everybody has a wonderful and abundant life.