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Happiness

Happiness

Date: Oct 22 2010

Grammar: Simple Present Tense

Intro

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The United States’ Declaration of Independence states that all people have the right to pursue happiness. But it doesn’t explain what you can do to become happy, or how to stay happy all the time.

The World Database of Happiness measures which countries are happiest by asking people all over the world if they’re happy. The U.S. ranks 23rd on the happiness index, below countries such as the Netherlands, Thailand, and Bhutan.

You might think that the richest countries in the world would also be the happiest, but that isn’t necessarily true. People are happy (and unhappy) for different reasons. Find out what makes Marni and Dale happy.

Dialog

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

Dale

Dale

Marni

Marni

Dale:  So Marni, are you happy?

Marni:  You mean right now, or in general, or…

Dale:  Generally, how do people stay happy?

Marni:  That is actually a very good question. And I want to be, I strive to be happy, but you know, I can succumb to a little sadness, a little depression from time to time. You know, nothing debilitating, but I get glum, I get blue about world events or things when I see injustice is happening. Sometimes it’s hard to not feel the weight of the world on your shoulders.

Dale:  Is there a way for you to steer away from that by looking at the bright side of things?

Marni:  Well I feel like part of that is the people I know. I have good friends and family that support me, and you know, people I can talk to. I think that that’s a huge part of it.

Dale:  Do you know…the United States is a melting pot of cultures.

Marni:  Sure.

Dale:  And now they’re saying that some cultures are happier than others. I mean, do you agree with that? I mean personally, I’m a Philippino guy, I’m generally happy. I think it is culturally, my culture, we are happy people.

Marni:  You know, it’s an interesting question. I’m not really certain. I don’t know if it’s a cultural thing, I think there could be something to that. But here in the Northwest I think sometimes it’s hard to be happy because of the weather. People are affected by the weather. Sometimes that can happen. So who knows, if it’s cultural or environmental.

Dale:  Do you think it’s the sun?

Marni:  I don’t know. But I am all for finding the key to happiness.

 

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Discussion

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Dale asks Marni if she is happy. Marni says that she tries to be happy, but she isn’t happy all the time. Sometimes she gets depressed when she thinks about all the problems and injustice in the world. But her friends and family help her feel happier when she’s blue.

Dale, on the other hand, is pretty happy all the time. He thinks that happiness might be cultural. Dale is from the Philippines, and he says that people from the Philippines are usually happy. Marni thinks that weather might have to do with happiness. Where she lives, it rains a lot, so people might be less happy there than in sunnier places.

Are people generally happy in your country? What makes you happy?

 

Comments

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sandra_sh

sandra_sh

Russian Federation

I think people of my country not happy at all, because they simply don`t know how to be happy. They strive really hard to find a great job or earn a lot of money, but even if their "wrong in my opinion" dreams come true, they won`t be happy.

And if i will talk about myself, well, i can say that i am happy in general. I`m optimictic girl Smile I smile every time when i am looking at my bed, books, clothes, food, family, friends. I appreciate all wonderful things around me.

10:17 AM Oct 22 2010 |

ebabywentao

China

communication brings happiness to life

09:14 AM Oct 22 2010 |

Zambuka

Zambuka

United States

I’m happy when i see the smile on the faces of my friends :) and especially the smile in their eyes .

07:40 AM Oct 22 2010 |

bystander :-)

Hungary

'The United States’ Declaration of Independence states that all people have the right to pursue happiness. But it doesn’t explain what you can do to become happy, or how to stay happy all the time.'

This is a very strange statement, it supposes that Americans need receipe for everything, for their every movement (I hope there are exceptions too :D)

Is it exist a general receipe for being happy? I don't think so. Isn't it a matter of individual?

I don't think that most people in my country would be happy. They get lost somewhere ..on the way …  

 

07:27 AM Oct 22 2010 |

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