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Big Birthdays
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Big Birthdays
生日大事

Learn the First Conditional

Date: Mar 09 2012

Themes: Party

Grammar: First Conditional

Intro

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

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When you’re a kid, every birthday is a big deal. But as you get older, some birthdays seem more important than others. Twenty-one is an important birthday in the US, because that’s when it’s finally legal for you to drink alcohol. And 30 is another birthday that people like to go all out for. On the other hand, even some adults feel that every birthday is a big birthday. Find out which birthdays Amy and Mason think are the most important.

当你还是孩子的时候,每次生日都是一桩大事。但是当你逐渐长大,有些生日似乎比其他生日更为重要。在美国,21 岁是个重要的生日,因为过了这一天你就可以合法地喝酒了。30 岁也非常重要,人们希望从此后全力以赴。另一方面,甚至有些年轻人认为每个生日都是一桩大事。找出艾米和梅森认为哪些生日最重要。

Dialog

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

Amy

Amy

Mason

Mason

Amy:  I’m so excited, Mason. I’m about to kick off my birthday month.

Mason:  Birthday month?

Amy:  Oh yeah.

Mason:  Is this like a big…you hitting one of the big milestones this year?

Amy:  Twenty-eight. Big enough. It’s another year of life. I’m gonna celebrate it.

Mason:  I mean, sure, but 28? That’s super not important.

Amy:  What? I think every birthday is important. I think it’s important to have special days.

Mason:  Well, I appreciate that you go all out and treat yourself right for your birthday. But if you set the bar so high for 28, what are you gonna do for an actual important birthday, like 30?

Amy:  Well, I guess next year I’m just gonna have to party all year, pretty much.

Mason:  Really? Wow. I would love to see the kind of birthday presents you get.

Amy:  You know, it’s not just about the presents. I mean, it’s about recognizing the milestone, you know? Just throwing a big party. I mean, I like to do things for other people during my birthday month, too, like bring cupcakes to work.

Mason:  That’s cool. At least you’re not one of those people who expects everybody around them to do everything for them for their birthday. You know, there are those people who, like, make a big deal of it, like, “Hey, you know, my birthday’s coming up, I hope somebody does something nice for me!”

Amy:  Well, my feeling is, if you do that, just drop some friendly reminders, then you won’t be disappointed.

 

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Discussion

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Amy likes to celebrate her birthday for a whole month. She is about to start celebrating her birthday month, even though she is only turning 28 this year. Most people don’t think that 28 is a milestone birthday.

Mason doesn’t make a big deal out of his birthday, especially if it’s not a milestone year. He doesn’t like it when other people expect him to go all out for their birthdays, either.

But Amy thinks that every birthday is important. It marks another year of life. For her, that’s milestone enough.

What are the most important birthdays in your culture? Do you like to go all out for every year, or only for milestone birthdays?

 

Comments

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Rebinomar

Iraq

I think celebraiting for birthday is concern and hope to good life

06:37 PM Mar 09 2012 |

snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

     I made a beeline to the kitchen where she was preparing the cake, in my hands is the list of the people I intended to invite to what seemed to be my first birthday party ever. I handed the list to her with a cheery smile on my face, waiting intently for her approval.  “We can’t feed all these people, what do you think this is? A docking station, where people can come empty-handed and leave charged up?”  My guardian yelled. “Cut down your list to 10 people at the most, I only baked one cake” she added. I wasn’t angry after these seemingly stern words, in fact I thought she was right, we didn’t have enough food to cater that many people. Nevertheless, I was a little disappointed; she saw my potty face and added “oh cheer up! Today you’ll have the mixing bowl since it’s your birthday!” those words cheered me up indeed.   She gave me the mixing bowl in which she intentionally left a good amount of cake dough; I buried my face into it and began to lap my tongue on the pasty sugary deliciousness.  The harsh looks of my older siblings only made that moment more enjoyable, they were given the batter and a spoonful of cake dough. That was on my 10th Birthday. I closed my eyes and pretended to wish and blew on that lonely candle that saw many birthdays before mine, symbolized different ages, 10 years, 11, 15, that same candle my sister wished upon last January. after that, I don’t really remember having anymore birthday celebrations. I said celebration; because that was the only time I recall we had people coming over at our house to celebrate me, exclusively.


     Prior and after that event, my birthdays only revolved around a loner cake, nothing more, no gifts, nothing special at all, but I was always happy to be with my family. Usually on occasions like birthdays and Christmas, my guardian would let me do anything I wanted to, she would never give me a spanking, no household chores were required from me, I could play video games all day long and she would never complain. As I grew older, she’d give me money when she didn’t have time to bake me a cake, and most importantly she wouldn’t inflict any curfew to me. My friends would always plan their birthdays months ahead, but me I never cared about celebrating mine in a conventional way, you know, with the banners and balloons, the mound of well-wrapped gifts and drunk guests. I always keep my birthdays low-key and simple, pretty much uneventful just like my guardian taught me to.


  But I enjoy attending lively and groovy birthday parties, happy faces, free drinks that make you feel woozy and food you eat too much of , and music to set the mood, someone’s uncle who is too old to be there. aww lovely.


Tongue out


 

Jackliu2011

China

I am on my thirty years old way, its hard to face. i hope that it will be worth remembering milestone, so now i have to go all out for it!


Moreover, i don’t celebrate my birthday yet, i fear to image that I am so older that there are too many matters waiting me to work out.

03:20 PM Mar 09 2012 |

dkattleya

dkattleya

Indonesia

Here 17, usually the parents will celebrate their child for this milestone. To me birthday is a special occasion and I always treasure every age that i hit. I like making special moment in each birthday, it’s not necessary with party, just by having lunch or dinner is good for me. Remembering the special day is what it counts :)

03:05 PM Mar 09 2012 |

AppleRome

AppleRome

Antarctica

cough My birthday is July 1st cough


-


Anyway, it should not be called “Birth day”, but “Anniversary day” LOLOLOLOLOL

02:59 PM Mar 09 2012 |

Fatooom

Fatooom

Bahrain

Hi! How are you?

02:46 PM Mar 09 2012 |

1 person likes this

Crizsearch

Crizsearch

Indonesia

It’s not a big deal for me, I don’t know? I just don’t see birthday as something very special, yes it is, I meant for me it’s not necessary to celebrate birthday. However it is just another yeah, another day, another life, another hope. Just feel thankful for that we have given life and opportunities till now. Therefore I prefer get myself to stay silent and try to be more closer to God through prayer than having party. I don’t like to tell my birthday though but some of my friends always have their way to find out and give a little surprise. At home , my family especially my mom always remember my birthday and she will cook special foods for me and we gather to eat together. Well, getting old, getting more mature, think better, think wiser. Cool

01:45 PM Mar 09 2012 |

norooz22

norooz22

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

there is very important things that we can talk about.
birth day is a big lie…

01:22 PM Mar 09 2012 |

Orchestra

Orchestra

Russian Federation

Come on, guys! everyone should love their birthdays! It’s wonderful! The special feeling occuring inside and unavoidable excitement sweeping over you – that’s so amazing! Sure, sometimes you can’t afford it to pour huge sums of money into your celebration, but that’s another point of discussion. I had a crazy BD party when i was turning 17! That was awesome event! We letted our local cafe called “Snowflake” and rocked the party all day till 3 o’clock! The crowd was immense! We rocked the place! Great memories! But in fact it wasn’t such a milestone event, ‘cos nothing was going to get allowed like alcohol or anything else. All my next BDs 19, 20, 21 were dull as hell. I’m breaking the rules)))


As far as it’s usually done, 18 and 20 BDs are most often celebrated in Russia. At 18 years you’re claimed to be of the full legal age getting formal independence and at 20 it’s just your first adult anniversary.

11:23 AM Mar 09 2012 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

catcher,    I  do . 

11:03 AM Mar 09 2012 |

CatcheR

CatcheR

Iceland

Julito, you have twin brother?

10:58 AM Mar 09 2012 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

I like to have a birthday party ,only that I have a  twin  and  I know that  families and friends  will have to buy presents for both instead of one. I beg to them, please come over but dont´t buy  nothing,   your presence is your present .  Innocent   

10:13 AM Mar 09 2012 |

unutum

unutum

Taiwan

I like celebratint  birthday for my close friend or my family member.


I think it’s a due time to express our concern and love to each other,


to bless and pray for each other.

10:00 AM Mar 09 2012 |

i love life

Palestinian Territory, Occupied

I Celebrated  during this year of my birthdays , Really we enjoyed a lot .


We had a incredible time with each other , I guess we should celebrate  when we have free time , In my opinion nothing is precious the happiness .


I invited some of my closer friends , I have a great persons , They like me .


I hope next year celebrate with my family , I meant about my wife , my sons .


Have a nice time .

08:56 AM Mar 09 2012 |

1 person likes this

CatcheR

CatcheR

Iceland

Kotlesya lol, yup isn’t it sad to know we are getting older by celebrating birthday, for me I just want to quickly 21 and know how to drive and forever stay 21 lol

08:53 AM Mar 09 2012 |

1 person likes this

Carina1127

Carina1127

China

in my family ,we just celebrate my grand’s birthday .all the family members gets together for dinner .

08:07 AM Mar 09 2012 |

muskan4u

muskan4u

Pakistan

never celebrated my birthdays but i wish to celebrate my comming birthday with my fiancee. hopfully she would be my wife till my nex birhday.

08:07 AM Mar 09 2012 |

kotlesya

kotlesya

Belarus

Rezky, like you I don’t use to celebrate my  birthday with birthday party and lots of people around. I prefer to be surrounded by my precious people, by people I love unconditionally.  Actually, I never liked to pay lot of attention to my bithday. I’m not keen about my birthday.


There is a Russian song “Birthday, birthday it’s a sad celebration…..” 


Youth likes to celebrate their 18th birthday. When you are 18 you are adult. You have got all rights adult people have. So, young people yearn for their 18 Smile


07:52 AM Mar 09 2012 |

abeeeer

Egypt

every day you are well and in agood mood.


everyday you have achieved your goal.


everyday you are able to help the others.


i think this my birthday 

07:16 AM Mar 09 2012 |

CatcheR

CatcheR

Iceland

I don’t use to celebrate birthday, that’s just for reach people or whoever can afford for birthday party, usually my mom cook special food which is believed to be our luck, along with thanks and prayer. That’s all, I think it’s not a big deal, and if we talk about the most common celebration for birthday is 17th birthday, we call it sweet seven teen, but boys don’t need it :p

06:34 AM Mar 09 2012 |

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