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Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms

Learn English with this thunderstorms English lesson

Date: Oct 12 2018

Themes: Weather

Grammar: Passive Voice

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

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

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What’s the weather like in your part of the world? Do you see extreme changes, or is it more temperate and predictable? Your climate has a big impact on what you do, what you wear, how you live, and even what you eat.

Thunderstorms are more common in certain parts of the world than others. In some places, lightning and thunder happen so frequently that you become used to them. In other places, a thunderstorm is so rare that it’s scary and can catch you off guard. Whether you think thunderstorms are boring or shocking, they really are an incredible phenomenon in nature.

Find out Greta and Mason’s opinions about extreme weather in this English lesson about thunderstorms.

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.

Greta

Greta

Mason

Mason

Greta:  One of the things that I miss since I started living on the west coast is the thunderstorms that are so frequent in the Midwest.

Mason:  It’s always kind of a big deal when you get to see lightning, or even hear thunder. But the lightning is super rare.

Greta:  I know, and in the Midwest, it happens all the time. You get these amazing bolts of lightning coming down. I guess the Midwest sees a lot more extreme weather than we get here on the west coast where things are pretty temperate.

Mason:  Sure. Do you know anyone who’s been struck by lightning?

Greta:  My fourth grade teacher was struck by lightning three times.

Mason:  That’s, like, impossible.

Greta:  She survived all three times, but her hair was very frizzy.

Mason:  Did she have a metal plate in her head or something?

Greta:  There’s no explanation for it. I was in fourth grade, but I remember that I thought that she was super cool when I found out that she’d been struck by lightning three times.

Mason:  I had no problem with thunder and lightning before this moment, but right now, I’m afraid it’s going to get me.

 

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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The iTEP® test

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Discussion

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Greta and Mason are discussing extreme weather. Greta misses the frequent thunderstorms she experienced while living in the Midwestern part of the US. She lives in a part of the country now where thunderstorms don’t happen that often, and lightning and thunder are kind of exciting.

Mason wonders if Greta knows anyone who was hit by lightning, and it turns out she does! Greta’s fourth grade teacher was hit three times. Since being hit once is highly unlikely, being hit three times is pretty hard to believe. Mason jokes that lightning and thunder weren’t scary to him before, but now that he knows the story of Greta’s teacher, he’s not so sure anymore.

Do you live in a place where there are thunderstorms? How do you feel when you’re in the middle of one? Do you know anyone who was hit by lightning?

 

Comments

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lesliegai

China

I still remember the lesson learned in Grade 4 in primary school, which is about the experiment made by Benjamin Franklin.


By the way, i love the picture.

02:29 PM Sep 27 2013 |

leilahavaneh

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

unluckily there’s nither rain no thunderstorms alot  in our city it’s rare and when it’s happen it’s kind of scary but not much and i like it it’s exciting to be in the middle of it i feel like playing in a horror movie

01:42 PM Sep 27 2013 |

Ya Nina

Kazakhstan

I like thunderstorm and lightning. I live in such place where I can see such natural phenomenon rather often. I like to hear thunderstorm when I and my family are home and we are in safety. Although, I have to admit that thunderstorm and lightning aren’t liked me when I meet with such rather dangerous phenomenon out of home. Certainly, these emotions aren’t seemed to me very pleasant in such situations.


On the other hand, I can say with sure that such natural phenomenon as thunderstorm couldn’t produce a great impression on the people, because thunderstorm is always very brightly, loudly and unknowningly. 

09:25 AM Sep 27 2013 |

Jasonlongo

Jasonlongo

Congo, Democratic Republic Of The

In Congo thunderstorms are frequent, and even magicians use it to kill people.


when I was 13, one of my friend was hit by lightning, and it was kind of something amazing it was his first time to see such a thing, and He even got to the hospital, thunderstorms are not good ! Apart from this I got a new expression today: “catch you off guard”. Thank you English Baby !

09:24 AM Sep 27 2013 |

Ermia

Ermia

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

In Iran weather varies in north and south.In my city spring is the time that we see lightning and thunderstorms. I like waching lightning but it’s a little scary sometimes.

08:55 AM Sep 27 2013 |

houstonboo

Hong Kong

In my city, thunderstorms were used to come in summer every year. I dont know people who was hit by lightning. But I am wondering people who can survive after being hit by lighting could be a super man who posses some unnatural ability like flying, moving things by thinking, etc.

08:17 AM Sep 27 2013 |

Odyssee

Odyssee

China

Now i live in a temperate area of my country . but in my hometown lightning and thunder happen frequently . i think i have got used to this ,but sometimes still caught me off guard .


i know some guys were hit by lightning on the news . when lightning is coming , we’d better not hide under trees and not use umbrella with metal plate .

07:51 AM Sep 27 2013 |

Zambuka

Zambuka

United States

frizzy hair from lightning?? really? :D i get frizzy hair when i get into the rain.))

02:43 AM Sep 27 2013 |

CandiceAcclo

China

when i was living in my hometown the weather is four seasons we had spring summer autunm and winter.thunderstorms happen not very often. but now i am working in another city the weather is different. it always rains cats and dogs with thunder. but i like the weather here because it’s not so hot in the summer and not so cold in the winter

02:20 AM Sep 27 2013 |

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