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.
It’s not uncommon to find superstitions in cultures around the world. In the United States, some people believe that you should carry a good luck charm and you should avoid black cats. In China, the number 8 (eight) is lucky, and the number 4 (four) is unlucky. In Russia, you should never hand money directly to another person, and you should only use your right hand.
It’s hard to know how or why any superstitions were created, but millions of people are dependent on them and believe they are powerful. It can be comforting to feel that there’s a reason that a bad event has happened in your life, and also comforting to feel that you can stop more bad events from happening if you pay attention to superstitions.
Are Lily and Marni superstitious? Find out in today’s English lesson.
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.
Lily: Marni, is that a rabbit’s foot?
Marni: Yes.
Lily: So, I take it you’re superstitious.
Marni: I am so superstitious. I have to have good luck charms on me at all times or I believe bad things will happen to me!
Lily: That must be kind of scary to be dependent on inanimate objects like that.
Marni: I find it comforting. I mean, I just don’t think anything is a coincidence. I think everything happens for a reason, and the more you arm yourself with good luck charms, and you don’t walk under a ladder or you don’t step on a crack…
Lily: Definitely don’t break a mirror!
Marni: Exactly. I really think that if you heed certain things, that good things will happen.
Lily: So, how did these superstitions come about? Did you just decide to become superstitious one day?
Marni: Oh, no. It’s been passed down in my family, so I’ve always been very aware of it.
Lily: OK.
Grammar Point
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Discussion
Marni and her family are superstitious. She carries good luck charms, for example, and she’s careful to avoid doing things that will bring her bad luck.
It doesn’t seem like Lily believes in the same superstitions, but she doesn’t make fun of Marni. It’s quite common for people to share the same beliefs, and it’s not like Lily hasn’t learned them, too.
Are you superstitious? What do you believe will give you good or bad luck?
Comments
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