Beginner Listening Series 1 Lesson 6- Dialogue about Family in English
In this lesson, you listen to an English conversation between two people talking about family.
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Lesson Script
Shantel: Do you see your family often?
Jim: Yes. I see them often. I see them usually once a year, but I write to them often, and I call them sometimes.
Shantel: Okay. And when you see them, do you go to the United States to visit them, or do they come to Japan?
Jim: I go to America, and then everyone goes to my mom’s house, and everybody meets me at my mom’s house, which is nice. I see my sister, and we talk a lot, and it’s good.
Shantel: Does your mother miss you?
Jim: Yes. She misses me and I miss her a lot, so it’s very nice to see her, and also, I miss my dad. I miss him a lot, so I’m always happy to see him.
Shantel: Nice. What about your sister? When you’re in the United States, do you have some activities you like to do together?
Jim: Yeah, sometimes we do stuff together. Maybe I will meet her at a café, or I will go shopping with her, so we do something fun each time I go back.
Shantel: Nice.
Jim: Also, when I go home, I see my best friend, and that’s always nice. I usually meet him for dinner, and of course I call him, and it’s always nice to see my best friend. How about your family?
Shantel: Well, since I live in Japan, I also call them and write them, but usually, we only Skype about once a month.
Jim: Oh. So, who do you Skype with the most, your mom or your dad?
Shantel: I Skype the most with my father, because he wakes up very early, so his time and his schedule match my schedule, so it is easy for us to Skype.
Jim: Do you call him or does he call you?
Shantel: I usually call him, but sometimes he calls me. Usually, if he calls me, it’s because I haven’t called in a long time.
Jim: Uh-oh.
Shantel: Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Jim: So sometimes, you make him mad.
Shantel: A little angry.
Jim: Right. That’s nice.
Shantel: But-
Jim: You have a brother too, right?
Shantel: I do have a brother, and I call him less frequently, because he is so busy with his job, so we speak about once or twice a month, by messages or by phone.
Jim: Oh, that’s nice. Do you follow your family on social media?
Shantel: Yes. I use Facebook.
Jim: Oh, I use it too.
Shantel: It is a really easy way to keep in contact with them.
Jim: Yeah, I agree. What about other social media? Do you use Twitter?
Shantel: No. I don’t use Twitter, and I don’t use other social media either, only Facebook.
Jim: Ah, that’s good, I think. Too much is too bad.
Shantel: I agree, but I do love Facebook, because I can speak with my brother, and my mother, and my father anytime.
Jim: So, with Facebook, do you check it every day?
Shantel: I do check it every day. Maybe it’s a bad habit, but I do like to check it every day. Do you check your Facebook every day?
Jim: Not every day. I check it maybe three times a week.
Shantel: Three times a week?
Jim: Yeah, I don’t use it much, and I don’t use it on my phone.
Shantel: Oh. That’s a good idea.
Jim: Yeah. I like my free time.
Shantel: Do you use other social media, such as Twitter or Instagram?
Jim: I do use Twitter, but I don’t use it on my phone. I only use it on the computer.
Shantel: Okay. What about Instagram?
Jim: Oh, I don’t use it at all. Do you use it?
Shantel: No, I don’t use it.
Jim: Oh, that’s right. You only use Facebook.
Shantel: I only use Facebook.
Jim: Oh, interesting. Well, that’s nice that we can talk to our family on Skype and Facebook, because Japan is so far from America.
Shantel: Yes, and I think they are very happy too.
Jim: Yeah, I think they are happy.
English Listening Lesson Quizzes
Answer the following questions about the conversation.
1) How often does he see his family?
a) Every year
b) Twice a year
c) Once every two years
2) Where does he usually meet them?
a) America
b) Japan
c) Both places
3) Who does he meet?
a) His sister
b) His mother
c) His brother
4) Who does she meet?
a) Her father
b) Her brother
c) Her sister
5) What does she use to contact family?
a) Skype
b) Twitter
c) Facebook
Answers
1=a
2=a
3=a,b
4=a,b
5=a,c
English Grammar Tips
Object Pronouns
Point 1: Subject pronouns take the place of a person or noun.
I love music. It makes me happy.
You are here. I did not see you.
Did you see Sue? I just saw her.
Where is Tony? Did you see him?
I like your jacket. Where did you buy it?
My students are funny. I like them so much.
These shoes are dirty. I need to clean them.
We will leave soon. Give us a call tomorrow.
Point 2: The first person object pronoun (me, us) refers to the speaker. It can be singular (S) or plural (P).
(S) Tell me a story.
(S) My teacher makes me laugh.
(P) They help us a lot.
(P) Did you see us on TV?
Point 3: The second person object pronoun (you) refers to the listener. It can be singular (S) or plural (P).
(S) I like you.
(S) I will call you later.
(P) I like you (guys).
(P) I will call you (all) later.
Point 4: The third person subject pronoun (him, her, it, them) refers a person, people, thing or things.
I like Bob. I see him every day.
I also like Sue. I often see her at the gym.
Bob and Sue eat out often. I join them sometimes.
They have a horse. They let me ride it.
They have two cars. They never use them.
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