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.
When a loved one dies, most of us are grieving so much that it’s hard to do anything else. Yet in almost all cultures, family and friends expect the opportunity to say goodbye, either with a memorial service, traditional funeral, or even to scatter someone’s ashes. There are many ways to honor a person who has passed away.
Although it may feel like a somber time, a lot of people hope their own funerals will be celebratory. Sometimes the person who has died has already asked friends and family to do something fun or moving in honor of the way they experienced life. It feels important to do our best to fulfill these wishes.
Find out what’s happening in Marni’s family as she and Devan talk about funerals in this 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.
Marni: I just got a notice in the mail that an old aunt died and I have to attend her funeral.
Devan: Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry.
Marni: It’s OK. She was 98, so she lived a good life. But I do want to go and pay my respects.
Devan: Is her memorial service going to be celebratory, or is your family more serious about these kinds of things?
Marni: I think it should be fairly celebratory. A woman who lived until 98, that’s a pretty miraculous thing. I know there’s going to be a lot of family there that are really intensely grieving. The grieving process is so different for so many people that I’m a little nervous about some of my family members and how they’re going to take it.
Devan: That’s true. Have you thought about your own funeral, what kind of celebration you want to have?
Marni: I would want my funeral to be celebratory and hopefully moving for people. I don’t want it to be a somber affair.
Grammar Point
Go Super to learn "Modal Verbs" from this lesson
Quizzes
Lesson MP3
The iTEP® test
-
Sponsored by
Discussion
Marni just learned some sad news: Her 98 year old aunt has passed away. She’s planning to go to the funeral, but Marni’s a little nervous because members of her family are grieving for their loss and it can be challenging to know how to help.
Devan wants to support Marni and shares her sympathy about Marni’s aunt. She’s curious to know what the funeral will be like, since some people prefer to turn funerals into a celebration, and others are more somber and serious. Devan wonders if thinking about funerals has caused Marni to think about her own one day and what she’d want it to be like.
Whether it’s a funeral or memorial service, or even something less formal, it’s important to come together to honor the people we love who are no longer with us. It’s helpful to say goodbye, but perhaps the best part of doing this is sharing the memories we cherish.
Have you attended a funeral? Was it helpful to you? How would you like to be remembered by the important people in your life?
Comments
China |
Iran, Islamic Republic Of |
Brazil |
Iran, Islamic Republic Of |
Turkey |
Iran, Islamic Republic Of |
Iran, Islamic Republic Of |
Iran, Islamic Republic Of |
China |
Ukraine |
Egypt |
Turkey |
United Arab Emirates |
South Korea |
China |