Bless You

Intro

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

• my feelings are hurt
• ignore
• funny
• out of luck

• customary
• reflect
• date back
• Gesundheit

• acknowledges

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

Most cultures have a customary response to sneezing. Many of the expressions people use are very old and sometimes reflect religious or spiritual beliefs.

In English, the most common expression that people say to someone after they sneeze is “Bless you.” “Bless you” is the shortened version of the expression “God bless you.” No one knows for certain the origin of this expression but it is believed to date back several centuries. Like expressions in many other countries, “Bless you” is meant to protect a person who sneezes from evil spirits.

Another expression commonly used in English-speaking countries is Gesundheit. It’s actually German and means “good health.” This expression is similar to sayings in France, Spain and other countries, simply wish the person good health rather than trying to protect them from possible evil.

Listen to Mason and Amanda talk about sneezing.

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.

Mason

Amanda

Mason:  (sneezes) Oh, God, I’m sorry.

Amanda:  I’ll be honest. If I sneeze and nobody acknowledges, no “Bless you,” no “Gesundheit,” or “Are you OK?” my feelings are hurt.

Mason:  Are they?

Amanda:  Because I know they’ve heard it and they’re choosing…

Mason:  To ignore you.

Amanda:  ... not to acknowledge it. Yeah.

Mason:  Can I, can I tell you a funny thing that I do?

Amanda:  OK.

Mason:  ‘Cause, I mean, like, rarely, rarely do people only sneeze once, right?

Amanda:  True.

Mason:  So I like to say it for every sneeze, but I use a different language every time.

Amanda:  Well, besides…

Mason:  I only know three. That’s the problem.

Amanda:  OK, what’s the third?

Mason:  I’ve got “Bless you,” “Gesundheit”...

Amanda:  Yes.

Mason:  “Salud.” Which is Spanish.

Amanda:  OK.

Mason:  Uh. which just means “health,” uh…

Amanda:  OK.

Mason:  So, you know, if people sneeze four times, I’m kinda out of luck...I, I…

Amanda:  You rotate back to “Bless you?”

Mason:  I could… I really, like, I used to know Japanese, but I forgot it.

Amanda:  Thanks for teaching me a third. I appreciate it.

Mason:  Yeah.

Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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