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.
Over the last decade or so, Americans have developed a reputation for being fat. And not just adults. Children are also dealing with weight problems.
In fact, over the last 20 years, the percentage of children and teenagers who are obese has increased dramatically. And with obesity come other health problems. One of the major ones in diabetes, which now occurs at an alarming rate in young Americans.
Listen to Mason and Amanda talk about the weight of “their son.” (They don’t really have a child together. They’re just pretending.)
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.
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Mason: I’m worried about our son, Amanda. I think he’s getting a little chunky.
Amanda: You know, what’s interesting is I was talking with some of my other friends in the moms’ groups and play groups…
Mason: Mm hm.
Amanda: And there’s that trend of obesity in children as young as three, four and five…
Mason: Three, four and five?
Amanda: Because they’re not active these days.
Mason: Moms just think it’s still baby fat, right, at that point and so they’re justifying it to themselves…
Amanda: Sometimes. Sometimes they make that excuse to justify, but it’s convenience. Because of our busy days, they run through a McDonald’s. No problems. No qualms.
Mason: And we just sit the kids in front of, uh, the television.
Amanda: Xbox. Four, six, eight hours straight.
Mason: I know I’m guilty of, uh, teaching our son how to play, uh, the PlayStation 2.
Amanda: No, I’m guilty of running through a drive-through when we’re running late for an activity.
Mason: So, it’s both of our fault.
Amanda: Absolutely. We are both contributing to our son’s potential obesity.
Mason: We should ask, uh, the 24 Hour Fitness if they have a child’s membership.
Amanda: You know, I really hadn’t thought about that. Maybe it’s discounted because he’s a child.
Mason: Mm hm.
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Discussion
Mason and Amanda are discussing the weight of their pretend-son and the trend of child obesity in America.
Amanda points out that when parents are busy, they depend on fast food, which can make their kids fat.
Mason says that children spend too much time in front of the television playing video games.
They discuss, somewhat sarcastically, that they should take their son to 24 Hour Fitness, which is a gym.
Do children in your country have weight problems? Why?
Comments
Saudi Arabia |
China |
Ireland |
India |
Greece |
Yemen |
China |
Latvia |
Algeria |
China |
Iran, Islamic Republic Of |
Afghanistan |
Viet Nam |
Switzerland |
China |