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Holiday Blues

Date: Dec 15 2020

Themes: Health, Holidays

Grammar: Simple Present Tense

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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.

Family. Presents. Food. Decorations. Presents. Oh, and did we mention presents? For all these reasons and more, Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. But not everyone feels merry during the holidays. In fact, many people get depressed or feel blue at this time.

Some people feel sad at Christmas because they can’t afford to buy their friends and family members all the gifts they want. Or they feel let down when the holidays don’t live up to their hopes and expectations. Others feel extra lonely over the holidays if they don’t have anyone to share them with. And some people get depressed by how commercial the holidays have become.

Listen to Marni try to cheer up Devan before the holidays are finished.

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.

Devan

Marni

Devan: God, I hate the holidays.

Marni: You don’t like Christmas?

Devan: No, I’m kind of like Charlie Brown. You know, I hate all the commercialism of the holidays. It’s so far removed from what it’s supposed to be about. It’s all just about money and consuming.

Marni: Yeah, you have a point. But I still love it. I still love…I don’t know, I just like the spirit of it all. Like I love being downtown and having all the lights and seeing people decorate their homes. You know, I’m just such a sucker for buying a Christmas tree…Or, you know, lighting a menorah. Whatever. I love all traditions.

Devan: I see what you’re saying, and I think that there is something to be said about, you know…family coming together, and all the lights, and all that stuff. But it just feels like if that’s what it could really be about, about being with your family, then I’d be all about it. But it seems like all people care about is presents and buying.

Marni: So, it sounds like, for you…Is there just this huge build-up and then you’re always let down?

Devan: Yeah, I’m always just kind of let down by it.

Marni: Well, you know, I think what you need to do is just drink a lot of eggnog, get your stockings out, and just, you know, get cheer going on, and…

Devan: Maybe this year you’ll help me get in the spirit.

Marni: I’ll try my hardest.

Grammar Point

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Discussion

Devan doesn’t like Christmas because she thinks it’s all about spending money and buying presents. Marni agrees that the holidays can be a little too commercial sometimes, but she loves the special feelings of joy and celebration that come with them.

If the holidays only involved beautiful decorations and being with family, Devan would like them better. Also, she thinks the expectations surrounding Christmas are too high. Marni offers to help Devan get in the spirit. Maybe if she drinks enough eggnog, she’ll have a better time this year.

Do you ever feel blue during the holidays? Are holidays very commercial in your country?

Comments

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nad1a

Greece

er…actually, my name is Nadia :~~) and thanks :~~)

foxing

China

happy birthday BULGARIA

24 hours a day no matter which date it is.

so when 24 hours past, everything gonne be history

at my point, X'mas or other festival days are the same like every normal day.

我是朱朱

China

Juggernaut

Germany

I agree the holiday becomes commmercialism, but in fact, it's a good reason to meet your family and friends. Just go ahead to meet your friends.

nad1a

Greece

oh, you can say that again! in my case it's winter blues as a whole…...beginning of December, i start feeling like something's choking me and start feeling depressed.

plus, i got one more reason – my birthday 's on christmas eve and i've never been able to get a decent birthday party. all are busy with xmas and usually have other plans than care about my birthday lol

i always celebrate it on the 26th or 27th!

fortunately with my son and friends, things brighten up a little bit! :-)

still i love the spirit of Christmas, as of something special

===========

to elaborate on the topic, there's this useful article I found on the Internet (click):

Beating the Holiday Blues

Miss.Daisy

China

maybe you do expect too much…

be grateful for what you have at the moment

you'll feel much better

nad1a

Greece

thank you soooooooooooo much for this lesson. I was already thinking i was the only one feeling this way!!

JackXuEnglish

China

Holiday is great so sometimes it makes me feel blue.

lukeyy

China

Yeah. Now , the holiday are always commmercialism.

I like the holisdays, just because of the spirit.I like to spend much time with friends. When the holiday comes, many relatives and friends will come to get together and share our past time ,our happiness. I like to listen to them and share their stories.

I also don't like the buying and gifting.I remember how was the holiday going in my family in the past year.Before a holiday's coming, all my family were busy, especially my parents, who were engaged in buying food to prepare for the visiting friends. We were all busy in cleaning the house and decorating our rooms.