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Gift Imbalance

Date: Dec 21 2020

Themes: Holidays, Romance

Grammar: Past Perfect Progressive

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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.

Your first Christmas together is an important time to size up your relationship. If you haven’t been together all that long and it’s not all that serious, a nice card or small gift will do. If it’s been a little longer, you have to make sure your gift represents how much the relationship means to you. It also has to show how well you know your partner.

That sounds like a lot of pressure. Mason and Amanda have been together for six months. What do you think they ought to get each other for Christmas? Watch their gift exchange in today’s soap opera episode.

3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.

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.

Amanda

Mason

Amanda: Oh my gosh. I don’t know why I’m so nervous. I really hope you like this. OK. I actually had to sell plasma for it, so…Can I help you?

Mason: Yeah.

Amanda: OK. Can we do it faster?

Mason: Oh wow!

Amanda: Do you like it? Do you like it? Do you love it? Do you love it? I thought it was perfect. I asked all of our friends and I took a little survey and they thought that if I just saved up, like, three months, of my salary that I could buy it for you and show you how much I love you, and how our relationship is progressing. And I wrote a little screenplay and I was thinking maybe we could make our first movie tonight.

Mason: And here’s the soundtrack.

Amanda: Oh, OK. Is that code for something? Oh my God, I’m so excited ‘cause, you know, usually good things come in small packages and I feel like it might have diamonds or something. Is this, like, some cool nouveau packaging and something’s in here?

Grammar Point

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Discussion

Amanda got Mason a video camera and Mason made Amanda a mixtape. It would appear that she went a little overboard and that he definitely didn’t live up to expectations. She was expecting diamonds.

At the end of the video, Amanda doesn’t look happy. What do you think Mason should to make it up to her? Or do you do you think she’s being ridiculous?

Comments

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mi007jr

Russian Federation

A soundtrack? Maybe it’s a very romantic song performed by the best voice ever! Then all diamonds are nothing!

yijianpiaohong

China

The girl’s gift is better, it’s the effort in three month.

francisco lazo

El Salvador

excelente leccion

julito

Argentina

I think that both of them were missing the point , Amanda making a pricey gift and Mason for being so cheap . Amanda is hurt and I can understand her, but not always happen that we will receive an equal gift in return.

lyc6011

Hong Kong

I don't think the cost of gift equals the depth of relationship, but I am supposed to receive a gift that created or made by friends.

psycocreazy

Mexico

i think that if you give sometihing is because you want to give something, and you don't have been waiting for a great gift. amm the boy dosent need make it ut to her because the important is the feeling and no the cost.

zizotamimi

Australia

Hi everybody I agree with some people who had been saying that gift is not necessary to show how much the relationship is going to .. but not like this Mason haha .. you made me laughing for long time .. finally if I have some mistakes in here please someone correct it to me.. thank you

waheeba

Yemen

Hello every one,

My point of view , it is enough the friend thought to buy a gift to his/her partener. And he/she saves money and make shopping to find a suitable gift. Just think of the partener make him/her is satisfied regardless of the type of the present and its price.

Thanks,

waheeba

Yemen

Hello every one,

Thanks,

LuCosta

Saudi Arabia

it's nice gift :p

jayyy

India

We people can totally watch a new Amanda in this lesson. Amanda's activities are so different .

Monius

Mexico

Maybe amanda went a littler overboard with the gift; but definitely Mason was a goofy guy with his present, I mean how is possible that he only offers a tape!!! If they only were one month in the relationship the present could be good, but six months is other thing He would have gifted a gift more meaningful!!!

anhtruong

Viet Nam

zeinabou

Egypt

Gifts =appriciation not necessary to be expenssive{it ll be better:} usualy women paid more attention than men to those things …it causes a lot of problems between couples..take care guys :}

jihui129

China

Apparently, Amanda loves Mason much more, cause she paid much time and patience to prepare a gift for Mason. So, it is quite reasonable for Amanda expecting a good gift in turn. But the bottom line is love can not be measured by anything, true love comes from deep heart.