English, baby!

Pets

Date: Mar 06 2009

Themes: Family, Pets

Grammar: Definite & Indefinite Articles

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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.

There’s a saying in English that dogs are “man’s best friend.” That’s because dogs usually make loyal, affectionate companions. Plus, they love to cuddle and they never talk back to you. So in that way, maybe they’re even better than a best friend.

Dogs and cats are the most popular pets, but there’s a huge variety of pets out there, from little furry animals like rabbits or gerbils to reptiles like lizards or snakes. Some people even keep rats or spiders as pets!

But not all people are pet-people, and not all countries have pet-owning cultures. Listen to Mason try to convince Ella that owning pets is a beautiful thing.

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.

Mason

Ella

Mason: Man, I gotta clean my rabbit’s cage. It’s been sittin’ there for like a week longer than it should have.

Ella: That’s disgusting.

Mason: Well, I mean, it’s one of the hazards that you go through when you’ve got an animal that you like.

Ella: Really? Why? Why would you ever want a pet?

Mason: Well, listen, the rabbit kind of fell into my arms. It was my sister’s and she couldn’t take care of it anymore. So I was like, yeah, alright, I’ll take your rabbit. But I mean, man, that thing has grown on me.

Ella: I bet.

Mason: Not like a cancer or anything, like something that blossoms in your heart.

Ella: Well, I don’t know. I just think that animals should just be eaten. Why should we have them as pets?

Mason: Animals should just be eaten, why should we have them as pets…I have eaten rabbit. That said, I don’t think I could anymore. You know, there’s definitely something that…Like, that caring instinct. And they’re cute.

Ella: Have you ever had a dog or a cat growing up?

Mason: We grew up with dogs in my family. Cats, I have no taste for cats.

Ella: It’s a lot of responsibility?

Mason: A lot of responsibility, no… I just don’t like their personality. They’re…They don’t need me. I like things that need me, that’s kind of the point of pets, in all honesty.

Ella: Did you take it to the dog pound or get it euthanized?

Mason: The dog, we did have euthanized. We had to put it down, and it was tragic.

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Discussion

Mason tells Ella that he needs to clean his rabbit’s cage. Cleaning up after pets is one of the many responsibilities of being a pet owner. Mason thinks it’s worth it, but Ella doesn’t understand why he would ever want to own a pet.

Mason explains that he didn’t want the rabbit at first. It belonged to his sister and she asked him to take care of it for her. Now it’s really grown on him.

When he was growing up, Mason had a dog. He likes dogs better than cats because cats aren’t as affectionate or needy as dogs. Mason was really sad when he had to take his dog to be euthanized.

Do you have any pets? Or do you think being a pet owner is too much responsibility?

Comments

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qiuhuidong

China

I have no a pet, but I have a baby,he is very cute and I love him very much!

Child

China

Yeah,if we raise a pet we must take the responsibility to protect it.

Child

China

My family raised many dogs.My father and brother,also me are like dogs.

kimberry29

Thailand

I love the cats~

But I don't have time to take care them.

Carmen16

Mexico

I love the dogs!

I have a little dog its name is norbac, and is very funny

it likes run for all the house, and jumps on the sofas.

I love it

liuzhongxia

China

yes,i had a dog when i grew up.his name is Panther,very loyal and docile 。 i love he , but he had died six years ago ,, , we miss him ..

liuzhongxia

China

yes,i had a dog when i grew up.his name is Panther,very loyal and docile 。 i love he , but he had died six years ago ,, , we miss him ..

my story

Uzbekistan

i love pets, i have hamster. the hamsters are favorite of my pets, i think this is great if somebody has any pets

atmd

Syrian Arab Republic

i hope to try it and have pet “dog”

Cedro

Germany

Servus,

I used to have a little dog, as well. I really really loved this dog and he was something like best friend to me. In bad times I just talked to him. Unfortunately, a damn sucker run over it. I really really made me cry a couple of times. I had this dog for about 13 years and I grew up with him. Dogs give human beeings the feeling to be needed. It makes us happy, when we see that someone needs our help and this one would never disappoint us. I am convinced that this is the main reason why people keep animals:) Do you agree with me?

lalobrown

Dominican Republic

well…i do have a pet,not me exactly my mother is the one who take pets to my house and after a while they grow on me,my family and i have had many dogs some cats,birds,rooster,etc.

it is a big responsability sometimes but if everybody in the family help to take care of the pets the duties, like feed them, clean their cage get easier

arican

Hungary

It is nice to have a pet but we should not love them better then people. When we see a homeless wishing some money we scorn him. But we feel sorry for ownerless dogs and feed them… Is that normal?

Ayli

Cuba

I love animals!!! all species

i had a dog, very special to me and very cute, I called her "negri"

I lost her a few days ago, I don't know where she is or what happened to her .I just feel so sad ..... she was even pregnant.

she wasn't just a pet for me, she was like part of the family

I remember at firt my dad didn't want her at home, but eventually he loved her, right now my dad is as sad as me

we miss her so much …..........

Alejof09

Colombia

I don't have pets but I would like to have a dog

Bibaby

Viet Nam

oh i love cats & dogs xD

i also have a puppy. she's so cute. I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FarrukhAli

Pakistan

I don't have any animal. but if i have I will have a dog.

salinger

Germany

i love cats and i have a cat.like an animal makes people calm.the responsibility of a cat owner makes me happy

salinger

Germany

i love cats and i have a cat.like an animal makes people calm.the responsibility of a cat owner makes me happy

Maplewei

China

I got a dog 3years ago when I was a student."dog is human's best friends"Sometime when I was sad,the only one I can said my sad is the dog.And the dog is responsibility.My mom don't like pets at home.But the pets really give live to a family.I want to have another dog anymore.

Carola1

Colombia

To have a pet is the most exciting experience….. your life become happier because you can take care of "someone else" and they give you love.. and the best! they show it! I had a doggy some years ago.. He was like my little brother…. all my family loved him but he got sick, really sick and we had to put him down ... nothing/nobody can replace him.. He is the best…..