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Prom

Date: May 29 2009

Themes: Party, School

Grammar: Simple Past Tense

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Intro

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

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

The biggest day in many American high school students’ lives isn’t graduation. It’s prom. Prom is a formal dance held at the end of senior year, when students get dressed up, rent limousines, and dance the night away at a special venue. When the dance ends, they usually attend after-parties, which is often where the real fun begins.

But prom can also be stressful. First of all, you have to find a date, which can be quite challenging for some. Then, if you’re a girl, you have to get the perfect dress. Many girls also buy new shoes and jewelry, and get their hair and makeup done at a fancy salon. Guys have to rent a tuxedo, buy their date a corsage, and pay for the tickets, the limousine, and dinner before the prom. That’s a lot of money to spend for one night of awkward slow dancing.

Prom season is happening right now. Listen to Ella and Devan share their memories of prom.

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

Ella

Devan: Did you go to your prom?

Ella: I did. It was really fun and now it’s coming around that time again where prom…Everyone’s getting their gowns and tuxes. It’s kind of exciting.

Devan: So you’re big on prom. Do you think that it’s an important ritual?

Ella: Well, I wouldn’t say it’s an important ritual. I just like to get dressed up. I think that’s one of the biggest reasons I started going to proms. I went to my friends’ proms, and they came to mine, so…Just an excuse to dress up.

Devan: So did you…you got a nice fancy gown, and did you have a corsage and everything?

Ella: Yeah, did the corsage, got the makeup done, had the hair done. All that stuff.

Devan: Did your date wear a tux?

Ella: Yes. Yes he did. All that good stuff.

Devan: Were you voted prom queen?

Ella: I was not!

Devan: I actually didn’t even go to my prom.

Ella: Oh my god!

Devan: Um, well, I wasn’t into the whole prom thing when I was in high school. I was kind of a rebel, so…

Ella: Nice. Cool.

Devan: We went to the bowling alley instead.

Grammar Point

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Discussion

Ella liked prom so much in high school that she not only went to her own prom, but also attended her friends’ proms. She loved getting dressed up and having her hair and makeup done. It sounds like she didn’t have any trouble finding a date.

Devan, on the other hand, didn’t go to her prom. She and her friends didn’t have much school spirit. They were rebels who thought prom was lame. On prom night, instead of following the crowd by going to the dance like all their classmates, they went to the bowling alley.

Do you have prom in your country? Do you think it would be fun to go to prom, or would you be a rebel like Devan and skip prom?

Comments

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nghiemhoa

Viet Nam

It sounds like interesting, but in my country haven't got prom. I like dancing but i don't know anything about dances. Hope that in future i could join it

Adush

Czech Republic

I have never been to a prom :( unfortunately..in my country we have only graduation ceremonies

qoo8521

Taiwan

i really wanted to go to prom after i saw this article,but my country didn't have any proms.if i have any chances,i will try.

Whitney S

Colombia

In my country we usually go the graduation ceremony and some people go together to an elegant and formal dinner, but it is not a ritual, it is not so important, the most important is the graduation. But we do have a kind of a ritual, which is going to San Andres ( a beach in Colombia) with all your classmates for one week with no parents and so on hehe

autumn leaf

China

I think it would be fun to go to prom. But I've never have a prom .

autumn leaf

China

It seems to be exciting.

autumn leaf

China

I think the prom is very interesting. I like it very much. But I’ve never got a chance to attend a prom. What a pity.

autumn leaf

China

I think the prom is very interesting. I like it very much. But I’ve never got a chance to attend a prom. What a pity.

jxap

Canada

My prom is coming fast!!! I'm happy :D:D:D:D

oliviercologne

Cameroon

i can not really say a lot about prom, but what i known is that, in country like US and Canada is an important gradutate Party and every one try to be on top on that Day.

I have allready seen many films about prom and it really look interresing.

tanks

Ca_Brazil

Brazil

yes we have but not that fancy prom. however most people isnt very into it, i didnt go to mine, its not like a ritual, like everyone goes, would be fun being with friends, dance, get dressed up but that time i couldnt afford that even if i had had money to spend on it i would`ve probably gone to travel or have bought something, though.

hazamov

Russian Federation

We have prom. Like Devan I wasn't at my own prom . Because my parents wanted to go there too, and I didn't want them to go with me. So, I stayed at home..

omgnotagain01

Philippines

Did you wear your a fancy gown to your prom?

aksanka

Ukraine

There's no prom in my country. But we have our own tradition. Shool-leavers go boating and walk along the strees. They're well dressed and in a good mood. It's really their day.

asushamak

Kazakhstan

i live in Kazakhstan, so we have day such as PROM but it calls as Vypusknoi party, aslo we should be dressed and dance with your classmates. it is very funny party. i'd like to repeat this once again