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Train Travel

Train Travel

Date: Dec 04 2009

Themes: Travel

Grammar: Used to Do vs Be Used to

Intro

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The Rolling Stones sang “Get your kicks on Route 66,” not “Have fun while riding the train.” The US is a country of car-lovers, and driving and the open road occupy a special place in American pop culture.

But some Americans would prefer to travel by train, as is common and convenient in many other parts of the world. Unfortunately, the US doesn’t have a very extensive or efficient rail system. So it’s much more common for people to fly or drive between cities than to take the train. Find out how Marni and Mason feel about this underrated form of transportation.

Dialog

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Marni

Marni

Mason

Mason

Marni:  You know what I love to do more than anything?

Mason:  I do not know.

Marni:  Travel on a train.

Mason:  Do you do that often?

Marni:  No, not often enough. And I think in America we don’t really have that opportunity, because we don’t really have a rail system that connects us easily from one city to another like in Europe and Asia.

Mason:  Yeah the last time I was on a train it was in Europe, so…

Marni:  Right. And they have such a great system there, you know, it’s so fast. But here we have Amtrak, which I love. I used to travel on the train a lot when I was little. I sort of associate that with my youth. And I’ve taken it up to Canada a few times. It’s beautiful, it’s a great way to travel.

Mason:  So, I mean it’s a much more passive thing. Like, it’s gonna take a long time, kinda like driving, but you’re not engaged like you are when you’re driving, where I actually have to pay attention to stuff.

Marni:  Right. You get to just sort of sit back and relax, and the trains are very nice.

Mason:  So when you go do you go with other people so it’s like social hour, or do you go with a good book and it’s like me-time?

Marni:  I’ve done both. And so I think there’s merit to both. It’s a fun way to travel with a lot of friends, but it’s a great way to get around just by yourself.

 

Grammar Point

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Discussion

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Marni loves taking the train, and she wishes there were a better rail system in the US. Mason agrees that train travel isn’t as common or convenient in the US as it is in other parts of the world. Both he and Marni have had good experiences riding trains in Europe.

Marni used to take Amtrak when she was younger, and she’s continued to take the train in the US occasionally as an adult. She likes how relaxing train travel is, and she enjoys seeing the scenery. It can be a fun way to travel with friends, meet new people, or spend some quality time with yourself.

Do you like to travel by trains? Is train travel common in your country?

 

Comments

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sally_banana

China

I think train travel is amazing ting,in our country, train connects city and city.so train is a importem system.Train travel lives in my life.

08:08 AM Dec 05 2009 |

i loveenglish

Austria

  i love train

06:02 AM Dec 05 2009 |

i loveenglish

Austria

 i

06:00 AM Dec 05 2009 |

gussunan

gussunan

Indonesia

yups…

i have taken the train when i was coolagge student,,i went to jakarta the capital of indonesia to attended the interview invitetion,,,

that was my first experience traveling by train… Embarassed

03:24 AM Dec 05 2009 |

DricaBr

DricaBr

Brazil

I love  travel by train.Kiss

02:01 AM Dec 05 2009 |

Ca_Brazil

Ca_Brazil

Brazil

i do like to travel by train, though, its not very common since we dont have a very large rail system. its cool to look at the cities, people and stuff while a trip is on.  

12:24 AM Dec 05 2009 |

heik

heik

Mexico

Once I took a three days train trip and it was such a nice experience because it gives you the opportunity to talk to people.. i don't know i think it is a cool experience.

11:50 PM Dec 04 2009 |

the murderer

Jordan

I went on a trip by train when I was 10 years, then I hated travel by train because the train in my country like everything except the train. it was found before the train invention. it Is a stack of iron produces a high noise when walking. And vibrations make you feel dizzy and a desire to vomit. and the  miracle is: it is working to this day just to journeys.
however i treat you to visit this miracle

09:48 PM Dec 04 2009 |

AniinhaBritto7215

Brazil

Kiss

06:53 PM Dec 04 2009 |

siberian tigger

Mexico

When I was a child, I used to travel on the train in my country and enjoyed to travel with my parents.

Good lock fellas.

04:46 PM Dec 04 2009 |

Shinichi Lover

Bahrain

I wish to travel by train one day! in my country we don't use travel by train caz my country is too small, but I think travel by train is very coool and relax =)...

04:35 PM Dec 04 2009 |

Rose.

Rose.

Saudi Arabia

hahah

i wish to travel around the world - what i need at this moment  me-time , and social hour that's so nice as  lesson for today Embarassed

thank you english babyLaughing

04:32 PM Dec 04 2009 |

iwori

iwori

Japan

I guess in my country rail sytem is quite extensive and everyday I use trains.

The merit traveling by car is needless to care time or buggage though sometimes be tired.

And by trains have a big appeal to do anything we'd love to, but it cost a little expennsive.

Well, every way to travel has every pleasure. If we'd have an accident, it also would be a part of fun!

04:31 PM Dec 04 2009 |

linguis

El Salvador

It is very nice to travel by train, I did it in Panama, from the capital city to Colon.It was a great experience. Unfortunaly in my country, El Salvador, The guerrillas comunist , now in the government, destroyed this transportation system,so no longer exist and no signs to be reactivated.

03:48 PM Dec 04 2009 |

noguti

noguti

Brazil

Woah… I've never travelled by train, also it's not an usual mean of transportation in my country:(

03:29 PM Dec 04 2009 |

clutchmann

clutchmann

Hungary

I like travel by trains on fabulous places. In Hungary, some trains go on wonderful lands. I like railways that run through forests or across some river or lake. There are some light railways in Hungary which are significant goal for tourists. If you come to Hungary, it is worthy of travelling by them.

02:42 PM Dec 04 2009 |

LIL

LIL

Saudi Arabia

i like to travel on train but bot in my country

i just hope if there is a train can go around the worldCool

cause im sick of my country

02:20 PM Dec 04 2009 |

Mary_zaika

Mary_zaika

Russian Federation

Actually i find travelling by train quite boring probably 'cause of spending too much time sitting and lying. I suppose, the reason is that russia is very big=))) Well, good good lesson which's made my personal vocabulary a bit richer ;p Also i can only wonder how to pass toefl 'cause to get my fce was pretty difficult for me.

12:43 PM Dec 04 2009 |

cutebaby1

cutebaby1

Russian Federation

yeah, actually train travel is common in Kazakhstan. Lots of people take the train when they go to other city or even country. But it's not because people think it's convenient or relaxing, it's just because it's cheap, I mean much more cheaper than flying. Of course some people love to ride a train, but I think not so many. I don't like trains much. But I have to use them sometimes to get around. And usually I don't have the opportunity to have me-time, because people from my contry are so talkative, that sometimes you have to chat or listen to your neighbors' conversation all your journeyFoot in mouth

10:44 AM Dec 04 2009 |

lisacui

China

Train is one of the most popular transportation in china as it is fast, cheap and safe.I  love trains.When i was a college student i went to school by train. I am found of the feeling looking at the beautiful scenery passed the window and i like the sound kakaka made by train.

09:00 AM Dec 04 2009 |

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