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New Year's Resolutions

New Year's Resolutions

Date: Dec 31 2010

Themes: Holidays

Grammar: Zero Conditional

Intro

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

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Each year on January 1st, people around the world make promises to improve themselves. The most popular New Year’s resolutions include spending more time with family and friends, losing weight, and quitting smoking.

But it’s harder to keep a resolution than it is to make one. As dedicated as we may be in January to slimming down and spending less, by February or March we’re likely to have gone back to our old ways. That’s why this year, Jason has a new strategy when it comes to making a New Year’s resolution that he thinks will help him stick to it.

Dialog

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

Jason

Jason

Jeff

Jeff

Jason:  Usually, my New Year’s resolution is something really broad, you know, like I need to get more in shape or something like that. But this year I’m thinking about doing something really specific, you know?

Jeff:  What is that?

Jason:  Just to learn how to drive a standard transmission car.

Jeff:  You don’t know how to do that?

Jason:  No, see, it’s totally accomplish-able in 2011. I think I can fit that in.

Jeff:  Do you know anybody who’s going to let you use their car?

Jason:  I think so. It can’t be too hard to find some friend, I mean, that has an old car, something like that. I’m just psyched to actually complete my resolution this year, because usually, I make a New Year’s resolution, it’s too vague, and life goes on the same way it did before. So that’s my new strategy.

Jeff:  That one’s pretty easy, it shouldn’t take you too long. I mean you can stick to it.

Jason:  What’s yours?

Jeff:  I don’t make New Year’s resolutions.

Jason:  You don’t?

Jeff:  No. It’s silly. No offense, no offense.

Jason:  But don’t you want to improve yourself? You know, every year a little better than the last.

Jeff:  I don’t need the turn of the new year to do that. If it’s apparent that I need to improve on some things in my life, I like to get right to it, right then and there.

Jason:  Man, that sounds good rather than, I guess, once a year just coming up with a resolution and then not following through. Maybe I’ll try your day-to-day strategy. It’ll at least increase the frequency with which I fail to accomplish the things I’m setting out to do.

 

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Discussion

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Every year, Jason makes resolutions that are too big and general to follow through on. Before long, he goes back to his old ways.

This year, Jason is trying a different approach. By picking a small, manageable resolution, he thinks he will be able to follow through on it. Jason’s resolution this year is to learn how to drive a standard transmission car. Right now, he only knows how to drive automatics. Automatics are more common in the U.S. than stick shifts.

Jeff thinks New Year’s resolutions are silly. He never makes one. Instead, he improves himself throughout the year. If he feels like he needs to make a change in his life, he makes it. He doesn’t wait for January 1st.

Do you have a New Year’s resolution this year? Do you usually follow through on your resolutions?

 

Comments

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hemoo

Saudi Arabia

my resolutions for this year are :  i want to orgnaise my resolutions in points.

first: lern and inprove my english.

second : keeping sticking to my resolutions by sharging my well follow throo the end of the year

eduocation my self by diversity things.

read more books than the last year

 

11:44 PM Dec 31 2010 |

sobhy1974

Egypt

i always set goals for futures but not in timelines, mean my goals don't have time frame, hence i take long time to achieve them. this is my big and sophisticated problem i face in my life. i don't like new year's resoulution so i agree with Jeff's opinion.

if i feel i need to improve myself in particular thing i try to follow throuh but as i mentioned above no time frame.

05:16 PM Dec 31 2010 |

aleksolivar

Mexico

Ahahah I Going to slim down!!!, But it´s so hard to me!
It is imposible leave to eat. lol

04:26 PM Dec 31 2010 |

Soulmate Ann

China

i am the one who always make the things go on the same way it did before,and for the new year ,i make a promise to study english well,and i will stick to it.

04:21 PM Dec 31 2010 |

foz12

foz12

Saudi Arabia

actually I'm like Jeff I don't have any resolutions I mean it just happen like that with out thinking

04:11 PM Dec 31 2010 |

dark _chan

dark _chan

Saudi Arabia

will for me i think my new year resolution is to enter medical school ^

i wish i can do it ^

and happy new year to everyone  

12:11 PM Dec 31 2010 |

lucklin

lucklin

Taiwan

I would make a resolution for a new year. And the resolution is in general, not specific. Meanwhile,like Jeff, I would make a little change in my life as it needs. I think the former is important. Why do I make a New Year's resolution even since it is not so important to me? Just because it is something that you have to do for a new year.

07:42 AM Dec 31 2010 |

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