Learn Present Progressive

Intro

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

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• road trip
• rely on
• off course
• detour

• directions
• GPS
• guide
• gadget

• backup plan
• navigate

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

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OK, turn left at the stop sign, and if you reach the market, you’ve gone too far. Got it?

For many people, gone are the days of writing down step by step directions. There is GPS (Global Positioning System) for that now. Many cars and phones have this handy technology. You just enter an address and it guides you to where you’re going. Well, it’s supposed to anyway.

As with any gadget, the only problem with GPS navigation is when it doesn’t work properly. Sometimes, the little voice tells you to do confusing things. But don’t worry. Buckle up and place your trust in the voices of Jason and Ella as they navigate you through this lesson about GPS.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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

Ella

Jason

Ella:  So I’m going on a road trip soon, about a ten hour drive. Ready.

Jason:  Nice. I’d lend you my GPS, but it gives almost exclusively bad directions.

Ella:  Yeah, I’d be OK without that. I have one on my phone, just kind of as a just-in-case, but I always print out directions. Always. And I always have a map, too.

Jason:  Wow.

Ella:  GPS kinda freaks me out sometimes.

Jason:  I gotta get those old tools back, ‘cause the GPS…You know, I rely on it, but it does make me do crazy things. Like sometimes I’m driving in a circle and I’m like, “Why are you telling me to do this?” Is that why you bring a map and stuff, does your GPS lead you off course?

Ella:  Yeah, and what if there’s a detour or, you know, something’s closed. There’s just so many things that can happen on the road that you’re not ready for.

Jason:  It’s true. It’s good though for details, like within cities. I remember using it…you know, I’d have a map, and I’d be trying to find the one obscure street on this map that I was looking for, and at least the GPS instantly knows all these alleyways and what have you.

Ella:  Yeah. I feel like it’s perfect for cities, but when those long road trips happen you have to have a backup plan.

Jason:  Please turn left into the lake.

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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