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Valentine's Day

Practice the Zero Conditional

Date: Feb 08 2012

Themes: Holidays, Romance

Grammar: Zero Conditional

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Intro

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Some people dread Valentine’s Day. Others love it. Whether you love or hate the couples’ holiday might have something to do with whether or not you’re in a relationship. But even some happy couples decide not to make a big deal out of V-Day. They see it as more of a commercial holiday, and prefer to celebrate their love on their own schedule. Hear how Jason and Amy plan to spend Valentine’s Day with their sweeties this year.

Dialog

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

Amy

Jason

Amy: Do you have any Valentine’s Day plans, Jason?

Jason: Yes, but they’re very un-Valentine’s Day.

Amy: Oh really?

Jason: Yes. My girlfriend and I are going to a basketball game, because last year, we went all out and did an actual Valentine’s Day experience, and it was kind of a disaster.

Amy: Oh no, why?

Jason: Well, we went to this place where there was a lounge singer, and it was like a dinner theater experience, and they greeted you with champagne and roses right when you walk in, and they take your photo, and you get your own table.

Amy: That sounds kinda fun. Kinda cheesy-fun.

Jason: At first it was. But the performer was really bad. And it was really expensive, and the singing was bad, and we couldn’t even talk. And at the end we didn’t feel romantic at all.

Amy: That’s the thing about Valentine’s Day that is kind of annoying. So many restaurants, if you want to go out to dinner with your sweetie, they charge so much more than what they would normally charge. And it can end up just being…You just feel kind of like you wasted money, or you bought into this really commercial holiday.

Jason: That was exactly how I felt. So this year, I said, “You know what? Remember that disaster last year? Let’s just not participate in Valentine’s Day.”

Amy: And your girlfriend was OK with that plan?

Jason: Yeah.

Amy: That’s good.

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Discussion

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Amy asks Jason about his Valentine’s Day plans. He explains that he and his girlfriend are going to a basketball game on Valentine’s Day. They tried to do something more romantic last year, but it turned into an expensive disaster.

On Valentine’s Day, many restaurants raise their prices. Amy agrees that going out on Valentine’s Day can be expensive and annoying. She thinks that Valentine’s Day is mostly a commercial holiday.

What are your Valentine’s Day plans? Do you think Valentine’s Day is too commercial?

Comments

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I M P E R I V M

United States

I HATE Valentine’s Day! it is that day of the year when the world reminds me that I dont have anyone to love :( (plus I hate all that plastic propaganda)

ola33

Japan

Snoopyboy, nice attitude!!!

ola33

Japan

Kropeszka, I think there’s some sense having this topic a week before. It’s to get the Valentine’s cards and to get them all ready! One week preparation is good enough ;)

Kropeczka

Poland

Why? Why on Earth we have this topic almost one week before VD? Or, like Snoopy said, before Doomsday?

Love is important in my life but I prefer to celebrate it in private and whenever I want.

snoopyboy

Antarctica

I wear a pink tutu on Valentine’s Day Diva

diva87

Morocco

i prepare before a week i will celebrate with my friends and we wear red clothes in this daydoet matter where ,YES it is all prices are raising any way ilove this even

snoopyboy

Antarctica

: )

this is Woodstock my little birdie friend, Ola333

ola33

Japan

Snoopyboy, thank you so much. It’s all about love which is so recriprocal and very responsive as well. I’ll send my vibes to you. You’ll have cupids too ;)

Wait a sec. you’ve got one arleady… there… there…sitting on your shoulder )

snoopyboy

Antarctica

I like to see people all excited and enjoying themselves on holidays and special occasions, even when ,I, myself isn’t necessarily moved by it.

I hope you get spoiled on V.D . and all of those little cupids you’ve managed to count could forever hover over you and your lover. from February until December and the year after, from winter until summer, through all ordeals and weather…

er,er,er,er got it?

ola33

Japan

Always ready :))

snoopyboy

Antarctica

How many of them are there?

I see you’re ready for V.Day…

ola33

Japan

Snoopyboy, counting Cupids :)

snoopyboy

Antarctica

What are you doing Ola333?

ola33

Japan

I’m very excited about celebrating Valentine’s Day and not quite worried about doing some “cheesy” rituals with champagne and flowers at all. It’s fun and the “lovebirds” will be talking jokingly, for sure, about listening the nonromantic lousy singer. Though many people complain of Valentine’s Day getting more and more commercial, but who’s not dreaming of getting a card or a bouquet with a box of chocolate. The goodwill is in the air creating a loving protecting shield for all of us, like in those movie The incredibles”, the teenage girl’s superpower skills. I think LOVE is a blessing and can call it a superpower able to turn the stones over and it’s eternal. For sure, it is. I think also this can be a good excuse for getting Valentine’s Day frenzies. True, on V.D many people think of not only greeting their loved ones but just their friends as well, anyone who they want that day to be a special one. Isn’t it awesome! No apologies, I think, needed for sending only 1 billion Valentine’s cards in America.

Honestly, I would only celebrate this holiday to honor St.Valentine, the Roman priest, who sent a woman a note “From your Valentine” before he was executed on Feb 14 in 270 A.D. And thank you very much Pope Gelasius for naming Feb 14 in honor of St Valentine as the patron saint of lovers. So, on this day, why not to take and advantage of writing romantic verses for your loved one. We’re not guilty of doing it every day, do we? And of course, you’ll never get tired of seeing cute little chubby Cupids flying in the air. Do you see them? I do!

allan Izaguirre

Costa Rica

We usually say we love people, however, there ia an acid test to know whether we love other or we just pretend we love them. It’s found in Corinthians 13:”4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres”. Now, change the word Love for your name. Example>Allan is patient,kind.Allan doesn’t envy etc. Then, ask yourself if the statements you wrote are true or false.