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Leap Year

Learn the Zero Conditional

Date: Feb 29 2012

Themes: Time

Grammar: Zero Conditional

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Intro

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There’s something exciting about a leap year. Maybe it’s just that it only occurs once every four years. Or maybe it’s the idea of getting an extra day out of the year, like when we turn back the clocks for daylight saving time and get an extra hour.

In any case, February 29 doesn’t come around very often. So what will you do with your extra day? Hear about Jason and Marni’s plans.

Dialog

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

Jason

Marni

Jason: I was trying to make some plans, and suddenly I realized that this is a leap year.

Marni: I know. We get an extra day.

Jason: It seems like it should be more of a holiday or something almost.

Marni: Yeah, I always feel that way, like you should do something really crazy on the 29th of February, because it only happens every four years.

Jason: My aunt was born on the 29th of February.

Marni: Wow.

Jason: She is gonna turn, probably, I think, you know, 13 or something.

Marni: Right. I always wonder how people who have leap year as their birthday, how they celebrate it, if they go the day before or the day after.

Jason: She does March 1st if it’s not there.

Marni: OK.

Jason: But it is a little confusing to have that 29th of February in that week. It just throws off the mental count of the days somehow for me.

Marni: Sure. It’s such a bonus that we get this extra day, and I always feel like I should seize this opportunity to do something amazing.

Jason: It’s so strange, too, that it even has to be there. I’m not even quite sure how that works. But it does.

Marni: Well, maybe we’ll do something epic this year for leap year.

Jason: Like long jump!

Marni: Yes.

Jason: Or ski jumping.

Marni: Sure. I’m not good at any of those things.

Jason: Or leap frog.

Marni: Leap frog! Now you’re on.

Grammar Point

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Discussion

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Jason reminds Marni that this is a leap year. Every four years, there is an extra day in February, the 29th. This is known as a leap year.

Marni thinks leap years are exciting. She and Jason both wish February 29th were celebrated like a holiday, since it’s such a special day. Marni views it as a bonus day. She suggests that she and Jason seize the opportunity to do something really wild or unusual. Jason suggests they play leap frog.

Are you excited that it’s a leap year? Are you going to do anything special on February 29th?

Comments

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marija luiza

Mexico

Well, It is a very simple answer. It is true about is a leap year, but people in my country never do nothing special to celebrate it, only if it is a weekend day. People do their normal live they go to work, to the school and it is a busy day like always.

Nothing special for me.

It would be great to have a day off to celebrate it haha

husenjan

China

I don’t think that have an extra day is very exsiting event,it is same as other days in a year.but if you have an extra day,you will have more times to study.

kukuka

Ukraine

Oh, I don’t think that having an extra day is a super exciting event. At least, it isn’t in my opinion. And by the way it has already gone.

MUHAMMAD92

Saudi Arabia

nothing.

manik athawale

India

I am very much happy to notice in my life like this day
Because other days or dates are come and going as a normally but twenty ninth of February come only four years one time who or she this day if marry or if some house child birth take place than so beautiful because only that family need to celebrate one time open four year that child birthday celebration or marriage anniversary celebration because one years celebration means lot of money need to spend that program per year lot of money he or she or they saving that why that person life is very much meaningful like these day or date

kotlesya

Belarus

julito, thanks for the invitation. I take it

i love life

Palestinian Territory, Occupied

Today I have a special friends , He celebrated in his birthday .

As we know there are many things we can do what we like if we beleive this thing is normal where is the problem .

I don’t like to do something express about the superstition I trust in my God .

I,M not going to do anything special this day for me as usual days .

if I am from country is weird maybe I will do something is strange.

I will be excited when my country will be free someday .

I guess if anyone born during this day , I think He will be famous figure .

o.alkathiri

United Arab Emirates

it is frist time to know about this day

good lesson it is very useful to know new vocabulary

jouana

Lebanon

It’s a special day for many people especially those born in that time because they growing up every four years but for me it’s normal day

heinzbert

Germany

No, I´m not much excited about this day. For me it´s a normal day – I try to make use of every single day as much as I can.

FUN777

Egypt

Not really, for me i consider everyday is a great opportunity and a wonderful gift we must use it as much as we can.

julito

Argentina

LESYA, unfortunately we are miles away ,otherwise, to cheer you up we might invite you for a walk and on the way have a cup of coffee

Vina Novalina

Indonesia

Happy Leap Day ♥ The Earth doesn’t circle the sun in 365 days but 365.2425. An extra day that only comes around every 4 years so make it count!

meere

Oman

good to know those new words n to learn more a bout the leap year :)

jossef 002010

Morocco

No i am not really excited ..even the ambiance between people you feel that there’s nothing different nothing special in this day just like rest of the days .

maybe in other cultures we may find people celebrate this event !

kotlesya

Belarus

mnal_F,ola33,julito, I’m grateful for the support and understanding you are trying to give me. Your words make me feel better. Unfortunately, not everything is easy to overcome, not everything is easy to forget, to leave behind and to step into another sunny day. I strongly wish it was possible.