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Family Portrait
简体
Family Portrait
全家福

Learn to Use Be Able to

Date: May 11 2012

Themes: Family

Grammar: Be Able To

Intro

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In the US, it is common for families to be spread out all over the country. Getting everybody together can be challenging. That’s why it’s nice to capture the whole family on film in a family portrait.

But getting a good family portrait comes with its own challenges. First, everyone has to agree on what to wear. Then the kids and babies in the family have to sit still long enough for the photo to be taken. Then you have to cross your fingers and hope that nobody blinks! Hear Mason and Amy talk about their family portraits.

在美国,家人分散居住在全国各地是很常见的事情。大家相聚在一起很不容易。这就是一家人照全家福的妙处所在。
但要拍一张好看的全家福也是很有挑战性的。首先,大家要商量穿什么衣服。然后,家里的儿童和婴儿要能长时间坐着不动,以便照相。最后还要祈祷,但愿没人眨眼睛!请听梅森和艾米谈论他们的全家福。

Dialog

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Mason

Mason

Amy

Amy

Mason:  So, I think I unfortunately have another family portrait coming up.

Amy:  With your wife, that family, or parents and siblings?

Mason:  Yeah, with the extended family. It seems like every two years or whatever, my mom or my grandma just wants to do a family portrait.

Amy:  Right. And do you have to wear coordinated outfits and everything?

Mason:  Yeah. It’s not like insanely coordinated, but there’s definitely some conversation about do we do colors, do we do kind of like just neutral tones…

Amy:  The one large family portrait I ever did was with my whole extended family, and for some reason we decided to wear black shirts, and so we look like a big fascist army. It’s the weirdest picture.

Mason:  Yeah. I have some younger cousins, and trying to get them to pose and sit straight is never a good idea. And, you know, it takes what, an hour generally to get enough family portraits done. And they lose attention after the first 10 minutes.

Amy:  Of course. And what about the older people, is there any bickering among them?

Mason:  Not so much. The one fun part is we always make sure and do a goofy picture. So…

Amy:  That’s cute. Well, it’s good to be able to look back at all your dated family portraits and realize how much more attractive you are now.

 

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Discussion

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Mason’s mother and grandmother want to take a new family portrait with their whole extended family. Mason’s family usually takes a new family portrait every few years.

Amy asks if Mason’s family will wear coordinated outfits for their portrait. Mason says they won’t wear identical clothes, but clothes that are somewhat similar. The hardest part about taking a family portrait in Mason’s family is getting all the young kids to sit still. The best part is when they take a goofy picture.

Have you ever taken a family portrait? Was everyone able to sit still and not blink? Did you and your family members wear coordinated outfits for the portrait?

 

Comments

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cheer manal

Morocco

we do take family portraits, which is a great way to keep memories alive. the idea may pop up when my extended family come together for instance in summer, or when meeting at a party.. it can be anytime, anywhere. so we don´t plan to take a formal family portrait with a certain outfit. it just comes abruptly. i am so into taking pictures it´s like recording our livesSmile

03:27 PM May 11 2012 |

alexa1

alexa1

Saudi Arabia

i think it’s great idea,  but we don’t do it here .

02:54 PM May 11 2012 |

Crizsearch

Crizsearch

Indonesia

I would love to do that. unfortunatelly we have not taken family portrait for quite long time, I think I should ask my dad to arrange it.  We don’t have to wear coordinated outfits for the portrait, it’s good to have our family unite very well.

01:54 PM May 11 2012 |

sunsilian

sunsilian

China

Yeah,family portrait is a wonderful thing.I like it ,it makes our extended family’s relationship become well.but, my family never do it,that is so not good

01:52 PM May 11 2012 |

leanTVXQ

leanTVXQ

China

For me it’s difficult to take an extended family portrait.My parents and I live in another city far from my hometown village.In China families also spread out all over the country now,because more young man accept college education leaving their parents in other city,and they stay there ,struggle there after graduate.I have more picutres taken with my friends and colleague.I haven’t seen my uncles and cousins for many years…I think i will regret and guilt when I couldn’t take extended portrait any more.

01:06 PM May 11 2012 |

supernetpal

Egypt

well .. it’s the happiest moment i ever have when my family members get together and take  extended family pictures; these photos are really memorials and remind us with different situations and occasions. Family atmosphere is really warm so, don’t miss it anymore :)

12:52 PM May 11 2012 |

mehrdad_simorgh

United States

Hello. I checked words definitions in dictionary and I wanna a some word for who wants build a good vocab :
subordinate: in a less important position than someone else.

12:47 PM May 11 2012 |

mehrdad_simorgh

United States

Hello. I checked words definitions in dictioanary and I wanna a some word for who wants build a good vocab :
subordinate: in a less important position than someone else.

12:46 PM May 11 2012 |

1 person likes this

Shabrina

Shabrina

Indonesia

I don’t remember when I took a picture with my extended family, it was like so long time ago :/ and now I live so far away from my extended family. We (Me, mom, dad, old and young bro) always move from one city to others city, even an Island! It’s because of my dad’s job. So, we always meet them like once in three-four months. It needs to go by plane _



Well, it’s better if the kids and babies dont want to sit still, I mean imagine if theyre crying? OH NO!!

12:29 PM May 11 2012 |

samirah

samirah

Saudi Arabia

julito. hhhhhhhh i will try it next time ..

12:22 PM May 11 2012 |

saleh-007

Saudi Arabia

F. The girl next to a young child she Alhqra it the most beautiful girl I’ve seen in my life.
It’s really beautiful beautiful beautiful I am really fascinated by the enchanting sight it is to apply for marriage, including: *

11:48 AM May 11 2012 |

1 person likes this

 julito

julito

Argentina

 samirah.  I see , there is no necessity  for the photographer  to say … hey Samirah ..say cheese Kiss

11:36 AM May 11 2012 |

samirah

samirah

Saudi Arabia

I never took a portrait with my extended family due to huge numbers .hhhhh i always take pictures with my parents and siblings especially on ceremonies such as Eid-alfitr and Al -Adha . actually , it is hard for me to sit still, i dont know a sudden uncontrollable laugh steals over me every once i tried to take a picture with them . hhhh

11:31 AM May 11 2012 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

 Well, it appears that  having a scheduled family portrait  and  posing with coordinated  oufits  is something  that only takes place in the US. 


In my country  we have pictures taking  only  at  birthday´s parties  or  celebrations. As for myself  I realize that i was much attractive  way back in the past . Mason ,you have been complimented by Amy, grace her  with a box of chocolates.     Wink


10:14 AM May 11 2012 |

Irene Forever

Ukraine

What a necessary subject to discuss!


I have a great deal of photos in my family albums and on my PC, but I don’t have any ptopos where the whole family is jointly.


I don’t think, each member of my family should have  coordinated outfits.:) What for? Just dearest faces matter in the ptoto.


How much I want to have at least one ptoto of my dearest people. My family is not so big now because my grandparents passed away long ago.


I’ll try to have a family portrait taken  as fast as it possible.


s.sara

American Samoa

hi i am sara from iraq i  like to find some body to make confirsation onlin with him to learn americam english and i can learn him arabic if he or she want 

09:54 AM May 11 2012 |

h.nastaran

h.nastaran

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I have so family portrait till now & for take these pic, it was so simply Laughing I never think them as a specially doing!!! but I like that. these are memento

08:34 AM May 11 2012 |

La Princesse de la vie

Egypt

I had many family portraits before. But not  extended family portraits. Just me, my siblings and mum and dad Smile. It had always been quite hard for my two young brothers to pose and it always took long to take a nice photo. I remember once I blinked while the portrait was being taken Laughing, I didn’t like this photo. We had never taken a photo in similar outfits and I don’t think we will ever do Cool. Our portraits were ordinary ones, we never took goofy photos and I don’t like to do that.

07:43 AM May 11 2012 |

CatcheR

CatcheR

Iceland

I have family portrait but that’s old one, when I was small .Now my family hasn’t take new one yet, probably in the Ied celebration.

05:49 AM May 11 2012 |

An-china

An-china

Germany

I think to take “family portrait” after some time is really necessary in some words.  Similar to Rockyy01, my aunt passed away last year


As to the photos, kids can always have a sunshine smile. But my uncles and parents,always have strict face. I think it’s perfect to catch a moment when they are doing sth.


I will take a family potrait this year, again;0

05:23 AM May 11 2012 |

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