Learn English with this relationship English lesson

Intro

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

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• be fond of
• be into (something)
• drive crazy
• dying to

• getting on each other's nerves
• absence makes the heart grow fonder
• day-to-day
• fall for

• annoying

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

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Have you ever lived with a spouse or partner? As much as you may love each other, after a while, your partner may start to get on your nerves. Maybe you wish she would wash her dishes more, or that he would stop snoring. Then one day, she goes out of town for a business trip, and something amazing happens. You start to miss her. You start to remember all the things about her that you loved so much. That’s because absence makes the heart grow fonder.

When you have time away from someone, all the day-to-day aspects of their personality aren’t there to bother you. You have time to remember the big things that you love about them. It almost feels as if your heart has room to grow and love again. In your partner’s absence, you can really feel those feelings of fondness, or love, that made you fall for your person in the first place.

Devan’s on vacation away from her husband, Jason. Does absence make her heart grow fonder? Find out in this relationships English lesson.

3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.

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.

Marni

Devan

Marni:  So, what’s it like to be back in town?

Devan:  It’s great. And weird. There are all these things that I hated about the city that now seem kind of cool and exciting.

Marni:  Like what?

Devan:  Like all the people and the noise. I even miss the traffic! I used to drive around in my car and listen to the radio, and now I have no idea what’s going on in the world.

Marni:  I guess I can see where you would miss those things, being away from it, but I bet if you moved back to town, all this noise would just totally annoy you. You know what they say: Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Devan:  That’s probably true. It’s probably because I’ve been away from the city that I miss it so much. But anyway, enough about me. I want to hear about your baby! How is it being a mom?

Marni:  It’s great. I love it. You know, Dawn is just the best. I wake up every day, and when she smiles at me, it just makes my heart melt.

Devan:  That’s great. I can’t wait to meet her.

Marni:  I know. I wish I could have brought her in to work today. You know, it sounds kind of crazy, but even when I’m away from her for just a few hours, I miss her so much.

Devan:  But I thought absence makes the heart grow fonder?

Marni:  I don’t think I could be any more fond of her than I already am. So, how about you and Jason? Are you guys going to jump on the baby train anytime soon?

Devan:  You know, we’re not. We’re both fond of kids and everything, but I don’t think either one of us is interested in becoming a parent. It’s just not in our plan.

Marni:  I respect that. Not everybody has to have kids.

Devan:  And to be honest, Jason’s more into his garden these days anyway. It seems like all those flowers and vegetables are like his children. It’s kind of driving me a little bit crazy.

Marni:  Oh, no. You sound annoyed.

Devan:  I am. I’m cuter than a spinach plant, aren’t I?

Marni:  Totally. Maybe it’s a good idea that you took this trip. You know what they say: Absence makes the heart grow fonder. I bet Jason is at home, just dying for you to get back.

Devan:  I hope so.

 

Grammar Point

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Lesson MP3

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