Intro
1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.
2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.
It’s hard to find a cheap date! Dinner costs money. Drinks cost money. Movies cost money.
If you’re short on cash but want to have a fun night out, there is another option for you. Visit a local art gallery. On opening night, artists usually provide free wine to people who stop by to see their exhibit. Sip your drink and discover what inspired the artists to paint such beautiful portraits or landscapes.
You shouldn’t feel pressured to buy anything. Mostly, the artists hope you’ll tell your friends about their work. Positive word of mouth will help improve their reputation.
Find out what Mason and Amanda think about art galleries in this English lesson.
Dialog
1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.
2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.
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Mason: Hey, Amanda, there’s a really cool gallery opening tonight. Do you want to go check it out with me?
Amanda: So you’re asking me if I want to go in a building and look at some framed pieces on a wall?
Mason: Yeah. The artist is going to be there. And you can talk to him about what he was inspired by. They’re really great landscapes!
Amanda: I guess what I don’t understand is they have such a good, positive reputation, but when I get there I find myself really bored.
Mason: You get bored by art galleries?
Amanda: I don’t know what you’re supposed to do once you get there.
Mason: Mostly, you get to drink some free wine and you walk around and appreciate it. I’m no expert, but you look at something and if it strikes you, then you’re like, “Wow! That’s nice. I like that.”
Amanda: Are there any portraits there? Is it photography? Is it watercolor? Is it oil?
Mason: This guy does landscapes, and I think he uses a bunch of different media. I’m not a big fan of portraits usually myself. Not everybody likes everything.
Amanda: Will I feel pressured to buy something? Or is it more of an exhibition?
Mason: I don’t feel pressured to buy anything.
Amanda: What if word of mouth gets out that we went there, were a bunch of cheapskates, and didn’t buy anything?
Mason: Maybe people will stop bugging me to buy their art. Win-win.
Amanda: Why not? Let’s go.
Grammar Point
Go Super to learn "Simple Future Tense" from this lesson
Quizzes
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Discussion
Mason asks Amanda to visit an art gallery opening with him. He’s clearly excited about the beautiful landscapes hanging on the wall, not to mention the free wine.
Amanda, on the other hand, thinks art galleries are boring. She’s not inspired by looking at pictures. She’s also afraid she’ll feel pressured by the artists, and she doesn’t want to get a reputation for being cheap since she’s not going to buy a painting.
Have you ever attended an art gallery opening? What kind of pictures were there? Do you appreciate art?
Comments
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