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.
The ocean is an extraordinary place. It is home to millions of fish and sea creatures. It affects our weather. It is so large that people and boats and airplanes can easily become lost in it. It is beautiful and relaxing, but also powerful and dangerous. It’s not a surprise, then, that people both love and fear the ocean.
There are so many ways to spend one’s time at the ocean. There’s swimming, walking in the sand, looking for seashells, watching the birds, building a sandcastle, going fishing, enjoying the sun, or even just sleeping. It’s the kind of place where everyone can find something to do.
Marni and Jessica are talking about the ocean. Find out who loves it and who fears it in this English lesson about nature.
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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Jessica: So, it has been absolutely beautiful weather lately.
Marni: It has been.
Jessica: And with the sun shining, all I can think about is going swimming in the ocean.
Marni: Really?
Jessica: Yes. It’s so soothing! And the waves... just the sounds that you hear when you’re at the beach, and the sand between your toes… it’s all so therapeutic.
Marni: I guess. I mean, I do like the sound of the waves. But all I can think about is how terrifying the ocean is. There are sharks in there. There’s just that awesome power. It can just suck you in whole. And the waves are so choppy. It’s terrifying.
Jessica: I don’t know. All the sounds… with the birds flying over you, and just the movement of the water… it puts you at ease.
Marni: Man, all I can think about is every time I go to the ocean, is when is a shark going to come and just devour me?
Jessica: Oh my gosh. I grew up in Hawaii, and I never had a shark experience. So I think you should just relax and enjoy the atmosphere. Try to go again.
Marni: Maybe. I don’t know. I’m kind of scared, and maybe I’ll just go and I’ll step back. And I’ll just watch you.
Jessica: There you go. Yes.
Marni: OK. I can do that.
Jessica: I’ll go swimming. I’ll wave from the ocean.
Grammar Point
Go Super to learn "Present Perfect Tense" from this lesson
Quizzes
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Discussion
The beautiful weather makes Jessica want to go swimming in the ocean. She loves the sound of the waves, the sand between her toes, and the birds flying above her head. Everything about the ocean is therapeutic and relaxing to Jessica. She really wants to go.
Marni’s feelings about the ocean are the opposite of Jessica’s. The ocean is extremely frightening to Marni. She’s afraid of the big waves and the sharks. She knows that the ocean is powerful, and she worries that it’s too dangerous for swimming. She has no interest in going to the beach, except maybe to watch her friend Jessica.
Do you enjoy going to the ocean? Do you swim in it, or just enjoy it from the beach? What is your favorite thing about the ocean?
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