Learn English with this contentment English lesson

Intro

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

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• the next best thing
• the grass is always greener
• apprehensive
• wondering

• satisfied
• gratitude
• peace of mind
• dissatisfied

• live up to one's potential
• searching

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

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Here’s a big question. Are you satisfied? Do you have everything you want or need? It’s a difficult question to answer. Some people feel gratitude for being healthy, working at a job, and having a place to sleep. It gives them peace of mind. But other people are unsatisfied unless they’re searching for the next best thing. To them, having food and a home aren’t enough.

“The grass is always greener on the other side!” It’s an expression that means that other people always seem to be doing better than we are. But if we spend all of our time feeling apprehensive and wondering if we’re as successful as our friends, how can we enjoy life? Isn’t it better to think about what we have instead of what we don’t have?

Marni and Rafael have very different opinions about what makes them happy. Learn more in today’s English lesson about feeling good about oneself and one’s life.

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.

Rafael

Marni

Rafael:  So, I have this whole schedule ahead of me.

Marni:  OK.

Rafael:  But the thing is, I’m really peaceful. Really happy, really satisfied, really content with how things are right now. So I’m just wondering, do I even need to go on all these scheduled jobs, and trips, and vacations, and all that kind of stuff?

Marni:  If you have just total peace of mind where you are right now, and you’re feeling apprehensive about some of these things, then perhaps, but…

Rafael:  Not just peace of mind, Marni… gratitude.

Marni:  OK. For everything you have?

Rafael:  Yeah.

Marni:  That’s great. That’s really great. I wish I could have that. I’m always, “The grass is always greener on the other side.” I’m always looking for the next best thing.

Rafael:  Would you describe yourself as searching?

Marni:  Definitely. I always feel like I’m not living up to my potential. And there’s something else I should be doing that will make me content, but I haven’t found it yet.

Rafael:  So you’re unsatisfied, in other words.

Marni:  Yeah. I would say that’s true.

Rafael:  Well, good luck to you.

Marni:  Thanks. I need it!

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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