Topic: Family

Listen and Practice: Being able to introduce yourself and your family is an important language and social skill. Listen and answer the questions.Then, review the script to improve your listening and pronunciation skills.

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Actual Transcription:

There are five people in my family, and my parents still have a cat and dog. I have two older brothers, and the oldest works as a graphic designer for a computer company. My other brother is a manager of a bank in our hometown. My dad is retired, but he keeps himself busy hiking, taking care of his grandchildren, and volunteering in the community. My mom still runs a flower shop. My grandmother lives around the corner from our house; my grandfather passed away about a year ago, but grandma keeps busy in her garden. I guess you could say that we’re a pretty close family. We like doing things together, mainly because we have so many things in common.

Reduced Speech:

There are five people in my family, ən’ my parents still have ə cat ən’ dog. I have two older brothers, ən’ thə oldest works as ə graphic designer fər ə computer company. My other brother is ə manager əf ə bank in our hometown. My dad is retired, but he keeps ‘imself busy hiking, taking care əf ‘is grandchildren, ən’ volunteering in thə community. My mom still runs ə flower shop. My grandmother lives around thə corner from our house; my grandfather passed away əbout ə year ago, but grandma keeps busy in ər garden. I guess you could say that we‘re ə pretty close family. We like doing things təgether, mainly bəcause we have so many things in common.

Activities:

  1. Discussion: Talk əbout your family, including thə number əf members, what each person does (job ər school), ən’ thə things they like  do in their free time.
  2. Internet Activity: Go online ən’ collect information on thə family structure (extended, nuclear, one-parent, etc.) ən’ thə roles that family members play in ə culture other than you own.