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.

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.