Conversation for all occasions

round 
 the people I love. 
Q: Who do you love to be around with? A: Like I said the people that I love; 
 namely, my parents, my brothers and 
 sisters, Carol and Jim, and Tina. 
Q: Are those all the people you want to be A: If you want the whole list, then I also 
around with? want these people: Mary, Leslie, John, 
 and Steve. 
Q: When is the next holiday? A: Independence Day is the next holiday; it 
 is on July 4th of every year. 
Q: What will you do on Independence Day? A: It is quite hot in July; therefore, I will 
probably hold a barbecue at the beach. 
Q: What kind of foods will you have? A: Something that can be easily cooked; 
for example, hot dogs, hamburgers, and 
 pasta salad. 
Q: Will you play some music? A: Definitely, I will play the following 
 types of music: Country, Rock 
 and Roll and Classical music. 
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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX 
NEW YEAR’S EVE 
Situation: Matthew is preparing for a party to celebrate New Year’s Eve. While discussing the 
party with Phuong, a friend visiting from Vietnam, Matthew realizes that his party will be 
Phuong’s first time celebrating the American New Year. 
Matthew: This party is going to be the best ever! I am so glad you came to visit in time to 
celebrate the New Year with me, Phuong. 
Phuong: Thank you for inviting me. I get to celebrate two New Years this year then. My 
parents asked me to come back home to celebrate the Vietnamese New Year with them, but that 
is not until February 7th. 
Matthew: Oh, that is right! You and I celebrate New Years at different times! Although the 
date of the Vietnamese New Year depends on when the new moon rises, Americans celebrate the 
New Year precisely on January 1st, regardless of whatever phase the moon is currently in. 
Phuong: Why are you having the party tonight? Why not wait until tomorrow? 
Matthew: Well, don’t you stay up the night before waiting for New Years to start? I remember 
you telling me awhile ago that you would stay up the night, waiting to set off fireworks with 
your friends when midnight finally arrives. 
Phuong: Yes, we do stay up the night before. It is called Dem Giao Thua. 
Matthew: Exactly! So your Dem Giao Thua celebration is exactly like my New Year’s Eve 
party. Although the party will not be as big as the one in New York, we will still be counting 
down to midnight. 
Phuong: How do you know about a party in New York if you live in California? Were you 
invited to the party? 
Matthew: No, I was not invited to the party exactly. I know about the celebration in New York 
because it is broadcasted on TV every year. And, everyone is welcome to attend; it is not an 
exclusive party like the one I am throwing tonight. 
Phuong: This party is shown on television? What is so special about it? 
Matthew: Well, it is quite a big celebration. Everyone gathers at a traffic intersection in New 
York called Times Square to watch various musical artists perform as they wait for midnight to 
come. But everyone’s attention is mainly focused on the Ball. 
Phuong: The ball? 
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Matthew: Yes, there is a very tall pole that stands upright on top of a building overlooking 
Times Square and at the very last minute before midnight, a large ball slowly slides down the 
pole. The Ball is made of crystal and electric lights and signifies the New Year. When the Ball 
reaches the bottom of the pole precisely at midnight, everyone celebrates the arrival of the New 
Year. 
Phuong: Wow, that all sounds so exciting! I wish I could see the Ball drop. Perhaps I should 
have gone to New York instead of coming to California to visit you. 
Matthew: Well! 
Phuong: I am just teasing you, Matthew. I would rather celebrate this New Year with you than a 
bunch of strangers in New York. 
Matthew: Well, I am glad to celebrate New Year with you too, Phuong. And if you really want 
to see the Ball drop, it is always televised remember? I was planning on turning the TV on 
before the countdown begins. We can all count down the last minute of this year and watch the 
Ball drop together. 
Phuong: Awesome! Your New Year customs are so fascinating. I am glad to be here at the 
right time. 
EXPRESSIONS 
Realize that: Nhận thức rằng 
Come back home: Trở về nhà 
Celebrate New Year: Ăn mừng ngày Đầu Năm 
Precisely: Một cách chính xác, đúng như vậy 
Whatever phase the moon is in: Bất cứ mặt trăng ở thời điểm nào 
Stay up: Thức, không đi ngủ 
Count down: Đếm xuống 
Broadcast: Phát bằng truyền thanh hay truyền hình 
Exclusive party: Bữa tiệc dành riêng cho những ai, riêng biệt 
Throw a party: Mỡ một bữa tiệc 
Everyone is welcome to attend: Mọi người có quyền tham dự, xin cứ tự nhiên đến 
Focus on: Chú trọng vào 
Signify: Có nghĩa, tượng trưng 
At the right time: Vào đúng thời điễm 
EXERCISES 
1) Conversation Practice 
Step 1: Have the students listen to the recorded dialogue. 
Step 2: Have the students read along to the recorded dialogue. 
Step 3: Divide your class into groups of two students. Have one student plays the role of 
Matthew, and another the role of Phuong. 
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2) Questions/Answers Practice 
Pair the students and have them practice the following questions and answers. Ask them to come 
up with similar questions and answers. 
Q: What is the significance of Tet? A: Tet marks the beginning of Spring, and it 
is the most important holiday in Viet 
Nam. 
 Q: How do people celebrate this special holiday? A: Tet is a long holiday. People take at least 
 three days to celebrate it. 
Q: What do they usually do to get ready for Tet? A: They always cook special foods and 
thoroughly clean their houses. 
Q: Are markets very busy at this time? A: Markets are full of people because 
 everybody is busy shopping for 
 gifts, for foods, and for their children’s 
 new clothing. 
Q: Do people sweep their houses during Tet? A: No, because sweeping during Tết is like 
 sweeping away money and luck. 
Q: How do they decorate their houses? A: People always decorate their houses with 
flowers. There are flower markets 
everywhere. 
Q: What do they do during the three days? A: They do ancestral worshipping, go to 
 church or temple, and visit relatives and 
 friends. 
Q: What happen to the children? A: They wear their new clothes and receive 
 lucky money from their parents and 
 people. 
Q: What are some of the most enjoyable things A: Staying up on New Year’s Eve to do 
people do on New Year’s Eve? ancestral worshipping, and lighting 
 firecrackers to welcome the New Year 
are some of the most enjoyable things. 
Q: How do you like Tet? A: Tet is my favorite holiday. I get to enjoy 
good foods, spend quality time with 
my family and friends, and most of all 
no school. 
3) Comprehension test 
a) Why does Phuong get to celebrate two New Years this year? 
b) What is the difference between an American and a Vietnamese New Year? 
c) Why do Phuong and her friends stay up the night before New Year? 
d) In which ways are the New Year’s Eves in America and in Vietnam alike? 
e) What is the most special event on New Year’s Eve in America? 
f) What do people in New York do to celebrate the arrival of the New Year? 
g) What does it mean when the Ball reaches the bottom of the pole? 
h) What do people do when the Ball reaches the bottom of the pole? 
i) How can they watch the party in New York without being there? 
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4) Discussion 
a) Describe the activities on New Year’s Eve and on New Year Day in your country. 
b) What are your favorite traditions on these days? Why? 
c) How do you feel about New Year now that you are no longer a child? 
GRAMMAR REVIEW 
PUNCTUATIONS 
Dashes (–) 
1) Use dashes to insert a comment. . 
My parents -like all parents- want me to be home on New Year Day. 
I clearly remember the day–who would not–that President Kennedy was assassinated 
2) Use dashes to give clarification to the terms used. 
The preparation for New Year Day—new clothing, traditional foods, house-cleaning—is 
very time-consuming. 
The weather–wind, temperature, and rain–is extremely harsh in Alaska during the winter. 
The winners–James, Helen, and Lucy–were very studious during the school year. 
Hyphens (-) 
1) Use hyphens to join elements in compound words. . 
Brother-in-law 
Vice-president 
2) Use hyphens in most compound modifiers placed before nouns. 
A right-handed person 
The fresh-cut flowers 
3) Use hyphens to write numbers from 21 to 99. 
Twenty-one 
One hundred eighty-four 
4) Use hyphens when numbers are used to depict a person or thing. 
Four-year degree 
Sixteen-year-old teenager 
Italics 
Use italics for names of books, poems, articles, work of art, movies, musical productions, ships, 
aircrafts and trains. . 
I saw Gone with the Wind yesterday. 
He went on the Queen Mary ship in Long Beach. 
Questions/Answers Practice 
Pair the students and have them practice the following questions and answers. Ask them to come 
up with similar questions and answers. 
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Q: How do you feel about holidays? A: All holidays—Independence Day, 
 Thanksgiving, New Year—are my 
 favorite days. 
Q: What do you do on these holidays? A: Either relax—reading a book, sleeping 
 late, eat out—or cook a big feast for 
 my family and friends. 
Q: What else would you want to do on A: I would want to travel—who would 
these holidays? not—if I have enough money. 
Q: Who will take care of your pets while you A: My sister-in-law will probably take care 
are away? of them for me. 
Q: When was the last time you had A: It was during the summer of last year. 
a long vacation? I went away for a total of twenty-one 
 days. 
Q: Who did you go with? A: I went with my fifteen-year-old 
daughter. 
Q: Where exactly did you go? A: I went to Long Beach to see the Queen 
 Mary ship. 
Q: What did you do while you were away? A: Among other things, I finished reading 
 War and Peace, the famous classical 
 novel of all times.