Your friend is an American who just moved to Germany a few years ago. He/She is concerned about his/her son’s performance at school.

Help your friend decide what to do with his/her son.

IN THIS LESSON, YOU WILL

1. Listen to a voicemail about your friend’s concerns.
2. Warn your friend about homeschooling in Germany.
3. Talk about the pros of studying in Germany.

PRACTICE

STEP A EXERCISE

Choose the responses that best use the underlined expressions.

1.

Tutor: Have you bought a car yet?

Student: __________.

  1. Yeah, I have. I bought the first car I saw because I loved it right away. It was a tough call!
  2. Not yet. I’m having a really hard time choosing what car to buy. It’s a tough call!

 

2.

Tutor: Why is your sister packing her things?

Student: _________.

  1. She’s moving across the country because she wants to broaden her horizons.
  2. She’s just cleaning her room because she wants to broaden her horizons.

 

3.

Tutor: What did your daughter’s teacher tell you?

Student: __________.

  1. He told me that I should consider letting her join the school’s quiz team because she’s really bright.
  2. He told me that she’s getting bad grades because she’s really bright.

 

4.

Tutor: Why did Mr. Bigsby get fired?

Student: __________.

  1. They found out that he was indoctrinating students so they could get better test scores.
  2. He apparently was trying to indoctrinate students with his own religious beliefs.

 

5.

Tutor: Why did you choose to study at that university?

Student: __________.

  1. I love the campus, and the tuition is low.
  2. I love the campus, and the tuition is high.

STEP B EXERCISE

Make sentences using the pictures, words, and expressions in parentheses. The form of some expressions may need to be changed.

corgis’ legs

short

1. (be disproportionately something)

 

 

smoking

restaurants

2. (be outlawed)

 

 

Sofia

shoplifting

3. (be prosecuted)

 

 

working from home

accept the job offer

4. (weigh the pros and cons)

 

 

local government

animal shelters

5. (subsidize something)

MISSION

Challenge 1

Your friend’s son hasn’t been getting good grades at his primary school in Germany. Your friend is worried about the future of his education and left you a voicemail about it. Listen to the voicemail.

Remember?

  • be disproportionately something
  • a tough call
  • broaden one’s horizons
  • bright

Challenge 2

After listening to your friend’s voicemail, you immediately called him/her back. Give your friend advice about what to do. Be sure to warn your friend about homeschooling in Germany.

Remember?

  • weigh the pros and cons
  • be outlawed
  • be prosecuted for something
  • indoctrinate someone
  • broaden one’s horizons

Don't forget to speak your mind!

  • I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree.
  • The sooner…, the better.
  • Why on earth…?
  • I think it’s fair to say…

Challenge 3

A week after your phone conversation, you met up with your friend. He/She is now considering moving back to the US. Convince him/her to stay in Germany by discussing the pros of education there.

Remember?

  • weigh the pros and cons
  • a tough call
  • tuition
  • subsidize something

Don't forget to speak your mind!

  • I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree.
  • The sooner…, the better.
  • Why on earth…?
  • I think it’s fair to say…

FEEDBACK

Help your friend decide what to do with his/her son.

MISSION ACHIEVEMENT

  • 4
    Very Good

    Could complete the task with ease

  • 3
    Good

    Could complete the task with some clarifications

  • 2
    Fair

    Could complete the task with additional instructions

  • 1
    Poor

    Could somehow complete the task with difficulty

PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK