IN THIS LESSON, YOU WILL
2. Read comments about two local music schools.
3. Discuss which school your friend should go to.
PRACTICE
STEP A EXERCISE
Match the sentences on the left with the expressions on the right.
1. Tom has a problem: If he sells his house now, he won’t have a place to stay in, but if he waits, he might not be able to sell it at a good price.
2. I’ve had these boots for over ten years now, and they still look good.
3. Michael was annoyed because the expensive shirt he bought went out of fashion really quickly!
4. My date claimed that he was a successful model, but I later found out that he washes cars for a living.
5. Sophie was so mad that she paid $100 to see her favorite singer dance around on stage and just pretend to sing his hit songs. |
a. lip sync
b. a fad
c. a dilemma
d. made to last
e. a phony |
STEP B EXERCISE
Are the underlined expressions used correctly? If not, change the sentences.
- Working from home could be a boon or a bane. It could save you a lot of time and give you more freedom.
- They recently started to charge customers on a sliding scale. Everyone has to pay the same price from now on.
- Appliances break so much faster these days. They don’t make them like they used to.
- If you always give your employees positive feedback, they’ll feel happy at work. And if they’re happy, they’ll perform well. It’s a slippery slope.
- You should definitely do your research when choosing a bank because some banks will nickel and dime you. My old bank used to charge for every little thing!
MISSION
Challenge 1
Your foreign friend just moved to Japan. He/She is very excited to start working on another long-time dream. Find out what it is.
Remember?
- made to last
- They don’t make them like they used to.
- a dilemma
- To do something or not to do something: That is the question.
Don't forget to speak your mind!
- I’m of the opinion that…
- I see nothing wrong with…
- It’s a crapshoot.
- You’ve got to be kidding!
 |
Challenge 2
After your conversation with your friend, you decided to look up the two music schools that he/she mentioned. Read the reviews for them.
Remember?
- on a sliding scale
- lip sync
- a phony
- nickel and dime someone
Anthem Music Institute
★★★★☆
by: Kanna
My daughter took piano lessons at AMI. Their courses are really affordable because they charge on a sliding scale. I found out later on, though, that some parents cheated on the application forms and claimed that they earn less than they actually do. They pay really low student fees as a result even though they could afford higher rates. They told me that it’s okay because AMI is nickel and diming parents by charging us each time our children use music sheets. Aside from that issue, I think AMI is a great school with excellent instructors. My daughter loved her time there and she’s a pro at playing the piano now!
In Tune School of Music
★★★☆☆
by: Reo
I just finished my singing lessons at In Tune a few months ago. Their rates are a bit high, but I chose to go there because they had good reviews. Overall, my experience was great and I learned a lot of the fundamentals of singing. I had one bad experience, though. Before my recital day, we were practicing really hard, so my voice was affected a bit and my instructor noticed. He told me to just lip sync during my performance because he was afraid that my voice might break. I ended up lip syncing on my recital day and felt like a phony the whole time.
Challenge 3
A few days later, you met up with your friend at a café. Tell him/her what you found out about the two music schools and give advice about which one he/she should go to.
Remember?
- on a sliding scale
- lip sync
- a phony
- a boon or a bane
- nickel and dime someone
- a slippery slope
Don't forget to speak your mind!
- I’m of the opinion that…
- I see nothing wrong with…
- It’s a crapshoot...
- You’ve got to be kidding!
FEEDBACK
Help your friend follow one of his/her dreams in Japan.
MISSION ACHIEVEMENT
-
4
Very GoodCould complete the task with ease
-
3
GoodCould complete the task with some clarifications
-
2
FairCould complete the task with additional instructions
-
1
PoorCould somehow complete the task with difficulty
PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK
- RANGE
the ability to use a wide variety of vocabulary - ACCURACY
the ability to speak correctly - FLUENCY
the ability to speak smoothly without pauses or fillers - INTERACTION
the ability to manage a conversation
