Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. vintage
    • ex. She wore a vintage jacket from the 1980s.
  2. an immigrant
    • ex. His grandparents were immigrants from Italy.
  3. a collector
    • ex. The art collector bought several famous paintings.
  4. artwork
    • ex. The museum displayed artwork from local artists.
  5. a mural
    • ex. The city is famous for its street murals.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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Large-letter postcards that show American towns and tourist sites are still popular in the United States. The vintage cards became famous in the 1930s after German immigrant Curt Teich began making bright postcards in Chicago. Historian Will Hansen said Teich improved the mass production of postcards. He believed every town, even small ones, could have its own postcard.

During the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, many Americans traveled by car and mailed postcards to friends and family. The cards used strong colors and simple pictures to present an exciting image of the country. Hansen said the postcards reflected a hopeful period when Americans had more money and greater freedom to travel around the nation.

Collector Peter Meggison of Massachusetts owns 10,000 large-letter postcards and especially likes cards from his hometown and from Michigan. He said the artwork helps people remember life in mid-20th-century America. Today, travelers often take photos beside murals designed like old postcards and share them on social media. The Newberry Library worked with the rock band The Eagles last year to create giant postcard images for a concert in Las Vegas during one of their performances there.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Photo Credits: The Associated Press

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Postcards

  • Have you ever received a postcard? Discuss.
  • According to Will Hansen, Teich believed every town, even small ones, could have its own postcard. What do you think a postcard can do for a city/town? Discuss.
  • Imagine you are in charge of making a postcard for your city/town. What would you feature in the postcard? Discuss.

Tourism

  • During the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, many Americans traveled by car and mailed postcards to friends and family. What souvenirs do you give to friends and family when you travel? Discuss.
  • Hansen said the postcards reflected a hopeful period when Americans had more money and greater freedom to travel around the nation. What do you think Hansen meant by this? Discuss.
  • Today, travelers often take photos beside murals designed like old postcards and share them on social media. Which do you think is more effective in promoting tourism in cities/towns: postcards or social media? Discuss.