Stories of Courage and Connection: A Heart’s Gift & Siamese Twins
The Gift
The Gift
Donna Ashlock, a 14-year-old girl from California, was very sick. She had a bad heart. “Donna needs a new heart,” her doctors said. “She must have a new heart, or she will die soon.” Felipe Garza, 15, was worried about Donna. Felipe was Donna’s friend. He liked Donna very much. He liked her freckles, and he liked her smile. Felipe didn’t want Donna to die.
Felipe talked to his mother about Donna. “I’m going to die,” Felipe told his mother, “and I’m going to give
Read MoreTension Escalates in A View from the Bridge: Act 1
A View from the Bridge: Rising Tension in Act 1
Tensions often exist in families because of arguments and disagreements between parents and their children, especially teenagers. These disagreements can be about boyfriends, the way they dress, and other generational conflicts. This is mirrored in the relationship between Eddie and Catherine Carbone in the first scene of Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge, when Eddie comments on Catherine’s skirt. “A View from the Bridge” is set in the 1950s in
Read MoreVocabulary and Phrases for Shopping and Daily Life
Essential Vocabulary: Daily Life & Shopping
Hobbies & Activities
- Pastime: Your pastime could be making jewelry.
- Make jewelry: (See above sentence).
- Office: I used to work in an office.
- Gardening: I bought some gardening gloves.
Possessions & Objects
- Belongings: Your belongings might include your MP4 player.
- Ready-made soup: I usually buy ready-made soup.
- Wood: All the furniture was made of wood.
- Curtains: My mother bought a pair of curtains.
Emotions & Situations
- Miserable: You would probably
Personal Stories and Experiences in Spain
Personal Introduction
Hello… My name is [Name], but everyone calls me [Nickname]. I’m Spanish and live in B, a town near Valencia. I’m 40 years old. I work in a factory in the maintenance department, and I also study electricity. I live with my girlfriend and my two daughters in a small flat. I also have two very nice dogs. I’m going to tell you about myself.
I have short blond hair and green eyes. I’m medium height. I sometimes grow a beard. I have many tattoos on my body; my favorites are my daughters’
Read MoreWorkplace Conversations and Professions
Workplace Conversations
Scenario 1: Hotel Coincidences
Rachel: Where does your brother work?
Angela: In a hotel.
Rachel: Oh, really? My brother works in a hotel, too. He’s a front desk clerk.
Angela: How does he like it?
Rachel: He hates it. He doesn’t like the manager.
Angela: That’s too bad. What hotel does he work for?
Rachel: The Plaza.
Angela: That’s funny. My brother works there, too.
Rachel: Oh, that’s interesting. What does he do?
Angela: Actually, he’s the manager!
Scenario 2: Professions and Opinions
Who
Read MoreOrganic Farming, Texting, Sugar, Borneo, and Geishas
Organic Farming Practices
Key Points:
- Laura and Lawrence started a farm because they wanted to grow their own food.
- Laura and Lawrence’s farm in Dorset was not used to grow produce right before they bought it.
- According to Laura, the word “organic” implies the use of farming methods that do not cause environmental damage.
- The Soil Association decides whether produce can be called organic.
- The Soil Association symbol can only be obtained if your farming practices are approved by its inspectors.
- Laura and