Prom

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

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• ritual
• get dressed up
• corsage
• prom queen

• date
• slow dance
• gown
• tux

• rebel
• big on

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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The biggest day in many American high school students’ lives isn’t graduation. It’s prom. Prom is a formal dance held at the end of senior year, when students get dressed up, rent limousines, and dance the night away at a special venue. When the dance ends, they usually attend after-parties, which is often where the real fun begins.

But prom can also be stressful. First of all, you have to find a date, which can be quite challenging for some. Then, if you’re a girl, you have to get the perfect dress. Many girls also buy new shoes and jewelry, and get their hair and makeup done at a fancy salon. Guys have to rent a tuxedo, buy their date a corsage, and pay for the tickets, the limousine, and dinner before the prom. That’s a lot of money to spend for one night of awkward slow dancing.

Prom season is happening right now. Listen to Ella and Devan share their memories of prom.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Devan

Ella

Devan:  Did you go to your prom?

Ella:  I did. It was really fun and now it’s coming around that time again where prom…Everyone’s getting their gowns and tuxes. It’s kind of exciting.

Devan:  So you’re big on prom. Do you think that it’s an important ritual?

Ella:  Well, I wouldn’t say it’s an important ritual. I just like to get dressed up. I think that’s one of the biggest reasons I started going to proms. I went to my friends’ proms, and they came to mine, so…Just an excuse to dress up.

Devan:  So did you…you got a nice fancy gown, and did you have a corsage and everything?

Ella:  Yeah, did the corsage, got the makeup done, had the hair done. All that stuff.

Devan:  Did your date wear a tux?

Ella:  Yes. Yes he did. All that good stuff.

Devan:  Were you voted prom queen?

Ella:  I was not!

Devan:  I actually didn’t even go to my prom.

Ella:  Oh my god!

Devan:  Um, well, I wasn’t into the whole prom thing when I was in high school. I was kind of a rebel, so…

Ella:  Nice. Cool.

Devan:  We went to the bowling alley instead.

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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