Love Songs

Intro

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

• classic
• contemporary
• timeless
• heartwarming

• make eyes at
• set the mood
• around the corner
• funky beats

• gut-wrenching
• make someone's heart race

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

Imagine you just had an amazing first date. You went out for a delicious dinner, had a great conversation, made eyes at each other all night. Now you’re sitting in the car, getting ready to say goodnight. You think the moment might be right to go in for a kiss. What’s playing on the radio? Hopefully not heavy metal or hardcore rap. To help set the mood, you probably want a soft, romantic love song, right?

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it’s a good time to think about what makes the perfect love song. Is it romantic lyrics? Sweet melodies? Funky beats? Find out what kind of songs make Marni and Amanda’s hearts race.

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.

Amanda

Marni

Amanda:  It’s that time of year…

Marni:  Oh, St. Valentine’s Day.

Amanda:  Wonderful.

Marni:  It really is, isn’t it? Love songs. You got some favorites?

Amanda:  I do. It has to have a beat that you can…you know.

Marni:  Dance to?

Amanda:  No. Um, a couple of my favorites right now, maybe Alicia Keys, “No One.” She just sings it so hard.

Marni:  She’s got a good voice, that Alicia Keys.

Amanda:  Um, a little John Legend, I don’t care what it is, any time.

Marni:  Any classic love songs?

Amanda:  Those are classic love songs!

Marni:  Well, they’re more contemporary, which…I’m thinking, you know, timeless...

Amanda:  Oh, like the Righteous Brothers you mean?

Marni:  Oh, “Unchained Melody”?

Amanda:  Is that what you’re talking about?

Marni:  I don’t know, I have to say, I think one of the greatest love songs is “You Were Always on My Mind.” A little Willie Nelson.

Amanda:  Really?

Marni:  Yeah, it’s just so heartwarming.

Amanda:  So if you were on a first date, and the guy took you back to his apartment, and he dimmed the lights…

Marni:  No, not that. But if you want to think about that gut-wrenching feeling of loving someone…

Amanda:  So painfully?

Marni:  Apparently, I like the emotional thing, and you just want a good beat.

Amanda:  I just want the beat, OK?

Grammar Point

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Lesson MP3

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