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Imaginary Friends
Imaginary Friends

Learn English with this childhood English lesson

Date: Nov 28 2018

Themes: Friend

Grammar: Adjectives

Intro

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

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Did you have lots of friends when you were a child? Did you play games with them, and go to birthday parties together, and watch movies? Even if you had many friends, chances are that there were times you were alone. And maybe sometimes when you were alone you wished you had a friend with you. So what did you do? You created an imaginary friend.

Imaginary friends are common for many children. Sometimes children imagine them to be other little kids their own age. Sometimes imaginary friends are animals, or make-believe creatures. Whatever form they take, they are fun to have around and, most of all, reliable. Find out whether Marni and Lily had imaginary friends in this childhood English lesson.

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.

Lily

Lily

Marni

Marni

Lily:  Did you ever have an imaginary friend when you were little?

Marni:  No. I thought that was so weird when people had imaginary friends that had to keep them company because they couldn’t have real friends. You didn’t have that, right?

Lily:  Uh… No, it’s fine.

Marni:  I’m sorry.

Lily:  I used to have this invisible porcupine that would follow me around. His name was Bob, and he was my buddy. He kept me company, you know? He was really cool.

Marni:  OK. I get a little bit into make-believe, but I just thought it was weird when people had to make up a friend. I just live in the present, and in the now. This is real life. I always just thought it was kind of strange when kids had to make up friends.

Lily:  I grew out of it. It’s not like I still think that I have an imaginary porcupine friend wandering around. And you’re right, it is real life. I think it’s kind of comforting to have an imaginary friend sometimes. Someone to talk to, someone to tell your deepest, darkest secrets to when other kids may laugh.

Marni:  OK. Well, I guess I can see that. I’m glad you don’t have your imaginary friend right now, because you have plenty of real friends.

Lily:  Yes.

 

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

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When Lily was a child, she had an imaginary friend. Her friend was a porcupine, a little creature with spikes on its back, named Bob. She thought he was really cool, and enjoyed spending time with him, even if it was just her imagination.

Marni, on the other hand, thinks imaginary friends are weird. She thinks that it’s much more normal for kids to have friends in real life.

Lily tries to convince her that it’s actually normal to have an imaginary friend. It’s especially normal if you grow out of that friendship when you get older.

Did you have an imaginary friend when you were a child? Describe your friend. Do you think it’s normal to have an imaginary friend?

 

Comments

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Jacamah

American Samoa

When i was child i have 2 imaginary friends… Scared. 

03:03 PM Dec 17 2018 |

ml2000

ml2000Super Member!

Canada

There were times I am alone and just want to be myself without anyone around me. 

06:33 PM Nov 29 2018 |

1 person likes this

ml2000

ml2000Super Member!

Canada

I did not have any specific imaginary friends when I was little, but I liked to play with Barbie dolls and had lots of fun having them around. I dressed them nicely and took care of them like their moms. Perhaps they were my made-believe creatures. 

04:03 PM Nov 28 2018 |

1 person likes this

sara1998

sara1998

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I had several imaginory friend and i think it was bcz of that i had no peer in my childhood among my relatives!  :(

04:55 PM Apr 18 2015 |

1 person likes this

Kresnyk

Kresnyk

Spain

Yes, I had a lot of imaginary friends when I was a child. If I was playing with my cars I had one for this, if I was playing with my LEGO, I had another one…. well,I had one depending on the game which I was playing jeje. But I think that this is not so weird because as I can read here, many people have had imaginary friends and furthermore…..my little brother had imaginary friends and we are a few different in personality. Moreover, children are children they have a lot of imagination, anything else  and I think taht they only want to spend a good time jeje

11:06 PM Sep 03 2013 |

1 person likes this

Coolblack

Coolblack

United States

I am not gonna say it’s weird to have imaginary friends but i don’t like it,it is better to try to  conquer some good friends in life.


08:28 PM Sep 03 2013 |

1 person likes this

tamago

tamago

Japan

I used to have some imaginary friends when I was a kid .
They are small toys .
I played with them a lot .
Oh my poor lonely days …

08:32 PM Sep 02 2013 |

1 person likes this

TranceSoul

TranceSoul

Poland

I’ve never had imaginary friends in my childhood because I have a twin sister and she has always been my friend. I don’t know how it’s like to feel lonely but I can understand those children. Lucky me because I had somone by my side but there are children who are lonely in their life. I think it’s nothing bad in imaginary friends but not forever :)

05:02 PM Sep 02 2013 |

1 person likes this

dreadslayer

Turkey

I had also make believe friends which are toys.I had action man who is very strong,well built man.and i made him to beat other toys was dubbed him and set up some fight movements to him.I had good chilhood with my toys when i was a little  kid was not able to go out.after i started to go out . i met some friends out there and played them football or other child games.

11:53 AM Sep 02 2013 |

mohamma

mohamma

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

i havent imaginary friend, in my life


and little baby if they havent real friend in outdoor,


they have seem friend,


 

11:28 AM Sep 02 2013 |

1 person likes this

lesliegai

China

This lessons make me remember my childhood. I had some imaginary friends too, and i love them.

09:18 AM Sep 02 2013 |

1 person likes this

CandiceAcclo

China

i watched many films that many kids have their imaginary friends. they maybe a dull they have. these kids who have imaginary friends most are shy and introvert. they don’t have a good friend in a real life then they tell their secret to their imaginary friends and share their daily life with them. i have many friends in real life and we get well along with each other so i don’t have any imaginary friends. 

09:04 AM Sep 02 2013 |

Jasonlongo

Jasonlongo

Congo, Democratic Republic Of The

Oh my God ! This’s a remind, when I was child  I had some imaginary friends, mostly around the age 5, playing with some stuffs, just to keep them company and feel better. I enjoyed the lesson !!!

09:03 AM Sep 02 2013 |

1 person likes this

MAHSA1995

MAHSA1995

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Well, when I was around one year old, I used to have a bear..it was my friend…I have still kept it…but when I got abit older I always liked to do things which elder ppl did..my uncle was a doc ..I liked to go to hospital with him and spend my time watching how he cured ppl rather than playing with a doll…


I really enjoyed it…and also since I remember I respect books more than toys…my mother used to buy two books for me each month…I remember I used to wait the whole month for that day…


07:19 AM Sep 02 2013 |

Jobee

Jobee

China

I had make-believe friend and he was a kid like me.I didin’t make up his face,his look,I only imagined his persenality and character.I always talked to him,just like speaking to myself.I played hide and seek with him at times,creepy?huh?


I think it’s quite normal to have inmaginary friends.No matter real or imaginary,,keeping you company is warm and comforting.Chances are having imaginary friends implies that you are growing up,your brain is developing,sooner or later you will grow out of them.


I did have enjoy the time when I was with my invisible friend.

05:26 AM Sep 02 2013 |

alda10

alda10

Indonesia

I didn’t have an imaginary friend. when I were a little kid, I used to play dolls with my friends and made believe that the dolls were alive. I think it is normal for children as long as they can differenciate the world of the imaginary friend and the world of their real life

04:30 AM Sep 02 2013 |

1 person likes this

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