Intro
1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.
2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.
Mall elves are a great part of Christmas. If you don’t know what elves are, they are teeny-tiny people who help Santa with Christmas. They live in his workshop, make toys for the children, pack them up in Santa’s sleigh, and help Santa with everything he has to do. Malls will have Santa come visit so he can take pictures with the kids.
And guess who’s there to join him? Mall elves. And of course, these are regular people who are working for the holidays. They take pictures of Santa with the kids, dress up in a festive costume, and help things move along. There are many funny stories about adults who work as elves, like Santaland Diaries and Elf. The idea of adults working as elves is a little hilarious.
Marni is going to be a joyful elf this December. Listen as she and Romeo discuss in today’s English lesson.
Dialog
1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.
2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.
Marni: Romeo?
Romeo: Yes?
Marni: I just uh… I just got my holiday job all lined up.
Romeo: How—? You’re already thinking about the holidays?
Marni: Well, yeah, you know! I need extra money, and times are tight, you know. So in the month of December, I’m going to be uh… an elf!
Romeo: An elf?
Marni: Santa’s little helper.
Romeo: Like a mall elf?
Marni: Exactly. Oh, is that hilarious?!
Romeo: No! Uh, a movie just came to my head when… I thought of an elf, so…
Marni: Well, I fit the bill! I’m short, and I’m joyful! So…
Romeo: They’re both true.
Marni: So yeah, I think… I’m determined to be the best elf that they’ve ever seen. I’m just going to go for it!
Romeo: That’s you! You’re good at that. Whatever it is, you set your mind on it. You’re the best at it. I think that you will be the best elf ever.
Marni: Thank you for believing in me!
Romeo: Yeah!
Marni: Do you like the holidays? You know, a lot of people can find them depressing, so I just kind of thought, hey, this is my way to spread some joy!
Romeo: Sure, yeah! I like the holidays. I like to uh… make ugly sweaters with little lights on it.
Grammar Point
Go Super to learn "Modal Verbs" from this lesson
Quizzes
Lesson MP3
The iTEP® test
-
Sponsored by
Discussion
Marni just got her holiday job all lined up. Romeo can’t believe Marni is thinking about the holidays. Well, Marni does need the extra money. Times are tight. So, she’s going to be a mall elf, one of Santa’s little helpers. Romeo laughs a little bit, but he tries to hide it. He says he’s just… thinking of a movie he watched!
Marni admits that she does fit the bill to be an elf. She’s short and joyful. She is determined to do the best she can do and just go for it, even if it seems silly. Romeo really believes in Marni. When she sets her mind on something, she does an amazing job. Marni thanks Romeo for believing in her. Both of them are looking forward to the holidays.
Do you have to work a holiday job? Are you looking forward to the holidays?