Lesson 46: Gardening
30May
DIALOGUE
In this lesson, your tutor will help you go over this topic: gardening. First, read the following dialogue out loud with your tutor, then switch roles and try again.
Devin and Emily are talking about gardening.
Devin: Emily do you have a garden at home?
Emily: Yes, I do. I have a flower and vegetable garden. My favorite type of garden is a herb garden, but I don’t have one.
Devin: That’s great! I want to make a flower garden, but I don’t know what materials I need.
Emily: Well, you should start by buying the necessary tools like a spade and trowel.
Devin: I already have a watering can and garden hose.
Emily: Those are necessary also. Will you use chemical fertilizers?
Devin: No, I want my garden to be organic.
Emily: Be ready to pull weeds!
Devin: Thanks for the advice!
Emily: I’m sure you have a green thumb. Your garden will be beautiful.
VOCABULARY
Go over the following vocabulary and expressions with your tutor. Read the word/expression and definition out loud, and your tutor will go over anything you do not understand. Practice creating a sentence or two to make sure you know how to use the word/expression properly.
Vocabulary/ Expressions
herb | (n) a plant or part of a plant that is used to give flavor to food My favorite herb is mint. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
materials | (n – plural) things needed for an activity The materials needed to draw a picture are a pencil and paper. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
spade | (n) a small tool made of metal with a sharp edge used to dig or cut I used a spade to dig a hole for my flowers. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
trowel | (n) a small tool used to take plants or flowers out of the ground. I used a trowel to take my dead flowers out of my garden. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
watering can | (n) a container used to hold water to pour on plants and flowers.You can buy a watering can at a store that sells garden supplies. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
garden hose | (n) a type of tube used to put water on flowers and plants I use a garden hose to water my flowers and grass. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
chemical fertilizers | (n – plural) chemicals used to help plants and flowers grow; not natural Chemical fertilizers can be dangerous. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
organic | (adj) living material used to fertilize flowers and plants I used organic materials like grass to help my flowers grow. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
weeds | (n – plural) an unwanted plant that grows with other flowers and plants My flower garden is full of ugly weeds. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
green thumb | (idiom) someone who has a natural talent gardening or for growing flowers and plants My Mom has a green thumb because she always has beautiful flowers. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
EXERCISE
Practice answering the following questions with your tutors. You can use the sample answers to come up with your own answer.
- What kind of gardening do people like?
- Some people like rock gardens because they are different.
- A lot of people like herb gardens because they use the plants to add flavor to food.
- Your answer:
- What are some vegetables you can grow in a garden?
- There are lots of vegetables, but I like to grow onions and potatoes.
- I don’t grow vegetables. I like to grow herbs like cilantro and rosemary.
- Your answer:
- How much time do you think should be spent working in a garden?
- Someone who has a green thumb probably spends 1-2 hours per day gardening.
- I think people who have gardens spend 2-3 hours per week.
- Your answer:
- Why do you think people like flowers?
- People like flowers because they are pretty and look nice.
- Flowers make a home look nice.
- Your answer:
- Do you think having gardens makes people happy?
- In my opinion, gardening makes people appreciate life.
- For some people, gardens are a lot of work and it doesn’t make them happy.
- Your answer:
CONVERSATION
Use the following questions as a guideline to form an interesting conversation with your tutor. Feel free to diverge from these suggestions if anything interesting comes up.
- Do you prefer to have a vegetable or flower garden? Why?
- Do you think gardening is good for your health? Why or why not?
- What flowers are popular in your country?
- Why do you think people like gardening?
- Do you think people should use chemical fertilizers in their gardens? Why or why not?
WRAP-UP
Go over any new expressions or vocabulary that you learned today.
Comments
