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How to Be Happy

Date: Sep 26 2006

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.

It’s the promise of every product in the store: “Buy me and I’ll make you better, skinnier, smarter, faster and stronger. Buy me and you’ll be happy.” But what makes people happy?

For some people it’s friends and family, for others it’s money and power. For some people it’s how they look, for others it’s who they are as individuals.

Listen to Dave and John talk about things that make them happy.

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.

Dave

John

Dave: John, you’re always a bright and sunny guy. What’s the key to being happy?

John: You know what really makes me happy is Daylight Savings Time.

Dave: How so?

John: Well, now we have, you know, it just happened this weekend…

Dave: Yeah.

John: ...where we move the clocks back an hour. So, now we have an extra hour of daylight. And a lot of my mood has to do with amount of light or sunshine that I get on a daily basis, which is kind of funny, you know, living in Portland, Oregon, where it rains most of the time.

Dave: Doesn’t this part of the country have a high rate of depression, which they say is because of the lack of sunlight?

John: Right, right. I guess an extreme is, maybe, Sweden, where there’s hardly any sunlight, and I hear the suicide rate is actually pretty high up there.

Dave: Right, one of the few countries that’s higher than the Japanese suicide rate.

John: Uh huh.

Dave: I’m kind of ashamed to admit this, but two or three weeks ago I just need some sunlight, so I went and I bought a tanning package.

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Discussion

Happiness is a tricky thing – we’re all chasing it, but how many of us actually have it?

Some researchers say that happiness decreases when wealth and material prosperity increases. But, for some people, happiness is the result of wealth and material prosperity.

If you’re feeling down, there is one simple way to make yourself feel happy: Smile! Research has shown that if you force yourself to smile, you will start feeling more hopeful and happy. So start stretching those lips, folks, and spread a smile.

What makes you happy? What can people do in their lives to be happy?

Comments

3emma3

Iraq

It is a rhetorical question. I think material prosperity does not correlate much to appiness as long as u r above the poverty line. Sometimes we face difficulties and feel down but smiling, faith and self satisfaction will lead to happiness. It is better not to check if u r happy or not just keep smiling even if u r heart brocken and believe that what happened is the best for u and look for future.

banan:)

Russian Federation

just enjoy your life:)

ichemcam

Morocco

is nice to be happy all the time , but we can’t cuz the life full of long/shorrt and beautiful /ungly and succes and downfall ….. there are lot of obstacle to make u unhappy sometimes like downfall , sick , poor…. but for me despite all the problems i must be happy when i remembre Allah ( God) our God is mercy how can make u unhappy all ur life ; if he make u it good for u cuz he know what’s the best for u in life and afterlife , belif in ur destiny . God dosn’t give u more then ur self ability . don’t forget to thnx Allah always am sure u will be happy

Omar alsaqqaf

Yemen

all people looking for the happiness without knowing WAHT IS IT??

is it to fing True love…Money..achieve Goals ….??? No No No

in my perspective is to be satisfied by your current situation whatever it was.

zuhal3461

Turkey

In my opinion ,ıt is very easy to access the happiness.In life there are alot of disasters as you know.so ıf we think these and ıf we thanks to god for our believe or not oppurtinities you will be happy.and take it from me ,smiling is key factor to be happy ,as well.

sonuflower20

India

happiness is like a butterfly.if u go after happiness it will be fly and if u just stay at one place it will be seat on your shoulder.so dont try to find happiness.just forget thinking that i am not happy and he or she is so happy.y i am not etc etcccccccc.and enjoy life with yours point of view and

happiness will automaticly follows u.

rebeccasiame

Tanzania, United Republic Of

for me to be happy is to have piece in your heart and when your dreams come true

yana011

Philippines

happiness is not only in a material things or prosperity. Its when you achieve your goals and dream! happiness is all the people around you who loves you, and takes care of you. You will find a true happiness in your life when you have a peace of mind and nothing to worry about! Its when you enjoy your life!

romza

Indonesia

I agree with my sister shifa, here in Indonesia is so hot now…

shifa farhannaz

Indonesia

here in indonesia is so hot… it s kinda difficult to see rain these days .. more difficult than when i was a kid…..global warming really drives me crazy… i prefer to have rain often … i hope ALLAH gives us rain often….

sherryleio

China

Well for me, being happy is kinda easy, one funny joke and a comdy can make me smile and laugh…sometimes shopping makes me feel good too when i am at low mood, huh, a simple woman.