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.
Imagine you just got home from a stressful day. Maybe, your boss was mean to you at work, or maybe, you had a tough exam at school. When you have days like this, how do you unwind? Do you watch TV or go online? Do you exercise? Do you hang out with friends? Or do you exercise your mind with brain teasers?
Brain teasers are puzzles that challenge the brain. Some people love brain teasers that use numbers and math. Some people like logic puzzles, like Sudoku. But you are a language learner. Maybe, you enjoy word games! Word games like crossword puzzles or Words with Friends can help strengthen your vocabulary. Some scientists even say that word games help keep your brain flexible and sharp. Your memory might improve, and you could even delay the effects of aging.
Jessica is trying to solve a crossword puzzle. Listen to Jessica and Gary in this 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.
Jessica: Gary?
Gary: Yeah?
Jessica: Can you think of a three-letter word for a flightless bird?
Gary: I… cannot. You’re doing a crossword puzzle, aren’t you?
Jessica: I am! And man, I love these. I love crossword puzzles. I feel like they’re such great brain teasers.
Gary: They are!
Jessica: They challenge the mind. I feel like it helps me stay sharp.
Gary: I was just about to ask you that. Do you find that it’s relaxing to do, or is it more stressful?
Jessica: No, I do find it relaxing. It helps me unwind a little bit from a stressful day, and I feel like, yeah, it just helps you stay sharp. They’ve done studies, and people that do crossword puzzles and any kind of puzzles, it’s good for your brain.
Gary: Yeah, you stave off the loss of your recall...
Jessica: Senility.
Jessica: Yeah. I… oh! Emu.
Jessica: Yep!
Gary: Oh, wow.
Jessica: All right.
Gary: I’m not good at word games.
Jessica: Well, let’s keep working on the crossword puzzle together.
Gary: All right. Yeah, I’ll do it with you.
Jessica: OK, let’s see. Fourteen across, what have we got here?
Grammar Point
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Discussion
Jessica is doing a crossword puzzle. Gary wants to know if Jessica finds crossword puzzles stressful or relaxing. She says she finds them relaxing. They are a fun way to unwind after a long day. They also help her stay smart and alert. In fact, she has read studies about crossword puzzles and other brain teasers, and she has learned that doing puzzles can help prevent senility.
Gary agrees that crossword puzzles are probably good for your brain. However, he does not think he is very good at word games. Jessica will help him improve. She invites him to help her keep working on the crossword puzzle.
How do you relax after a long day? Do you like crossword puzzles?