Idioms & Expressions:
early riser/early bird, morning person (terms for people who like to wake up early)
Are you an early riser or a night owl?
crack of dawn (noun for the very beginning of the day, when the sun is rising)
I get up at the crack of dawn each day.
zombie (a noun used to describe someone who’s sleep deprived)
She’s sleep deprived and looks like a zombie today.
on time (propositional phrase that describes punctuality)
I got to the meeting on time and made a good impression.
late for your own funeral (a phrase used when discussing someone who’s late all the time)
He’s always late – he’ll probably be late for his own funeral.
casually late (to be purposefully late as to not appear too invested in an event)
I arrived 10 minutes late to my date. But that’s good, because I was casually late.
bridesmaid/groomsmen (the friends of the bride and groom)
How many groomsmen are in the wedding party?
tie the knot, get hitched (both verbs that mean to get married)
My best friend is tying the knot next weekend.
a match made in heaven (a phrase that describes a couple who are perfect for each other)
I got hitched last year to my best friend. We’re a match made in heaven.
shotgun wedding (noun, a wedding in which the bride and groom hurry to get married to obscure the fact that the bride is pregnant)
Don’t tell anyone, but I hear it was a shotgun wedding.
toast (both a noun and a verb – a verbal salute to someone, specifically used at a wedding)
I’d like to propose a toast to the happy couple.
Part I: Group Discussion
- Do you think it’s important to be on time?
Being punctual is professional. I think that if you make an arrangement with someone about a certain time and place, you should try to honor it so that you don’t waste anyone else’s time.
- How do you feel when others are late?
I don’t mind it too much, unless it’s a really important meeting. I understand that everyone gets pretty busy and their lives are stressful, so if they’re a few minutes late then I’m willing to empathetic.
- Are you, yourself, late very often?
For social events, I am very late – on purpose. I like to show up late when the event is at full swing. But for work, I am almost always on time.
- How do you feel when you are late?
If it’s for something important, I get very stressed about it. If I think I’m going to miss a flight at the airport, then I get extremely nervous.
- How do you think you could be on time?
Well, this is a silly question – you just have to leave early enough to make sure you have time to make it to your destination.
Part II: Individual Presentations
Describe a wedding that you attended recently. Please say:
Whose wedding it was
Who attended the wedding
What you did to make it special
I haven’t been to a wedding for about four years. I think the last wedding I was at was a friend of my girlfriend’s. I didn’t really know any people there, but I could hang out with the few people I knew. It was cool because there was a little dancing after the ceremony, and then we all went to get fast food at a late night spot afterward. But since then, I haven’t been a wedding guest.
Part III: Class Discussion
- Do you think people should spend a lot of money on weddings? Why?
I think this is a pretty bad idea. You can find a way to do weddings cheaply, without causing the families financial stress just for one special day. Also, many couples get divorced, which means that you waste the money you spent on the ceremony if the marriage ends.
- Is it common to marry more than once in your country?
In America, it’s not uncommon to get divorced and then remarry. My mother is about to get married for the second time. I actually don’t think this is a bad thing – life is very long and people change. So having multiple marriages makes sense for some people.
- Do you think there is a perfect age for marriage?
Not really. I just think you shouldn’t get married too young. Any time before 25 can be a mistake, I think.
- Is it common in your country to marry at the age of 40 or 50?
Marriages are most common while people are in their 30s, I think. But many people definitely get married for the first or second time at 40 or 50.
