Level 1

Lesson 52
Taking
Chances
Topics Prepare Before Class

Taking risks Photos of local celebrities who made their

Discussing feelings childhood dreams come true (optional)
Describing accomplishments Movie posters from different kinds of movies

Learning Strategy Goals

Evaluate Grammar: Review verb tenses; Phrasal verbs

Speaking: Phrasal verbs
Pronunciation: Pronounce the blended form
of “sit down”

Day 1

Introduce the Lesson Topic

Tell students, “Today we will learn about taking risks. Ask students, “Do you know someone
who often tries new things?” Give an example of someone from your local culture or a famous
person like Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos, or Elon Musk. “When we talk about doing
something and we don’t know for sure it will be a good choice, we call it ‘taking chances.’
What do you think about taking chances in your own life? Have you done it? Do you want to
do it in the future?” Instruct students to turn to their neighbor and give their answer.

Ask for volunteers to share with the rest of the class. Explain, “In today’s lesson, we are
going to see Anna taking a chance on a new career.”

Teach Key Words

Have students listen to the Speaking Practice video and say the new words for this lesson
or repeat them after you.

Let’s Learn English Lesson 52 586

 Speaking Practice
After the key words, the video teaches about phrasal verbs.

Speaking Practice Script – Lesson 52

1. In this lesson Kelly and Anna use some 2. The best way to learn phrasal verbs
new phrasal verbs. They are made up of a in English is to begin to notice them
verb and a preposition, an adverb, or both. In sentences you hear or see. First try
VERB + preposition to guess the meaning, Then check the
VERB + adverb meaning by asking the teacher or using an
VERB + adverb + preposition online dictionary.
Keep a list of the ones you want to
The problem with phrasal verbs in English remember and use them often when you
is that you may know the words, but still write or speak English. Soon you will feel
may not understand the meaning of the comfortable using them.
phrasal verb. For example, one meaning Use a phrasal verb from this lesson that
of the phrasal verb “take off” is to make means “return to a place” to complete this
quick progress. But knowing the meanings sentence.
of “take” and “off” do not help you to After Anna goes to Hollywood, she will ____
understand this phrasal verb. _____ to Washington DC. (come back)

Kelly uses the phrasal verb “take off” to talk

about Anna’s career.
Kelly: Well, today we will meet a woman
and -- her acting career has really taken off.

Day 2

Present the Conversation

Tell students that the video will show Anna in a television interview with Director Kelly. Play
the video or ask a few students to read the conversation. Tell students to respond when
there are pauses in the video.

Main Video Script – Lesson 52

1. Listen: 2. Listen:
Anna’s acting career has really taken off. I had to find out how to get around the city.

Speak: Speak:
Anna’s acting career has really_______ ____. I had to _____ ____ how to ____ _______ the
(taken off) city. (find out, get around)

Let’s Learn English Lesson 52 587

 Ask students to find the places in the conversation when Anna or Kelly use phrasal verbs.
Write them on the board or a shared screen:
… her acting career has really taken off.
I had to find out what it was like to BE a tree in the world
… and how to get around the city.
I’ll make the movies and then come back.

Explain, “Groups of two or three words that work as verbs are called phrasal verbs. They
are made up of a verb and a preposition, an adverb, or both.”

Pronunciation Practice

The Pronunciation Practice video teaches about the blend of two words in the phrase “sit
down.”

Pronunciation Practice Video Script – Lesson 52

1. When American English speakers say 2. Now you try it. Say the words “sit down”
the phrase “sit down” quickly it sounds like quickly in this sentence.
“siddown.”
Speak:
Listen to Kelly ask Anna to sit down. I have been walking all day. I need to sit
Kelly: Please, please, sit down. down (/siddown/) soon.

Learning Strategy

Introduced the strategy evaluate. Say, “Now that we are at the end of this course, we can
look back at what we have done, and look forward to what we want to do.”

“At the end of a school term, or the beginning of a new year at work, we often evaluate
-- which means, we think about what we did well and what we can do better. Turn to your
neighbor and answer these questions:”

“How do you feel now that we have studied English with Let’s Learn English for 52 lessons?
What worked for YOU to learn English? Did you like learning new strategies every week? Did
you like the games and activities we have done together?”

Give students time to tell their neighbor their answer. Ask some volunteers to share their
answers with the class.

Let’s Learn English Lesson 52 588

 Day 3

Activity

Before the class. make sure you understand the instructions on the activity sheet.

Point out how Anna used the strategy evaluate by asking, “At the end of the conversation
in this lesson, what does Anna talk about? Give students time to respond. Possible
answers may include:

• That her family is proud of her

• How she was not happy about her life recently
• The fact that she has taken chances
• How she will never stop trying

Explain, “Can you say in one word what she is doing?” Give students a chance to say what
they think.

Respond to students and confirm, “Anna was evaluating her recent life. When we evaluate
we think about what we have done, what has happened to us, and what we want for our
future. How does that connect to learning English? You can evaluate yourself, of course,
by asking, am I looking for all of the ways I can practice outside of class? You can also
evaluate the strategies you are using to learn.

Say, “Ask yourself, ‘Am I using the strategies I learned in class? Which ones help me the
most with learning English?’”

If you have listed strategies somewhere on the wall of your classroom, refer to the list. Or
show the pages listing strategies from the end of this lesson on a shared screen.

Conclude, “We’re going to practice evaluating today while we are using the new phrasal
verbs.”

Give students the Activity Sheet. Explain, “At the top of the sheet, complete the phrasal
verbs by writing a verb, an adverb, or a preposition in the blank.”

When students have finished, ask several volunteers to read the phrasal verbs aloud.
Check understanding by asking students to use each one in a sentence.

Introduce the second activity. “Let’s imagine that we will make some movies, just like
Anna.” Have students form pairs for the activity. Ask two students to stand at the front of
the room to demonstrate.
Let’s Learn English Lesson 52 589
 “First, let’s listen to the sample conversation.” Have the volunteer students demonstrate.

Continue, “Did you notice them evaluating in their conversation?”

Point out the phrases,

I like animals
I like science.

Ask, “What were the phrasal verbs they used? (‘I can get around on a fast horse’ and ‘I’m
going to find out about other worlds’) Could they use another phrasal verb? For example,
you could say, ‘If I am in a science fiction movie, I will watch out for aliens.’

Now, think about your own strong points. What do you like to do? What kind of movie
would you like to be in? Tell your partner, then make a sentence with a phrasal verb, too.
Write your sentences below the picture.”

Check to see if the pairs are able to make sentences about the movie genres. Remind
students to evaluate as they think about their strong points.

Day 4

Listening Quiz

Give each student a paper copy of the listening quiz. Play each question’s video and pause
for students to answer. Ask students to choose the correct answer.

If not using the video, read the sentences below aloud.

1. Kelly says, Many people dream of becoming actors. But very often, those dreams don’t
come true. Well, today we will meet a woman and -- her acting career has really taken
off. In fact, she acted in my play, “The Woods Are Alive!”
2. Anna says, “Kelly, I will be acting in three movies.” Kelly says, “Let me guess -- you’re
playing a tree in all of them!”
3. Kelly asks, “So, tell me, will you be moving to Hollywood for a career in movies? Anna
answers, “No. I’ll make the movies and then come back. Washington, D.C. is my home.”
4. Kelly says, “I’m sure your family is very proud.” Then Anna says, “Yes, they are. You
know, Kelly, not too long ago, I didn’t feel very good about my life. I had to make a
change. So, I took some chances. Sometimes I succeeded. Sometimes I failed. But I
will never stop trying.”

Collect the papers or ask students to trade papers and check the answers together.

Let’s Learn English Lesson 52 590

 Writing

Discuss the key words that may be used for the topic. Write some of them on the board for
students to use in their written work. Write the writing topic on the board:

Have you ever taken chances to learn something new or to meet your goal? Write about a
chance you took and how it helped you to learn or do something important to you.

Give the writing assignment as an in-class activity or homework.

If an in-class activity, ask a few students to share their writing with the class. They can read
from their papers or summarize what they wrote.

Let’s Learn English Lesson 52 591

 Resources
Conversation

Anna: Hello, it’s Anna! I did it - Washington, D.C. is my home. Looking back over the past
year, I’ve done so many amazing things! I have met people from all over the world.
I’ve made many good friends. And I have a great job! And I’ve taken a lot of
chances. And now I have some really big news! Wait for it… and 3, 2, 1…
Kelly: Hello and welcome to “Around the Corner and Across the Street from the Actor’s
Studio!” Many people dream of becoming actors. But very often, those dreams
don’t come true.
Kelly: Well, today we will meet a woman and -- her acting career has really taken off. In
fact, she acted in my play, “The Woods Are Alive!” Oh. She really brought the part
of Tree Number 15 to life! Let’s give a warm welcome to Anna Matteo!
Anna: Thank you. Thank you so much for having me here.
Kelly: Please, please, sit down. Here, here, let me help you.
Anna: Thanks. Thanks. Wow, it is great to see you again, Director Kelly!
Kelly: It’s great to see you too, Anna. I see you are still wearing your tree costume. Does
this have anything to do with your big news?
Anna: Yes. Yes, it does.
Kelly: Well, Anna, please share that news with us.
Anna: Kelly, I will be acting in three movies.
Kelly: That is amazing! Anna, tell us more.
Anna: Well, the first is a science fiction movie. The second is a romantic comedy. And the
third is an action movie.
Kelly: That is so great! Let me guess -- you’re playing a tree in all of them!
Anna: Yes! This is what happened. To prepare for your play, I had to find out what it was
like to BE a tree in the world. I had to find out where to eat, where to shop, where
to meet people and how to get around the city.
Kelly: Amazing. I think big things are going to happen for you, Anna. So, tell me, will you
be moving to Hollywood for a career in movies?
Anna: No. I’ll make the movies and then come back. Washington, D.C. is my home.
Kelly: I’m sure your family is very proud.
Anna: Yes, they are. You know, Kelly, not too long ago, I didn’t feel very good about my
life. I had to make a change. So, I took some chances. Sometimes I succeeded.
Sometimes I failed. But I will never stop trying.
Kelly: Well, thank you for sharing your news and so much more with us, Anna.
Kelly: Until next time …

Let’s Learn English Lesson 52 592
 Key Words

action movie - n. a movie with events that happen quickly and that cause feelings of
danger and excitement ​

bring to life - phrase. make or become active, lively, or interesting

career - n. a job or profession that someone does for a long time

come back - phrasal verb. to return to a place

fail - v. to not succeed or to end without success

find out - phrasal verb. to learn (something) by making an effort

get around - phrasal verb. to go, walk, or travel to different places

prepare - v. to make yourself ready for something that you will be doing or something that
you expect to happen

proud - adj. very happy and pleased because of something you have done, something you
own, or someone you know or are related to

romantic comedy - n. a movie or play that deals with love in a light, humorous way

science fiction - n. a kind of story about how people and societies are affected by
imaginary scientific developments in the future

share - v. to tell someone about (your feelings, opinions, or thoughts)

take chances - phrase. to do things even though there could be good or bad results

take off - phrasal verb. make great progress

Let’s Learn English Lesson 52 593

 Quiz - Level 1, Lesson 52 - Taking Chances
Listen. Circle the letter of the correct answer.

1. What does Kelly tell us about Anna? 3. Where will Anna make her movies?

a. Anna wrote a play called, “The Woods a. She will make her movies at home in
Are Alive!” Washington, D.C.
b. She played a tree and her career is b. She will make her movies and then
making good progress. return to Washington, D.C.
c. Anna’s dream of a career as an actor c. She will go to Hollywood to live and
did not come true. make her movies.
d. She is taking off some time from work. d. She will not leave her home to make
her movies.

2. What does Anna say about movies? 4. What strategy is Anna using in this
video?
a. She is playing a tree in three movies.
b. Anna saw an action movie yesterday. a. Act it out
c. She is interested in science fiction b. Monitor
movies. c. Evaluate
d. Anna loves romantic comedies. d. Predict

Let’s Learn English Lesson 52 594

Let’s Learn English Lesson 52 595
 Level 1
Additional
Resources

Other VOA Learning English Courses

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On the VOA Learning English Website

VOA English Challenge Test

The EF Standard English Test is a free standardized English test developed by EF
Education First. The test gives a CEFR score from A1 - C2. Let’s Learn English Level 1 is
good for learners from level A2 to B1. Let’s Learn English Level 2 is good for learners from
level B2 to C1.

Learning English Word Book

A 1500-word dictionary is available on our website in the form of a downloadable book.

Congratulations! You have now finished Let’s Learn English Level 1

Print the certificate on the next page to show your achievement.

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