1. To have a discussion that elicits expressions used to state that you understand and to make sure that you have been understood;

2. To increase the familiarity and use of such expressions;

3. To translate the visual information from the video clip into the appropriate language; 

4. To use the audio information in the corresponding exercises;

5. To reinforce productively the language that has been learned.

●  Think of the following questions and try to answer them.

1) When do people state their agreement or concurrence during a conversation? And why?

2) Do you know how to state your agreement or concurrence in different ways?

3) What is important about mastering the ability to state your agreement or concurrence? Why?

* Suggested answers:

1) Actually, people state their agreement or concurrence when they have a desire to respond to an opinion or an attitude during a conversation. It is a spontaneous (自然产生的)  way to promote the two-way communication going on.

2) I know some. For example, I can say, “I agree.” I can also say, “That’s right.”

3) It’s important because if you fail to do so, I mean if you remain indifferent to the speaker you are talking with, you can bring about a breakdown in the communication going on. Actually, the speaker expects your quick feedback while he or she is expressing himself or herself. If your response is positive, I mean if you state your agreement or concurrence, you are making the speaker feel confident, which helps promote the two-way communication.  

●  The following sentences can be used to state agreement or concurrence. Each of them will be spoken twice. As you listen, complete each sentence with the missing words. 

 1) I agree. 

 2) You bet.

 3) Right on. / Right you are!

 4) You got it.

 5) You’re right.

 6) By all means.

 7) So it is.   

 8) That’s true/right.

 9) That’s for certain/sure.

10) I agree with you 100%.

● Useful Language from the Video Episode

●  Watch the video and then decide which of the following scenes can be observed in it.  

1) Shelley and Michael are sitting on the lawn in the sun. (  √  )

2) Shelley and Michael are lying on the lawn sunbathing. (  )

3) Today is Mother’s Day, and Shelley is missing her mom. So is Michael. (  √  )

4) Shelley is sitting with her legs stretched out. (  √  )

5) Michael is stretching himself out on the lawn. (  )

6) Shelley is sitting next to Michael, with her upper body leaning on her arms.  (  )

7) Michael is sitting with his legs crossed. (  √  )

8) They look worried while talking with each other. (  )

9) They are in a good mood talking with each other. (  √  )

● A. Watch the video and then decide whether each of the following statements is true (T) or false (F).

1) Mother’s day, a holiday for mothers, falls on the second Sunday in May. (T)

2) The best Mother’s Day gift, according to Shelley and Michael, is a day off for mothers. (T)

3) Shelley is planning to cook something her mother likes as a special Mother’s Day gift. (F)

4) Michael will call the local flower shop to send his mother flowers as a gift. (T)

5) Both Shelley and Michael think highly of honoring mothers. (T)

● B. Now watch the video again and then complete the following conversation. 

Shelley: Oh, what a beautiful day!

Michael:  Absolutely! And I’ve got a beautiful feeling, too! You know what’s special about today, the 2nd Sunday of May? 

Shelley: I know, today’s Mother’s Day. 

Michael:  So it is. And how are you celebrating it? Anything special for your mom? 

Shelley: Well, the best way to celebrate Mother’s Day, I think, would be to give my mom the day off. 

Michael:  I couldn’t agree with you more. But I’m on my own now, you know. I’m living away from home. 

Shelley: That’s true for me, too. It’s been some time since I was tied to my mother’s apron strings. But I really wish I could cook something my mom likes so that she could relax today. 

Michael:  As for me, I wish I could take my mom out to her favorite restaurant for a meal. 

Shelley: Well, we can’t do either. But we can still do something to honor our mothers.

Michael:  By all means, let’s. I think I’ll call the local flower shop and have them send my mom flowers to express my love and thanks. 

Shelley: Good for you. I’ll give my mom a call to say “Happy Mother’s Day.” 

Michael:  I’m sure your mother will be very happy to hear that. 

Shelley: Thanks. I really like it when people honor their mothers for all they do. 

Michael: Me too. Mother’s Day is celebrated in many countries, even in China.

Shelley: Right you are. It goes with the virtue of respecting your elders in China.

Michael: That’s for sure. 

● Cultural Tips 

母亲节是美国法定的全国性节日，时间是每年5月的第二个星期日。

为母亲过节最早源于古希腊的民间风俗。那时，古希腊人每年春天都要为传说中的众神之母、人类母亲的象征赛比亚举行盛大的庆祝活动。但这时还未形成母亲节。

1872年，美国女作家朱莉娅·沃德·豪(Julia Ward Howe)提出设立母亲节的建议，用以纪念和平。1907年，人们继而掀起了一场设立国家母亲节的运动。这项运动取得了成功，到1911年时，美国几乎每个州都开始庆祝母亲节，以表达对母亲们在塑造良好公民方面所作努力的肯定。1914年，美国总统伍德罗·威尔逊(Woodrow Wilson)宣布“母亲节之母”安娜·里夫斯·贾维斯(Anna Reeves Jarvis)的生日为“美国国家母亲节” ， 以纪念在内战结束后贾维斯夫人在使家庭团聚方面所作出的种种努力。她的工作给历史上所有的美国母亲都带来了荣誉。由于贾维斯夫人生前喜爱康乃馨，这种花也就成了母亲节的象征。  

当然，当议论“母亲节”时，表示同意和赞同(agreement and concurrence)是理所当然的。

● C. After watching the video a third time, complete the following third-person  account of the conversation. 

      Today is Mother’s Day. Shelley and Michael are missing their mothers, and are talking about how they can best celebrate Mother’s Day. Shelley wishes that she could be with her mom and cook something she likes so that her mom could relax today, and Michael wishes that he could take his mom out to her favorite restaurant for a meal, but he’s not with her today. In the end, Shelley decides to give her mother a call to say, “Happy Mother’s Day,” and Michael decidesto call the local flower shop to send his mother flowers to express his love and thanks. Both Shelley and Michael value Mother’s Day, which honors mothers all over the world.

1) Watch the video again, with a female student doing Shelley’s voice. 

2) Watch the video once more, with a male student doing Michael’s voice.

3) Watch the video one last time, with a male student and a female student doing both of the voices for the whole conversation.

● 1. Familiarize yourself with these other expressions which help you state that you understand and make sure you are understood.

    Stating Your Agreement or Concurrence

— I couldn’t agree with you more. 

— I have no problem with that.

— We see eye-to-eye on this.

— I couldn’t have said it better.

— You took the words right out of my mouth. 

— I’ll drink to that. 

— It works for me.

— Well said. 

* Suggested answers:

A: It seems quite clear to me: a mother’s hard work usually goes unrewarded.  

B: You took the words right out of my mouth, Shelley.   

A: I’m not surprised we see eye-to-eye on this. We’re both the children of mothers who love us to pieces and give us everything we could possibly want. 

B: I think just about all mother’s motives are selfless and pure. 

A: Just what I think. Well said.

● 2. Discuss the following topic in groups.

What is usually said to elicit agreement or concurrence?

* Suggested answers: 

You can elicit agreement or concurrence by saying something that is in the best interest of the person you are talking with, something that is appealing to his or her own personal preferences, or something that arouses feelings of having things in common on his or her part.

● A. You will continue to watch a video clip. Below are the suggested steps for the extensive learning activity:

  ▪ Watch the video clip without reading the text for the first time;

  ▪ Read the text while listening;

  ▪ Watch it again without reading the text;

  ▪ Repeat one particular statement from the script and give feedback by stating your agreement/concurrence or disagreement. 

Happy Mother’s Day

      Normally I hate days, Valentine’s Day, Saint Patric’s Day (圣帕特里克节) , Doris Day (美国歌手兼电影演员，作者在此有调侃之意) . But Mother’s Day is different, since mom serves the most important function on earth. No matter what men do, ight wars, build bridges, invent nuptials (婚礼) , they pale (变得苍白)  when compared to the one thing that keeps the planet percolating (显得活跃) . Giving birth. Men are disposable (一次性的) . Women are vital. That’s not an opinion. That’s biology (生物学) . By the reproductive (生殖的)  design, women are precious (珍贵的)  because they are carrying the cargo (货物，此处指胎儿) . Men just drop it off. And yes, I know, women have come a long way (一路艰辛) . They even drive in some states. Can you believe? But if all they do in life is be a great mom, that’s awesome.  

      Now feminists (女性主义者)  have a muff (笑话)  that full motherhood is silly and old-fashioned. Maybe, they’re right. I mean, what do moms do really? Sure you carry the thing inside you for nine months, and after you give birth, your body never really is the same. And of course, watch your mom. All your personal desires become secondary as the survival of your child becomes your life’s priority (优先) , which then leads to you to worry each day, every night. That little one will turn out right. How easy is that? Maybe, I hate Mother’s Day. Is there anything that’s in front of all women who think full-time moms have never worked today in their lives? Which reminds me of a good joke. What would you call? An angry Feminist on Mother’s Day. You don’t.

● B. Repeat one particular statement from the script, and state your agreement, or your disagreement, as indicated by the example given below. When you do it, you are supposed to explain why.

* e.g. 

— Mom serves the most important function on earth. I couldn’t agree with him more. That’s because they keep the planet percolating.

— Mom serves the most important function on earth. I couldn’t disagree with him more. How about the functions served by men?