Episode Description:
Mr. Dreyer recounts his Thanksgiving in Germany in 1985.
Thanksgiving, Holiday, Germany, trip, study, abroad, attitude, self pity
Word for the Day: self pity (noun) feeling sorry for yourself
Self Pity is nearly always the worst attitude you can have. –Dale Carnegie
Listen to Episode 18 below.
Listen Here
Check your listening ability:
1. In what ways is Christmas different from Thanksgiving in the United States?
2. ___________________ ________________ is a hotly debated location for the First Thanksgiving.
3. Why is it widely accepted that the First Thanksgiving occurred in Plymouth Rock, and not Virginia?
4. Which of the below does NOT describe the weather in Germany Mr. Dreyer saw on Thanksgiving 1985
A. gray
B. cloudy
C. dreary
D. warm
E. depressing
5. T/F Mr. Dreyer’s self pity drove him to invite friends to a meal he prepared.
6. What did Mr. Dreyer do in response to realizing the true meaning of Thanksgiving?
7. T/F The Chinese students did not know it was Thanksgiving Day in America.
8. Why is it ironic Mr. Dreyer learned to use chopsticks on this day in 1985?
A. Chopsticks are not useful for eating turkey.
B. He was celebrating an American holiday in Germany with Chinese students.
C. They only served soup, which is near impossible to eat with chopsticks.
D. They did not use chopsticks at the First Thanksgiving.
Answer Key:
1. Christmas tends to be more stressful and busier. Thanksgiving is all about family time and being thankful.
2. Berkeley Plantation
3. Because the North won the Civil War, winners get the right to history. Plymouth Rock is in Massachusetts.
4. D. warm
5. False
6. He raised his hands in worship and thanked God for many things.
7. True
8. B. He was celebrating an American meal in Germany with Chinese students.
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Recently three of my online writing students listened to some of my podcasts and wrote a brief response, focusing on how the podcast content could help them. Here is one.
The moral of Episode 18: Thanksgiving Story was to be appreciative and positive. How does this help me in my own life? Well, although it is normal to feel down some days, it is always important to try to stay optimistic. I love playing soccer, and this episode reminded me of a recent match I played in. Our team lost an intense game against another school. Although we lost the match, we played a great game; our team coordinated perfectly, gave it our best effort, and most importantly, had fun. Due to our sportsmanship and positivity, I believe we can play that team another day, just as how Mr. Dreyer got invited to the Thanksgiving feast: by being positive and grateful. Not only has this podcast been enjoyable, but it has also taught me to be upbeat and thankful at times, even if I don’t get or have what I desire.
— Alex in Hsinchu, Taiwan
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