Episode Description:
When you go somewhere new, what do you look for? What stands out to you? In this episode, a married couple from Taiwan, Tiger and Lisa, tell about their first visit to the USA and some of their impressions. Notably, on their first trip to America, they skipped the famous icons such as New York, Los Angeles, or Disney World, instead choosing to visit Roanoke and the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. The fell in love with the beautiful Peaks of Otter in the Blue Ridge Parkway National Park, and were even surprised to find a wide range of greeting cards in a pharmacy.
Word of the Day: peak (noun) the highest part of a mountain
Question of the Day: Have you ever gone to a new place, and were surprised by something there? If so, what?
Listen to find out why that shocked them, and some other surprises they encountered here.
Check your listening ability.
1. Which of the following was NOT one of Lisa’s first impressions of America?
A. beautiful homes
B. cold and windy
C.clean streets
D.nice people
E. fresh air
2. Where is the Dominican Republic?
3. T/F Pharmacies in Taiwan only sell medicine.
4. _________ are a good tradition to have in America because it is more personal than e-mails.
5. If you want to know how the water is, don’t ask the fish. How did Mr. Dreyer relate this analogy to Tiger and Lisa’s experience in Vinton?
6. In what way are waiters and waitresses different in America compared to those in Taiwan, according to Lisa?
7. What are the two mountains that comprise the Peaks of Otter?
A. Mill Mountain and Mount Fuji
B. East Otter and West Peak
C. Mount McKinley and Mount Rushmore
D. Flat Top and Sharp Top
8. Att 22:47, what does Mr. Dreyer mean in his translation to the English phrase, “off the charts?”
A. off the map
B. extremely low amount
C. extremely high amount
D. never before recorded
9. Describe the differences between the view from Sharp Top and the view from Flat Top.
10. What are some ways English language learners can have better education in pronounciation and speaking abilities? What are their current impediments?
Answer Key:
1. B. cold and windy
2. next to Haiti, south of Florida
3. True
4. Cards
5. With the fresh eyes of non-natives, they noticed things locals don’t think of. In this case, Lisa was amazed at how many targeted greeting cards a pharmacy sold.
6. Taiwanese waiters are usually seen as having no money or education. It is a lowly job. In America, she noticed that even the waiters have pride in their work.
7. D. Flat Top and Sharp Top
8. C. extremely high amount
9. The view from Sharp Top reveals the Piedmont region of Virginia. It stretches flatter. From Flat Top, you can see more mountains.
10. Many students in China and Taiwan are taught English from a textbook and taught only to pass a test. Additionally, their teachers are from the Philippines or South Africa. The teachers thus have very thick accents, which is not how Americans speak English. Students that want to master the English language can take classes through DreyerCoaching.com and spend time in the United States.
***************
Do you want to improve your listening ability? Contact Scott today to see what class you can take to improve that skill!
Have a question or feedback? Maybe a topic you’d like to hear in a future episode? Please email Scott at lifeapppodcast@gmail.com. We’d love to hear from you! If you enjoy our podcasts, please subscribe, write a review, and share them on social media and by word of mouth! Those are GREAT ways to help more people find our podcasts. Please also visit us at www.DreyerCoaching.com; check out the blog posts at the bottom of the page for more information about life in the USA and the crazy English language.