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Let's Learn English - Level 2

Lesson 16: Find Your Joy!


Let’s Learn English - Level 2 - Lesson 16: Find Your Joy!
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Let’s Learn English - Level 2 - Lesson 16: Find Your Joy!

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Let’s Learn English - Level 2 - Lesson 16
Let’s Learn English - Level 2 - Lesson 16

Conversation

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Anna: Hi, Kaveh! Let’s go to lunch!

Kaveh: Ooh, I know a great place. When I first started working here, I would go every day!

Anna: Great. Oh, no.

Kaveh: What’s wrong?

Anna: I lost my key! I just had it this morning.

Kaveh: You should check the Lost & Found office.

Anna: Great idea. Where is it?

Kaveh: Oh, it used to be across from the cafeteria. But now it’s down in the basement next to the elevators. It’s really hard to find.

Anna: The Lost & Found is hard to find. That’s funny.

Kaveh: It is.

Professor Bot: I hope Anna can find the Lost & Found office!

Used to and would describe something that happened repeatedly in the past.

Kaveh uses would when he says, “When I first started working here, I would go every day!

There are two differences between used to and would.

Number 1: We use would only when we say the time period first.

Number 2: For verbs like be, think, feel, see and understand, we can only use used to.

Kaveh says, "It used to be across from the cafeteria."

Keep listening for more!

(A worker moves the sign for the Lost & Found office. So, Anna walks into the wrong office without knowing it.)

Serenity: Come in! I am Serenity.

Anna: Hi, Serenity. I’m Anna!

Serenity: Please, sit down. How can I help you?

Anna: I lost something very important.

Serenity: Shh. I already know. You need help.

Anna: Yes. I need help finding the key …

Serenity: Shh. You need to find the key – the key that will give you happiness.

Anna: Yes. Finding this key will make me very happy.

Serenity: First, Anna, let me tell you a little bit about myself.

Anna: Okay.

Serenity: I used to be a very important person with a very important job. I made a lot of money -- I mean a lot.

Anna: Wow. Good for you!

Serenity: No! No, it was bad for me. I lost the most important thing – the key! You’ve lost it too, haven’t you, Anna? Haven’t you?

Anna: I guess. So, how does this work? Do I have to fill out a form or something?

Serenity: No. No forms. Just answer this one question: As a child, what did you use to do to feel happy?

Anna: When I was little, I used to sing all the time with my family. Those were good times.

Serenity: Singing is so joyful! I used to sing. But now that I’ve started my business, I’ve just been too busy. Too busy! Anna, why don’t you sing again?

Anna: I sing everywhere! I sing in the office. I sing on the metro. I sing in the elevators. I sing on the escalators. I sing in the bathroom. Serenity! Serenity! I really need to find my key. Yeah!

Serenity: Yes, we need to find the key … the key to happiness.

Anna: No, no. I just need to find the key to my apartment.

Serenity: I used to know. But now I don't! Do you, Anna?

Anna: I don’t know. I think I left it in the ladies’ room. You know, this isn’t the Lost & Found, is it?

(Anna starts walking out of the room)

Serenity: It could be the Lost & Found. I’m lost! And I used to find joy for people! I used to find joy!

Anna: You know, this is a bad time for you. I’ll find the Lost & Found myself. Bye, thanks.

Serenity: I used to find joy. I used to find joy! I used to find joy!

Anna: Ah, I found my key!

Serenity: I used to find joy!

Pofessor Bot: Oh no. Serenity lost her joy. But at least Anna found her key! Check out our website for more!

Listening Quiz

See how well you understand this lesson by taking a listening quiz. Play each short video, then choose the best answer.

Quiz - Lesson 16: Find Your Joy!

Quiz - Lesson 16: Find Your Joy!

Start the Quiz to find out

Free Materials

Word Book
Word Book

Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website.

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Let's Learn English - Level 2 is a new course for English learners. Certified American English teachers designed the course for intermediate learners.

Each week, there will be a new lesson with a video showing the lives of young Americans. The lesson includes instruction in speaking, vocabulary, and writing.

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