Summary
Anna helps a tourist find interesting museums in Washington, D.C. She gets some help herself, too.
Speaking
In this video, learn how to say the new words. Then learn about using the present perfect verb tense.
Let's Learn English Lesson 48 Speaking Practice
Pronunciation
Use this video to learn about how Americans pronounce "been," the present perfect form of BE.
Let's Learn English Lesson 48 Pronunciation Practice
Conversation
Let's Learn English Lesson 48: Have You Ever...?
Anna: Hello! I have lived in Washington, D.C. for a long time now. And I have done a lot. I feel that I know this city pretty well. (walks off and comes back) That's the wrong way. Where is it again?
Anna: (sees a tourist at a sign) Excuse me, can I help you? Have we met before?
Jean: I don’t think so. I’ve just flown in from Boston. My name is Jean.
Anna: Hi, Jean! I'm Anna. I really feel like we’ve met before. Anyway, how can I help?
Jean: I want to see an interesting museum but I don’t know which one.
Anna: I can help with that. I’ve lived in Washington, D.C. a long time. I think I’ve seen all the museums.
Jean: Wow, thanks. So, tell me, which museums are good?
Anna: Well, they are all good. But they’re all different. There are science museums and history museums and art and culture museums.
Jean: I want to see an unusual museum.
Anna: I like the Sculpture Garden. Have you ever seen sculptures in a garden? It is really artistic!
Jean: I have never seen a garden of sculptures! I’ll write that on my list!
Anna: Have you been to the Museum of the American Indian? I’ve visited that museum many times. It is very peaceful.
Jean: I have always liked American Indian culture.
Jean: I’ll put that on my list. (writes on list) Do you have any other suggestions?
Anna: Well, if you like plants, you can visit the U.S. Botanic Gardens. It's very organic.
Jean: I have always loved plants. I’ll write that on my list, too! Wow, you know so much about D.C.’s museums.
Anna: Well, I have lived here for over a year.
Jean: You’re so lucky to live in such a beautiful city filled with so many museums and a zoo!
Anna: What? D.C. has a zoo?
Jean: Yes, and it’s beautiful. You’ve lived here for so long and you haven’t been to the zoo?
Anna: I've never been to D.C.’s zoo. I've never been to any zoos!
Jean: You have never seen zoo animals?
Anna: I grew up on a farm, Jean. I've known farm animals my whole life.
Jean: But the zoo has lions (makes sound of lion roaring) and elephants (makes sound of elephant trumpeting) and zebras (makes no sound)! If you have never seen a real, live elephant, you must. They are so majestic.
Anna: I will. I will! (writes list) There. I’ve written my own must-see zoo animal list!
Jean: Have fun at the zoo and thanks, Anna!
Anna: Have fun at the museums, Jean! And thank YOU!
Anna: This has been awesome! And I have seen every animal on my list! Jean, the tourist, helped me see more of my city. But where have I seen her before?
Oh well. Until next time …
Writing
In this lesson, Anna helps Jean learn about places to see in Washington, D.C. Have you ever visited a museum, a zoo, or a public garden? Where was it? What did you see there? If you have not, what would you tell a tourist to see in your home town? Write to us by email or in the Comments section.
Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice talking about things you have seen or done. Please note, our activity sheets now can be completed on the computer.
Activity Sheet - Lesson 48
Learning Strategy
Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective.
The learning strategy for this lesson is Focus Attention. This strategy is what we use when we want to finish a job and make sure we do all of the things we want to do.
In this lesson, Jean is a tourist in Washington, D.C. Anna tells Jean about the interesting museums in the city. Jean makes a list so she can remember to visit all of the interesting museums. When Jean makes at her list, then looks at it later, she is focusing attention on what she wants to do. As she sees each museum, she can check each museum off on the list.
What do you do to focus your attention on the things you are learning in English? Write to us about it in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy.
Quiz
Listen to short videos and test your listening skills with this quiz.
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New Words
American Indian - n. a member of any of the first groups of people living in North America or South America. The members of these nations are also called Native Americans or by the name of their tribal nation, as in "a member of the Navajo tribe."
animal - n. a living thing that is not a human being or plant
U.S. Botanic Garden - n. a large public garden in Washington, D.C. where plants are grown in order to be studied
elephant - n. a very large gray animal that has a long, flexible nose and two long tusks
lion - n. a large wild cat that has golden brown fur and that lives mainly in Africa
majestic - adj. large and impressively beautiful
own - v. to have (something) as property or to legally possess (something)
plant - n. a living thing that grows in the ground, usually has leaves or flowers, and needs sun and water to survive
science - n. knowledge about or study of the natural world based on facts learned through experiments and observation
sculpture - n. a piece of art that is made by carving or molding clay, stone, wood or metal
suggestion - n. an idea about what someone should do or how someone should behave
zebra - n. an African animal that looks like a horse and has black and white stripes covering its body
zoo - n. a place where many kinds of animals are kept so that people can see them
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Free Materials
Word Book
Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website.
Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice using the present perfect verb tense.
For Teachers
Lesson 48 Lesson Plan
See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions.
Grammar: Present perfect verb tense
Topics: Review of making recommendations; Talking about things to do and see
Learning Strategy: Focus Attention
Speaking & Pronunciation: Past participle of BE
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Now it's your turn. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson.
