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Connect with English

Thanksgiving/Starting Over (#120)

Pt. 1- Rebecca and Kevin enjoy Thanksgiving at Uncle Brendan's. Rebecca finally learns the source of Brendan's feud with her father. During the Korean War, Rebecca's father courted, and married, Brendan's girlfriend, who would be Rebecca's mother
Grammar review: past continuous tense, affirmative and negative statements; past continuous tense, yes/no questions and short answers; wh - questions and answers; past continuous tense and simple past tense.
Pt. 2- Rebecca returns to San Francisco and learns that she has lost her job in the after-school program.
Grammar review: wh - questions with who, what, when, where, why, and how long; grammar lessons: wh - questions: who/what as subjects; who/whom/what as objects; wh - questions with what/which/how much/how many (+ noun).
[26 minutes] Closed Captioning

Information For Teachers

Grade Levels
9-12+
Curricular Areas
Literacy & Languages
Adult Education
Series Length
25 episodes
Average Episode Length
26 minutes
Record Rights
Record only; no duplication allowed
Visit the Website for Teacher Resources
http://www.learner.org/resourc...

Visit the IPTV Education website to access timely, relevant resources for your classroom.

Series Description: Through the story of Rebecca, an aspiring singer, this English language learner (ELL) series touches on life's important issues: leaving home, parenting, education, work, love, success, and loss. All of the characters use meaningful, natural language that students can put to work immediately in their own lives. Each episode features dialogue that is slightly slowed down and subtly simplified. Key lines are repeated, idioms paraphrased, and important events retold. There are constant visual clues to meaning, such as written signs, notes, and documents. Closed captioning may be used as a teaching and literacy resource.

Watch it Online
http: //www.learner.org/resources/series71.html

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All Upcoming Episodes

  • Unexpected Offers/The Audition (#122)

    Pt. 1- Ramon sends Alex to Los Angeles for Christmas. Vincent Wang considers a job offer in Taiwan. Ramon visits Rebecca to deliver a gift from Alex. He starts to invite Rebecca to spend... [26 minutes] Closed Captioning

  • Dreamcatcher/Gifts (#123)

    Pt. 1- When Rebecca returns from her audition, Nancy advises her to clear up the situation with the Mendoza brothers, or the family history of two brothers estranged over a woman will repeat... [26 minutes] Closed Captioning

  • True Love/Friendship (#124)

    Pt. 1- Rebecca and Ramon exchange Christmas gifts--and a kiss. Ramon suggests they spend New Year's together. Back in Illinois, Brendan and Anne suggest that Kevin visit his sister for the... [26 minutes] Closed Captioning

  • The Lost Boys/A Very Good Year (#125)

    Pt. 1- Alex and Vincent go ice skating on their big night, and Alex falls and hurts his ankle. Meanwhile, their families search everywhere for them. Finally, Mrs. Wang receives a call from the... [26 minutes] Closed Captioning

  • Introduction/Rebecca's Dream (#101)

    Viewers meet Rebecca Casey, an aspiring young singer. We also meet her boyfriend Matt, who doesn't think much of her dream, and her brother Kevin, who doesn't think much about the future at all.... [26 minutes] Closed Captioning

  • Differences/A Visit to the Doctor (#102)

    Pt. 1 finds Rebecca applying to music schools. Her father, a widowed, disabled firefighter, worries that she is choosing a chancy career, and that Kevin may not graduate. Rebecca's best friend... [26 minutes] TV-G Closed Captioning

  • Celebrations/Breaking the News (#103)

    Pt. 1- Kevin graduates from high school, and Rebecca is accepted into the San Francisco College of Music. After telling Sandy the good news, she plans to confront her father about his health.... [26 minutes] Closed Captioning

  • Saying Goodbye/Leaving Home (#104)

    Pt. 1- Rebecca gives her final music lesson while her father secretly goes shopping for a car to give her. After her last softball game, the team gives Rebecca a farewell present, and Rebecca... [26 minutes] Closed Captioning

  • The Stranger/The Motel (#105)

    Pt. 1- When Rebecca reaches the Southwest in her cross-country drive, the car breaks down on a deserted road. She worries when a stranger approaches. He turns out to be a photographer, Alberto, who... [26 minutes] Closed Captioning

  • Negotiations/Photos and Farewells (#106)

    Pt. 1- The car repairs will cost $800 so Rebecca sells the car to the garage for $550 and plans to take the bus all the way to San Francisco. Grammar lessons: simple present tense, yes/no... [26 minutes] Closed Captioning

  • A New Home/Meet The Discussion Group (#107)

    Pt. 1- Rebecca arrives in San Francisco, and is surprised to discover that her godmother Nancy keeps other boarders and that she will have to pay rent as well. Grammar lessons: simple past tense,... [26 minutes] Closed Captioning

  • Job Hunting/A Bad Day (#108)

    Pt. 1- Rebecca has a difficult time getting used to life with other boarders at Nancy's house. At school, Rebecca learns that her work-study program has been canceled so she goes on a job... [26 minutes] Closed Captioning

Past Episodes

These episodes of Connect with English aired in the last few months on Iowa Public Television.

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