New Year’s resolutions are an annual tradition. When 2006 turns into 2007, many Americans will make promises to improve their lives. Maybe they want to lose weight or stop smoking. Maybe they want to spend more time with their families or save more money.
People tend to make resolutions at New Year’s because the start of a new year makes people feel ready for new beginnings. Marking the passage of a year makes people look back on what they didn’t do, and look into the the future with the hope of accomplishing new goals.
Listen to Amanda tell Kevin about her New Year’s resolution.
Kevin: 2007 is fast approaching.
Amanda: Yes it is!
Kevin: (I like to hit the table.) Um, any New Year’s resolutions? You know, that, what you decide you’re not gonna do or something you’re gonna do in 2007?
Amanda: I’ve said it for about 10 years.
Kevin: Ok, what is it?
Amanda: Quit smoking entirely.
Kevin: Ok.
Amanda: I don’t really consider myself a smoker, but I do smoke…
Kevin: Social smoker.
Amanda: So, I would like to put an end to it entirely.
Kevin: So you do it socially?
Amanda: I suppose. Well, no not really, because I smoke by myself. So that’s not socially.
Kevin: OK.
Amanda: In the closet.
Kevin: That’s un-socially.
Amanda: So it’s not….
Kevin: So what is that…
Amanda: Anti-socially.
Kevin: So have you ever had a New Year’s resolution that you did keep, stick to?
Amanda: Um, yes. One was to, um, pay more attention to nutrition and exercising and I did do that for January one year.
Kevin: Great.
Amanda: And that was it.
Kevin: Better than nothing.
Amanda: It is better than nothing. But have you noticed that New Year’s, the whole concept of it, doesn’t really have any significance to anyone in the United States compared to other countries?
Kevin: It’s a big party.
Amanda: Chinese New Year, Korea’s New Year. Huge deal.
Kevin: Yeah. It’s kind of just a time for us to eat a lot… eat more food and drink more booze.
Amanda: It’s a little bit of an excuse to party, isn’t it?
Kevin: That’s right.
Amanda: Mm hmm.
Kevin: I think it’s kinda fun.
DiscussionKevin and Amanda joke around a lot during their conversation. Kevin makes fun of himself for hitting the table while he’s talking.
When Amanda says she smokes alone in the closet, they start laughing and joking about Amanda’s smoking habits. First Kevin thinks she’s a social smoker, but then they giggle about how she’s just the opposite.
Amanda has tried to quit smoking for 10 years. She only smokes occasionally, but she wants to quit for good.
Do you ever make resolutions?
Do you stick to them?
Vocab
by myself expr.
Definition:
alone; when no one else is around
Example:
I like to travel by myself. That way I never have to coordinate with someone else's schedule.
Social smoker n.
Definition:
someone who only smokes with other people, often while drinking alcohol, but doesn't make a habit of it
Example:
I wish I could just be a social smoker, but I'm addicted to nicotine. If I smoke a single cigarette, I'll soon be smoking a pack a day.
giggle v.
Definition:
laugh lightly; laugh while being silly
Example:
My sister and her friends started to giggle when they saw my dad in his bathing suit.
Quit v.
Definition:
stop; cease
Example:
I think I'm going to quit working for now and go back to school.
makes v.
Definition:
causes; forces
Example:
Sad songs always make me cry.
resolution n.
Definition:
vow, commitment or promise
Example:
My resolution this year is to exercise every day.
party v.
Definition:
have fun; drink alcohol or take drugs for fun
Example:
We didn't party that much when we were in Mexico. Jeff got really sick, so we spent a lot of time at the hotel.
booze n.
Definition:
alcohol
Example:
You smell like booze. How much whiskey did you drink?
Huge deal n.
Definition:
grand occasion; important event; very big deal
Example:
Getting married is a huge deal. You need to be really sure you know what you want.
stick to v.
Definition:
follow through on; continue to do
Example:
If I stick to this diet, I'll lose 50 pounds by my birthday!
