Episode 13 -- A Real Stewart -- Family Album, U.S.A.

Act 1

Act 2

Act 3

Listening Comprehension Questions

01. Why will Harry be unable to come to the Stewart home today?

02. What do Richard’s eyes look like?

03. What character trait does Michelle have in common with Harry?

04. Why did Ellen suggest that the gifts be kept in the living room?

05. What prediction does Grandpa make about Susan’s future?

06. What caused Grandpa to believe that Marilyn, Richard and Max just arrived home?

07. Who provided the new washcloth and towels for Max?

08. What is the traditional significance of Grandpa’s baseball glove?

09. What did Michelle say about the colors blue and pink?

10. Why is it possible that Susan and Harry will get married some day?

11. What do Richard, Marilyn, Ellen and Grandpa agree is a similar characteristic of all members of the Stewart Family?

12. What was Susan’s comment about Harry whispering when Max was sleeping?

Conversation class on Sunday, March 11, 2012

This is a private one-by-one conversation class between Winston and Peter held in Taichung City, Taiwan on March 11, 2012. This recording may be played from this blog posting below . It can also be downloaded in MP3 format from the Internet Archive for your own personal copy.

Episode 12 -- You're Tops -- Family Album, U.S.A.

Act 1

Act 2

Act 3

Listening Comprehension Questions

01. What is Grandpa’s problem?

02. Where are Harry and Michelle?

03. Why are Susan and Grandpa alone in the house?

04. What does Sam offer to do for Susan?

05. Who is John Marchetta?

06. Why did Grandpa retire?

07. Approximately how many years did Grandpa own a construction business?

08. What did Mr. Marchetta say about Cami?

09. What information was mentioned about the Spaceport project?

10. Who does Grandpa meet at the construction site?

11. After looking at the building plans, what does Grandpa suggest?

12. What does Grandpa ask Susan to do with him the following evening?

Conversation class on Sunday, February 26, 2012

This is a private one-by-one conversation class between Winston and Peter held in Taichung City, Taiwan on February 26, 2012. This recording may be played below this message. It can also be downloaded in MP3 format from the Internet Archive for your own personal copy.

Episode 11 -- A Place of Our Own -- Family Album, U.S.A.

Act 1

Act 2

Act 3

Listening Comprehension Questions

01. Why do Marilyn and Richard want to have their own home?

02. Where did Ellen live when she was pregnant with Richard?

03. Why did Philip refuse Grandpa’s offer to lend money to Philip?

04. How many houses did Virginia Martinelli sell to Philip and Ellen?

05. What did Marilyn say Richard looked like when he was a baby?

06. Why is unlikely that Marilyn and Richard cannot buy house in Riverdale?

07. What information is mentioned about Mount Kisco?

08. What information is given about the house that just came on the market?

09. What financial information did Mr. Riley ask from Richard and Marilyn?

10. Why would Richard and Marilyn need a guarantor in order to obtain a mortgage?

11. Why would Richard and Marilyn be in a better position to get a mortgage in two or three months?

12. What is Marilyn’s concern about not moving fast enough to secure financing?

Conversation class on Sunday, February 19, 2012

This is a private one-by-one conversation class between Winston and Peter held in Taichung City, Taiwan on February 19, 2012. This recording may be played below this message. It can also be downloaded in MP3 format from the Internet Archive for your own personal copy.

Episode 10 -- Smell The Flowers -- Family Album, USA

Act 1

Act 2

Act 3

Listening Comprehension Questions

01. What is Sam’s job?

02. How will the children probably feel about the spaceship?

03. What does Sam say about Susan’s workload?

04. What does the expression, “smell the flowers” mean?

05. Who were the guests in the reception room waiting to see Susan?

06. Who did Susan meet during her last Thanksgiving holiday?

07. How did Michelle quench her thirst?

08. What did they eat?

09. Why does Susan spend so much time with Harry?

10. Where did Harry want to take Susan and Michelle?

11. In what season is this story taking place?

12. What are the two “secrets” in this story?

Conversation class on Sunday, February 12, 2012

This is a private one-by-one conversation class between Winston and Peter held in Taichung City, Taiwan on February 12, 2012. This recording may be played below this message and it can also be downloaded in MP3 format from the Internet Archive for your own personal copy.

Episode 9 -- It's Up To You -- Family Album, USA

Act 1

Act 2

Act 3

Listening Comprehension Questions

01. What is Robbie supposed to “turn in” the following morning?

02. Why are Grandpa and Philip singing the University of Michigan song?

03. Why will a university Dean of Admissions go to New York City tomorrow?

04. Why does Grandpa suggest that Robbie should attend the interview?

05. What does Philip tell Bobby about Charley Rafer?

06. Most likely, who is “Marge”?

07. What do you know about what Marge has been doing?

08. Why does Charley Rafer decline Philip’s offer to invite him to lunch?

09. Why does Mike think he will have no problem being admitted to Columbia University?

10. What does Robbie tell Mike about both his father and grandfather?

11. What did Robbie and Mike do that afternoon?

12. When Philip went to university, what did Grandpa want him to study?

Conversation class on Sunday, January 15, 2012

This is a private one by one conversation class between Winston and Peter held in Taichung City, Taiwan on January 15, 2012. You can download this recording in MP3 format for your own personal copy.

Episode 8 -- You're Going to Be Fine -- Family Album, USA

Act 1

Act 2

Act 3

Listening Comprehension Questions

01. What is Molly Baker’s job?

02. What did Molly say that is not easy to arrange?

03. What does Dr. Earl remove from children’s throats?

04. What items of clothing does Molly ask Carl to put on?

05. What game does Molly play with the children?

06. What name of a movie did Frank correctly guess?

07. Why does Carl not want to play the game?

08. What did Molly promise Carl?

09. What does Molly offer the children for dinner?

10. What three flavors does she offer the children?

11. What did Molly tell Carl he must do first in order to get what was promised?

12. Who is Popo?

Conversation class on Sunday, December 25, 2011

This is a private one by one conversation class between Winston and Peter held in Taichung City on December 25, 2011. You can download this recording in MP3 format for your own personal copy.

Episode 7 -- Man's Best Friend -- Family Album, USA

Episode 7 -- Man's Best Friend

Act 1

Act 2

Act 3

Listening Comprehension Questions

01. What did Robbie get for his birthday?

02. What did Alexandra find in the letter she received?

03. What did Alexandra warn Robbie not to do if they go out to eat some food?

04. What is the gender of the dog found by Robbie and Alexandra?

05. What is the meaning of the acronym, ASPCA?

06. When will Alexandra go back to Greece?

07. At what time does the animal shelter close for business?

08. How many days does Bobby have to wait to find out if he can adapt the dog?

09. What animal did Bobby’s family own before?

10. What does Linda Aborn say about both Bobby and Alexandra?

11. What did Robbie want on his cheeseburger?

12. What did Robbie want to drink?

Conversation class on Sunday, December 18, 2011

This is a private one by one conversation class between Winston and Peter held in Taichung City on December 18, 2011. You can download this recording in MP3 format for your own personal copy.

Episode 6 -- Thanksgiving -- Family Album, USA

Episode 6 -- Family Album, USA

Act 1

Act 2

Act 3

Listening Comprehension Questions

01. How much coffee did Philip drink?
02. Where should the cinnamon be located?
03. Where will Robbie get some cinnamon?
04. What does Robbie often do that annoys his mother?
05. How did Robbie feel at the end of Act I?
06. Whose recipe did Mrs. Stewart use to make the turkey dressing?
07. What event will happen at four o’clock?
08. Who graduated from the University of Michigan?
09. Why did Bobby give thanks to his Math teacher?
10. What did Philip (and Marilyn) forget to do in the kitchen?
11. What did Alexandra and the Stewart family eat for dessert?
12. What did Alexandra say about the Molina family?

Conversation class on Sunday, December 11, 2011

This is a private one by one conversation class between Winston and Peter held in Taichung City on December 11, 2011. You can download this recording in MP3 format for your own personal copy.

Episode 5 -- The Right Magic -- Family Album, USA

Episode 5 -- Family Album USA

Act 1

Act 2

Act 3

Listening Comprehension Questions

01. In Act I, what is for breakfast?
02. What does Grandpa want Bobby to teach him?
03. When is Robbie’s birthday?
04. What did Philip catch?
05. What did Robbie catch?
06. How did they cook the fish?
07. What was wrong with the fish after it was cooked?
08. What happened to Albert?
09. Why did Philip, Grandpa and Robbie have to cut short their fishing trip?
10. Did Philip, Grandpa and Robbie bring any fish home?
11. Where did the fish come from?
12. At the end of Act III, who will go fishing next Saturday?

Conversation class on Sunday, December 4, 2011

This is a private one by one conversation class between Winston and Peter and Winston on December 4, 2011. You can download this recording in MP3 format for your own personal copy.

Episode 4 -- It's A Piece of Cake -- Family Album, USA

Episode 4 -- Family Album USA

Act 1

Act 2

Act 3

Listening Comprehension Questions

01. At the beginning of Act I, how did Marilyn feel when she arrived home?

02. What does Richard do every morning for sixty minutes without stopping?

03. When will the next aerobics class take place?

04. Who is the name of Marilyn’s aerobics instructor?

05. Why was Richard asked to come a little early to his first class?

06. When did Richard have his last complete physical?

07. Name three items needed to cook dinner for the Stewart family.

08. What did Richard do instead of exercising at the aerobics class?

09. How did Richard feel after his first advanced aerobics class?

10. What did the aerobics instructor say about Richard’s health?

11. Who won the bet?

12. Who will cook dinner for the entire Stewart family?

Conversation class on Sunday, November 20, 2011

A private one by one conversation class between Peter and Winston on November 20, 2011. The recorder stopped at 12:25--dead battery. You can download this recording in MP3 format for your own personal copy.

Episode 3 -- Grandpa's Trunk -- Family Album, USA

Episode 3 -- Family Album, USA

Act 1

Act 2

Act 3

Comprehension Questions

01. Where did Grandpa live before he decided to move into his son’s home?
02. When will Grandpa arrive?
03. Who will pick up Grandpa at the railroad station?
04. In the morning, what name does Marilyn use to acknowledge Richard?
05. Who does Grandpa think of whenever he sees Susan?
06. Where did Susan go for her business trip?
07. Why did Elsa Tobin move to a seat next to Malcolm?
08. Where is the destination of the train?
09. What will Elsa Tobin and her husband celebrate next month?
10. What virtue did Malcolm try to teach his children?
11. Where would Malcolm like to take his son and grandson?
12. Why was Susan unable to greet Grandpa when he arrived?

Episode 2 -- The Blind Date -- Family Album, USA

Episode 2 -- Family Album, USA

Act 1

Act 2

Act 3

Comprehension Questions

01. What food was the vendor selling?

02. Why was Harry late for his date with Susan?

03. Why did Harry leave the restaurant after he received a phone call?

04. Who used a payphone to make a phone call?

05. Who is Michelle?

06. How old is Michelle?

07. Why was Marilyn staying overnight at Susan’s apartment?

08. What important event happened to Harry two years ago?

09. How often does Susan have dates?

10. Who knocked on Susan’s door in Act III?

11. What was the significance of a bonsai tree?

12. What funny or embarrassing situation happened at the end of Act III?

Conversation class on Sunday, October 30, 2011

This is a conversation between Winston and Peter on Sunday, October 30, 2011. You can download this recording in MP3 format for your own personal copy.

Episode 1 -- 46 Linden Street -- Family Album, USA

Episode 1--Family Album, USA

Act I

Act II

Act III

Comprehension Questions

01. What did Richard forget on the ferry?
02. What is Alexandra’s citizenship?
03. What is Robby’s occupation?
04. What kind of medicine does Philip practice?
05. What information do you know about Alexandra’s homestay family?
06. What is the name of Philip’s wife?
07. In which city is this story taking place?
08. Who rang the doorbell at the Stewart residence?
09. What country does Alexandra come from?
10. Who answered the door when the doorbell rang?
11. What kind of sweater did the customer buy from Marilyn?
12. Why did Marilyn call the Staten Island Ferry?

Pronunciation Class 2011-1-20

Students in a Pronunciation class in Taichung City on 2011/1/13 were asked the following: (A) What is your definition of a "global citizen"? (B) Select one of the 52 virtues that would best promote global citizenship. (C) Defend your choice of virtue. This recording contains their responses.

Pre-iBT Listening Class 2011-1-17

Students in a Pre-iBT Listening class in Taichung City on 2011/1/10 were asked the following: "Recently, the former Taichung City and Taichung County amalgamated into one large municipality. What do you think are some of the pros and cons for creating this new entity?" This recording contains their responses.