Lesson 23

Special Occasions

Objective: I will learn to narrate about past events.

Personal Study

Prepare for your conversation group by completing activities A through E.

Study the Principle of Learning: Exercise Faith in Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ can help me do all things as I exercise faith in Him.

In the Bible, we learn about a woman who had been sick for many years. She spent all of her money trying to find a cure. She had gone to many doctors, but her illness got worse. Then the woman heard about Jesus. She saw him in a crowd of people. She believed Jesus had the power to heal her. She believed if she could just touch his clothes, she would be healed. She came behind Jesus and touched His clothing. She felt her body heal. Jesus felt power leave His body. When He asked who had touched His clothes, she was afraid to admit it was her at first, but then she confessed it was her.

Jesus said, “Be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace” (Luke 8:48).

This woman believed, and she acted in faith. Reaching out to Jesus was a small act, but it brought His power into her life. You don’t have to be ashamed or afraid to ask God for help. He wants to help you. When you exercise faith, even in small ways, it can bring Jesus Christ’s power into your life.

Ponder

• How has the Lord strengthened you as you have learned English?

• How can you exercise faith in other parts of your life?

Memorize Vocabulary

Learn the meaning and pronunciation of each word before your conversation group. Try applying the words in your life. Think about when and where you could use these words.

a fun time

Nouns

awards ceremony
family reunion
food
graduation
nice speeches
wedding dinner

Verbs Past

ate food
danced
gave gifts
got together with friends
listened to speeches
shared memories
watched fireworks

Adjectives

beautiful
boring
exciting
fun
horrible
tiring
weird

Practice Pattern 1

Practice using the patterns until you can confidently ask and answer questions. You can replace the underlined words with words in the “Memorize Vocabulary” section.

Q: How was the (noun)?A: It was (adjective). I had a (adjective) time. There were (noun).

Questions

Answers

Examples

Q: How was the graduation?A: It was exciting. We had a fun time. There were nice speeches.

Q: How did the party go?A: It was tiring. I had a horrible time. There was a weird band.

Practice Pattern 2

Practice using the patterns until you can confidently ask and answer questions. Try using the patterns in a conversation with a friend. You could talk or send messages.

Q: What did you do at the (noun)?A: I (verb past).

Questions

Answers

Examples

Q: What did you do at the graduation?A: We ate food and shared memories.

Q: What did they do at the wedding dinner?A: They got together with friends.

Use the Patterns

Write four questions you can ask someone. Write an answer to each question. Read them aloud.

Additional Activities

Complete the lesson activities and assessments online at englishconnect.org/learner/resources or in the EnglishConnect 2 Workbook.

Act in Faith to Practice English Daily

Continue to practice English daily. Use your “Personal Study Tracker.” Review your study goal and evaluate your efforts.

Conversation Group

Discuss the Principle of Learning: Exercise Faith in Jesus Christ

(20–30 minutes)

• Read the principle of learning for this lesson aloud.

• Discuss the questions.

Activity 1: Practice the Patterns

(10–15 minutes)

Review the vocabulary list with a partner.

Practice pattern 1 with a partner:

• Practice asking questions.

• Practice answering questions.

• Practice a conversation using the patterns.

Repeat for pattern 2.

Activity 2: Create Your Own Sentences

(10–15 minutes)

Look at the pictures. Ask and answer questions about each event. Say as much as you can. Take turns. Switch partners and practice again.

Example: graduation

• A: How was the graduation?

• B: It was boring.

• A: What did you do at the graduation?

• B: We listened to speeches.

Image 1: wedding

Image 2: birthday party

Image 3: awards ceremony

Image 4: retirement party

Activity 3: Create Your Own Conversations

(15–20 minutes)

Ask and answer questions about events, celebrations, or special occasions you attended recently. Use vocabulary from this lesson and lesson 22. Say as much as you can. Take turns.

Example

• A: How was the family reunion?

• B: It was fun!

• A: What did you do at the family reunion?

• B: We shared memories with family members.

• A: Who was there?

• B: My aunts, uncles, and cousins were there.

Evaluate

(5–10 minutes)

Evaluate your progress on the objectives and your efforts to practice English daily.

Evaluate Your Progress

I can:

• Ask about past events.

  

• Talk about past events.

  

Evaluate Your Efforts

Evaluate your efforts to:

1. Study the principle of learning.

2. Memorize Vocabulary.

3. Practice the patterns.

4. Practice daily.

Set a goal. Consider the study suggestions in the “Personal Study Tracker.”

Share your goal with a partner.

Act in Faith to Practice English Daily

“When the Savior knows you truly want to reach up to Him—when He can feel that the greatest desire of your heart is to draw His power into your life—you will be led by the Holy Ghost to know exactly what you should do [see Doctrine and Covenants 88:63]. When you spiritually stretch beyond anything you have ever done before, then His power will flow into you” (Russell M. Nelson, “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 42).