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Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Friends. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:

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I think I have the greatest friends in the world. They are just as important to me as family. In fact, they are my family, really. My best friends and I all grew up together and shared so many experiences together. We know everything about each other. I would do anything for my friends and I'm sure they'd do anything for me. I'm sure there's nothing in the world that could stop us from being friends. I've also made lots of other good friends from university and the different places I've worked. They are also important to me. We are now all over the world and it's sometimes difficult to meet each other, but we stay in touch. One day I'd like to get all of my friends together for a big party. That'd be great fun.

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A FREE 9-page ESL Lesson Listening plan on Friends. A graded article, two online quizzes, a printable worksheet and a 60-second mp3 listening on this topic.

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How Latino families are celebrating young women on their 15th birthdays l GMA

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Read the text and write your answer to the question posed at the end of the reading.

https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/archive/magazine/life-around-the-world/the-quinceanera-fifteen-year-old-birthday-girl

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One of Mexico's traditions is called the , which means 'fifteen-year-old'. It is when a young girl turns 15 and she has a big party to celebrate. It is a fusion of Aztec culture and Spanish Catholicism. In 16th-century Spain, a girl turning 15 meant she had to decide between dedicating her life to God or getting married. Back then, in line with Catholic tradition, the girl would wear a white dress; however, girls now wear dresses of any colour. Finding the right dress for your quinceañera is a big deal and a lot of time is put into finding the right one. The dresses have lots of fabric. Think The Princess Diaries! The party costs a lot of money.

The first stop is for the religious ceremony at the church. Then at the birthday party, there's music, dancing and lots of food. Family and friends are invited to enjoy the special day. The father dances with his daughter and there is a more modern dance by the birthday girl.

The quinceañera looks like great fun. It's totally different from how I celebrated my 15th birthday. The age 15 has so much more significance in Mexico than in England. In contrast, I remember my 18th birthday being a big deal because that was when I could call myself an adult.

Mexican culture really interests me. There is so much more to learn about, and I would like to visit someday to experience it in person and practise my Spanish on the locals!

Which birthdays are the most important in your country?

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The quinceañera - fifteen-year-old birthday girl!

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One of Mexico's traditions is called the , which means 'fifteen-year-old'. It is when a young girl turns 15 and she has a big party to celebrate. It is a fusion of Aztec culture and Spanish Catholicism. In 16th-century Spain, a girl turning 15 meant she had to decide between dedicating her life to God or getting married.

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Read a travel guide about Bangkok to practise and improve your reading skills.

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Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Travelling. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:

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Travelling gives you many wonderful experiences you cannot find in your own country. You meet local people and get to understand different cultures. It's so exciting. I love planning trips and doing some research on the country or countries I want to visit. Sometimes I like to plan everything in advance, my flights, hotels and tours, etc. For me, the most exciting thing is arriving in a country with no hotel reservation and no fixed plans. I prefer staying in hostels and guest houses. You get to meet and talk to different and interesting people and share information. I also like to visit places that are off the beaten track. Being somewhere with thousands of other tourists? It's not my cup of tea.

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A FREE 9-page ESL Lesson Listening plan on Travelling. A graded article, two online quizzes, a printable worksheet and a 60-second mp3 listening on this topic.

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Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Children. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:

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Children are angels. Most of the time this is true. I'm very lucky because my two children really are the greatest angels. I think I won the children lottery with my kids. I could not have asked for lovelier, happier, sweeter little children. They have brought me endless amounts of joy since the second they were born. Everything they do fascinates me. Everything they say makes me smile. Watching them grow up is my greatest pleasure. In a way, it's a little sad. I always want them to stay the age they're at now. When they were 18 months old, I thought that was the cutest age. I thought the same when they were two, and then three and then four. I guess however old they are, they're perfect. I wish all the children in the world were as happy as mine.

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A FREE 9-page ESL Lesson Listening plan on Children. A graded article, two online quizzes, a printable worksheet and a 60-second mp3 listening on this topic.

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https://test-english.com/listening/a1/sports-and-exercise-listening-test/

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Sports and exercise - A1 English listening test - Test-English

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Listening comprehension practice test for beginners and elementary students (CEFR A1 level). Sports and exercise. English listening test.

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https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/study-break/video-series/word-street/food-britain

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What do you think of as typical British food? Roast beef? Fish and chips? Tea and cakes? Or maybe there's more to British food than that? Check out this video to find out about what people in the UK are eating these days.