sarah: what's up

richard: nothing much, and you?

sarah: i am having fun learning new english phrases and ideas.

richard: what kind of things are you learning?

sarah: some everyday english about chinese instruments, and how people in western cultures celebrate birthdays.

richard: wow, you learn something new everyday. can i study with you?

sarah: anything for you.

richard: let's begin.

莎拉：有什么新鲜事吗？
里查德：没什么，你呢？
莎拉：我正以学习新的英语短语和观念为乐呢。
里查德：你都学些什么？
莎拉：一些有关中国乐器的每日英语，以及西方人是如何庆祝他们的生日的。
里查德：哇，你每天都学一些新东西。我能跟你一起学吗？
莎拉：随便你。
里查德：让我们开始吧。

new words（生词)

1) candles(n)（蜡烛）: wax you can lite
putting candles on your dinner table can be romantic.
在晚餐餐桌上放蜡烛的做法很浪漫。

2) decorated(adj.)（修饰的）: fixed up, set up
at christmas we decorated our house with green and red things.
在圣诞节的时候，我们用红色和绿色的东西装饰房屋。

3) clown(n)（小丑）: a funny person in funny clothes
the funny clown, with colorful clothes, did some magic for the kids at the party.
在晚会上，滑稽的小丑穿着五颜六色的服装为孩子们变戏法。

4) puff(v)（吹气）: one blow, pushing out air
she blew out the candle in one puff.
她一口气吹灭了蜡烛。
puff the magic dragon could puff smoke out of his mouth.
帕夫神龙可以从它的嘴里喷出烟雾来。

5) wrapping paper(n)（包装纸）: paper to cover gifts
if you go to the store, please pick me up some wrapping paper so i can wrap bill's birthday present.
如果你去商店的话，请帮我带一些包装纸来，以便我可以把给比尔的生日礼物包起来。

lesson: 课文
customs of kids' birthday parties (如何给孩子举办生日宴会)

1) the house or party room should be decorated with the child's name, "happy birthday" signs, and many different colored balloons.

2) it is customary to invite many friends from school. each kid will bring a wrapped present for the birthday boy or girl.

3) it is customary for the birthday boy or girl to open his/her gifts in front of the guests. gifts should always be well-wrapped in colorful wrapping paper. guests love to see the expression on the face of the birthday person when they open their gifts.

4) one candle will be lit for every year the child has been alive. the child then makes a wish, if she or he blows out all the candles in one puff, the wish will come true.

5) when westerners sing the song "happy birthday," they always sing the birthday person's name in the second to last line.

6) some traditional birthday games include: pin the tail on the donkey, bobbing for apples, musical chairs and more.

7) sometimes the parents pay for a clown or magician to entertain the guests.

8) even as adults, family and friends continue to give gifts and have parties to celebrate birthdays!

1) 房间里或举办宴会的房间应该标上过生日的孩子的名字，“生日快乐”的标志，和许多各种颜色的气球。

2) 一般来说，在为孩子过生日的时候，会从学校邀请许多孩子的朋友。每个被邀请来参加生日宴会的孩子都应该带来一份包裹起来的生日礼物，送给当天过生日的小寿星。

3) 一般的做法是，小寿星应该当众打开来参加生日宴会的孩子们带来的生日礼物。生日礼物应该放在五颜六色的包装纸里。客人们希望看到小寿星在打开包起来的生日礼物时脸上惊喜快乐的表情。

4) 孩子的年龄是多少岁，就应该在生日宴会的桌上放置多少根蜡烛。然后小寿星对着蜡烛开始许愿，如果他/她一口气吹灭了蜡烛的话，他、她的愿望就能成真。