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Bad News/Brothers (#115)

Pt. 1- Rebecca and Kevin call a priest and their father's estranged brother, Brendan, who lives in Illinois. Father O'Conner administers the Sacrament of the Sick to Rebecca's father. Sandy arrives at the hospital and tries unsuccessfully to hide the fact that Jack has been hitting her.
Grammar lessons: past continuous tense, yes/no questions and short answers; past continuous tense, w h- questions; there is/are and there was/were: yes/no questions and short answers.
Pt. 2- Brendan Casey arrives and reconciles with his brother just before he dies. Funeral arrangements are made, and friends and relatives are contacted.
Grammar lessons: adverbial phrases and clauses: one action before or after another action; adverbial phrases and clauses: two actions at the same time; past continuous and simple past tense. [26 minutes]

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Information For Teachers

Grade Levels: 9-12+
Curricular Areas: Literacy & Languages; Adult Education
Series Length: 25 episodes
Average Episode Length: 26 minutes
Record Rights: Record only; no duplication allowed
Visit the Website for Teacher Resources: http://www.learner.org/resourc...

Series Description: Through the story of Rebecca, an aspiring singer, this English language learner (ELL) series touches on life's important issues: leaving home, parenting, education, work, love, success, and loss. All of the characters use meaningful, natural language that students can put to work immediately in their own lives. Each episode features dialogue that is slightly slowed down and subtly simplified. Key lines are repeated, idioms paraphrased, and important events retold. There are constant visual clues to meaning, such as written signs, notes, and documents. Closed captioning may be used as a teaching and literacy resource.

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All Upcoming Episodes

Unexpected Offers/The Audition (#122)

Pt. 1- Ramon sends Alex to Los Angeles for Christmas. Vincent Wang considers a job offer in Taiwan. Ramon visits Rebecca to deliver a gift from Alex. He starts to invite Rebecca to spend... [26 minutes]
- Sun, May 26, 3:00 AM on IPTV
Dreamcatcher/Gifts (#123)

Pt. 1- When Rebecca returns from her audition, Nancy advises her to clear up the situation with the Mendoza brothers, or the family history of two brothers estranged over a woman will repeat... [26 minutes]
- Sun, May 26, 3:30 AM on IPTV
True Love/Friendship (#124)

Pt. 1- Rebecca and Ramon exchange Christmas gifts--and a kiss. Ramon suggests they spend New Year's together. Back in Illinois, Brendan and Anne suggest that Kevin visit his sister for the... [26 minutes]
- Sun, June 2, 3:00 AM on IPTV
The Lost Boys/A Very Good Year (#125)

Pt. 1- Alex and Vincent go ice skating on their big night, and Alex falls and hurts his ankle. Meanwhile, their families search everywhere for them. Finally, Mrs. Wang receives a call from the... [26 minutes]
- Sun, June 2, 3:30 AM on IPTV
Introduction/Rebecca's Dream (#101)

Viewers meet Rebecca Casey, an aspiring young singer. We also meet her boyfriend Matt, who doesn't think much of her dream, and her brother Kevin, who doesn't think much about the future at all.... [26 minutes]
- Sun, June 9, 3:00 AM on IPTV
Differences/A Visit to the Doctor (#102)

Pt. 1 finds Rebecca applying to music schools. Her father, a widowed, disabled firefighter, worries that she is choosing a chancy career, and that Kevin may not graduate. Rebecca's best friend... [26 minutes]
- Sun, June 9, 3:30 AM on IPTV
Celebrations/Breaking the News (#103)

Pt. 1- Kevin graduates from high school, and Rebecca is accepted into the San Francisco College of Music. After telling Sandy the good news, she plans to confront her father about his health.... [26 minutes]
- Sun, June 16, 3:00 AM on IPTV
Saying Goodbye/Leaving Home (#104)

Pt. 1- Rebecca gives her final music lesson while her father secretly goes shopping for a car to give her. After her last softball game, the team gives Rebecca a farewell present, and Rebecca... [26 minutes]
- Sun, June 16, 3:30 AM on IPTV
The Stranger/The Motel (#105)

Pt. 1- When Rebecca reaches the Southwest in her cross-country drive, the car breaks down on a deserted road. She worries when a stranger approaches. He turns out to be a photographer, Alberto, who... [26 minutes]
- Sun, June 23, 3:00 AM on IPTV
Negotiations/Photos and Farewells (#106)

Pt. 1- The car repairs will cost $800 so Rebecca sells the car to the garage for $550 and plans to take the bus all the way to San Francisco. Grammar lessons: simple present tense, yes/no... [26 minutes]
- Sun, June 23, 3:30 AM on IPTV
A New Home/Meet The Discussion Group (#107)

Pt. 1- Rebecca arrives in San Francisco, and is surprised to discover that her godmother Nancy keeps other boarders and that she will have to pay rent as well. Grammar lessons: simple past tense,... [26 minutes]
- Sun, June 30, 3:00 AM on IPTV
Job Hunting/A Bad Day (#108)

Pt. 1- Rebecca has a difficult time getting used to life with other boarders at Nancy's house. At school, Rebecca learns that her work-study program has been canceled so she goes on a job... [26 minutes]
- Sun, June 30, 3:30 AM on IPTV