Viewp ints
2 Welcome to Boston
1 Synopsis
Luis, a student from Brazil, arrives in Boston. He takes
a taxi to his new apartment and meets his roommate,
Josh. Josh loves watching and playing soccer. He wants
a new TV for the apartment. He talks to Luis about
soccer. Although Luis speaks good English, there are lots
of words he doesn’t understand. Josh’s sister, Jennifer,
arrives, and Josh introduces her to Luis. Jennifer and Luis
decide to take Josh shopping to buy some furniture and
things for the apartment. When it is time to pay, Josh
realizes that the new things will cost almost as much as
the new TV he wants. What will he do?
Length of video: 6:43min
2 Target Language
Grammar: verb be
Vocabulary: introducing a third person; furnishings
Language points: Come on in. Excuse me? Have a nice
day! How about you?
3 Procedural Notes
A Before you watch
Read aloud the title of the video, and ask students if
they know where Boston is (on the north east coast of
the U.S.). If possible, show them on a map. Tell them the
city is a very popular destination for tourists, and that
every year thousands of foreign students go there to
study. Explain the expression Welcome to…
In pairs. Have students look at the pictures and put the
story in the correct order. Encourage them to guess some
of the words they will hear, and to note them down.
As a class. Have students share their ideas and write
useful vocabulary on the board.
B While you watch
Play the first segment up to when Luis says “thank
you” to the taxi driver [00:43]. Encourage students to
speculate the reasons why Luis is in Boston. Ask them
where they think he comes from. Don’t give them the
answers just yet, but tell them they will find out all the
answers to these questions when they see the next part.
1 As a class. Read through the questions and elicit or
teach the words fare (the money you pay for a taxi) and
tip (the extra money you give on top of the fare). Then
Viewpoints D.R. © Macmillan Publishers S.A. de C.V. 2009
Teacher’s Notes
play the first segment again. Allow time for students to
choose their answers. Check answers. Finally, play the
segment again to check.
Answer key: 1 dollar  2 $18  3 $3
2 As a class. Play the second segment, up to the end
of the scene in the apartment [00:46–03:29]. Play it
again as far as Jennifer’s arrival [02:15], pausing where
appropriate to elicit the characters’ names.
As a class. Read through the questions and elicit/teach
any new vocabulary, e.g. roommate, graphic design.
In pairs. Have students compare their answers in pairs.
Play the segment again to check.
Answer key:
1 Luis  2 Josh  3 Luis  4 Josh  5 Luis  6 Jennifer
3 Individuals. Play the section from the knock on the
door, just before Josh says “Who is it?” to after Jennifer
says “Hi, Luis, it’s nice to meet you.” [02:10–02:27]
Have students recall as much as they can and complete
the dialogue as much as possible.
In pairs. Play the section again and allow time for
students to complete and check their answers. Invite two
students to read aloud the complete dialogue.:
Answer key:
1 is it  2 It’s  3 this is  4 new roommate  5 this is my
sister  6 it’s nice to meet
4 As a class. Play the third segment [03:32 to the end].
Read through the words in the box, pausing after each
one for the students to repeat it.
Individuals. Have students write the words for the items
individually. Check answers. Finally, play the segment
again and have students note the item that they don’t
buy. Check the answer (a couch).
Answer key:
1 chair  2 rug  3 lamp  4 couch  5 pillow 
6 dinner set  7 bowl  8 glasses
If time, practice asking for words in English (as Luis
does). In pairs, have students cover the words and take
turns pointing to a picture and asking What’s this?/
What are these?

2 Welcome to Boston
C After you watch
1 Individuals. Have students match the words on the
left with their meanings on the right. Check answers.
Answer key: 1d  2a  3e  4f  5c  6b
2 In pairs. Have students take turns asking and
explaining what the words mean. Encourage them to
follow the example dialogue.
D Language points
In pairs. Have students read through all the dialogues
together and complete them with the words in the box.
Check their answers, then have them practice reading
the dialogues in pairs. Go around and monitor; pay
4 Video Script
Cabbie: That’ll be 18 bucks.
Luis: Bucks? 18 bucks?
Cabbie: 18 dollars.
Luis: Oh. Bucks… dollars. 18 plus a tip. I think 3
dollars. Here you are, 21 dollars.
Cabbie: Thank you. Have a nice day.
Luis: Thank you.
Josh: Wow, a 32-inch television on sale for only
419 bucks! 32 inches. Who is it?
Luis: Luis.
Josh: Oh, yeah! Hey, man, come on in. It’s nice
to meet you.
Luis: Thanks. It’s nice to meet you, too.
Josh: So, you’re from Brazil. You like soccer,
right?
Luis: Yeah, I love soccer, but I don’t play. Do
you?
Josh: Yeah, I play varsity soccer. Forward.
Luis: Excuse me? What… what’s varsity?
Josh: Varsity – the university team. I play
forward.
Luis: Forward?
Josh: Yeah, forward. Look… This is the goal.
Here’s the goalie. Here’s the defense.
Here’s the midfield. Here are the forwards.
This is me. Forward.
Luis: Oh. I understand.
Josh: Who is it?
Viewpoints D.R. © Macmillan Publishers S.A. de C.V. 2009
Viewp ints
special attention to their intonation – if necessary, model
each line and have them listen and repeat.
Answer key:
1 Have a nice day!  2 Come on in.  3 Excuse me?
4 How about you?
E Your viewpoint
As a class. Read through the question together, and the
ideas below. Explain advantages and disadvantages.
In pairs. Give students time to complete the chart and
then to discuss their ideas with a partner. Circulate and
help out as necessary.
As a class. Finish off with a whole class discussion on the
advantages and disadvantages.
Jennifer: It’s me!
Josh: Oh, hi, Jennifer. Come on in.
Jennifer: Hi.
Josh: Jennifer, this is Luis, my new roommate.
Luis, this is my sister, Jennifer.
Jennifer: Hi, Luis, it’s nice to meet you. Did you just
get here from Brazil?
Luis: Yes, I arrived about an hour ago.
Jennifer: OK. So, Luis, what are you studying?
Luis: I’m a graphic design student.
Jennifer: Oh.
Luis: How about you? What are you studying?
Jennifer: Oh, I’m not a student. I have a small shop
downtown.
Luis: Uh, Josh, you’re studying psychology,
right?
Josh: Yeah, I’m a psych major.
Luis: Psych?
Josh: Psychology. That’s what they call it here.
Hey, what do you guys think of the
apartment? It’s great, huh?
Luis: The apartment. It’s, uh… It’s really big.
Jennifer: Yeah, but you know, it needs something,
Josh. No, actually, it needs everything.
Announcer: Linens ‘N’ Things – that’s a great idea.
Special prices this week on rugs and lamps.
Luis: Hey, that’s where we should go! Just let
me go change my clothes.
Jennifer: I’ll give you guys a ride.
 Viewp ints

2 Welcome to Boston

Jennifer: Here we are. Linens ‘N’ Things. Josh: Er, pillows.

Luis: ‘N’ Things? Luis: Pee-lows.
Jennifer: “N.” “And.”Rock ‘N’ Roll, Linens ‘N’ Jennifer: No, pi-llows.
Things. Luis: Pillows. Three or four pillows for the
Luis: Oh, Linens and Things. couch, then.
Jennifer: First a rug. When you start to decorate a Jennifer: Great colors. Wow! Look at this! A
room, you need a nice rug. complete dinner set for 16.
Josh: A rug? Josh: Wait a second. There’s only two of us.
Jennifer: Mm-hm. Why do we need that?
Josh: I don’t know, Jen. Jennifer: For parties.
Luis: Yes, you’re right, Jennifer. Definitely a rug. Josh: For parties all you need are some glasses
Josh: Oh, OK. A rug. This one? and a big bowl for chips.
Jennifer: Well, erm… No. Luis: This is a nice lamp.
Luis: No, not brown. It’s too dark. Jennifer: That is a nice lamp. You really have good
Josh: This one is OK. taste, Luis.
Jennifer: No, no. Josh: Hey, what about me? Don’t I have good
Luis: It’s too bright. taste?
Jennifer: Yeah, it’s too bright. Jennifer: Yes, Josh. You have good taste, too. In
Josh: This one? roommates.
Luis: Yes. I like the colors. Cashier: One rug at $99.99. A dozen glasses at
Jennifer: Yes, it’s very nice. $9.99. One wooden bowl. A total with
Luis: How about a couple of these chairs? We tax of $413.58.
need places for people to sit. Josh: Hey, that’s a lot of money. A new TV is
Jennifer: Yeah, these are really nice. And the colors $400.00.
will go nicely with the rug. Josh… Jennifer: You already have a TV, Josh.
Josh: You should try this. Josh: Not a new one. Not a big one. Not one
Luis: Oh, yes! We need these. Three or four of with a 32-inch screen.
these. Uh… what do you call them?

Written by Liz Kilbey

Design: Wild Apple Design Ltd.
Viewpoints D.R. © Macmillan Publishers S.A. de C.V. 2009 Illustration: Chris Embleton (Advocate),
Macmillan Publishers S.A. de C.V.