Dialogue

Vocabulary

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Lesson Transcript

INTRODUCTION
Becky: Stepping on Cracks and a Rabbit's Foot. Becky here.
Eric: And I'm Eric.
THE TWO SUPERSTITIONS
Becky: In this lesson, you’ll learn about two common superstitions in the U.S.. The first superstition is about bad luck. What are we going to talk about?
Eric: First we’re going to talk about stepping on cracks in the pavement.
Becky: In the U.S., there is a children's rhyme that goes "step on a crack, break your momma's back."
Eric: There have been many variations of this rhyme, though breaking your mother's back is by far the most common.
Becky: Right, there was even a version in a 1925 poem that warned children not to step on cracks...because bears would chase them.
Eric: Yeah, I don’t think I’ve ever heard that one before.
Becky: Me neither. I think only children avoid stepping on cracks in the pavement.
Eric: Right, so if you’re visiting the U.S., you can walk normally. Only a kid might tell you it’s bad luck.
Becky: Let’s now talk about something that brings good luck...
Eric: Something we think is very lucky is a rabbit's foot.
Becky: In the U.S., it's believed that the left hind foot of a rabbit brings good luck.
Eric: In many stores, you can buy a rabbit's foot keychain. They’re usually dyed bright colors, like neon pink or green.
Becky: In many cultures, rabbits are often associated with wealth and abundance, because they can have a lot of babies in a short amount of time.
Eric: Right, but no one is quite sure how this superstition started in the U.S.
Becky: It may have come from Celtic traditions, African American folklore, or somewhere else altogether.
Eric: At this point, it’s just an American superstition.

Outro

Becky: There you have it - two American superstitions! Are they similar to any of your country’s superstitions? Let us know in the comments!
Eric: Bye!

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