来自世界不同地方的六位学生在美国相遇。他们都是交换学生，到美国大学就读一个学期，学习英语，了解美国文化，同时修专业课程。英语“日常会话” (Everyday Conversations)系列围绕这六位学生在美国的经历展开。这套材料适于中级或中级以上英语水平的学生使用。
在这个对话中一个学生 (Ajay) 向另一个学生(Lucía)解释他将欢庆的不同节日。
Ajay: How’s the studying going, Lucía?
Lucía: I can’t wait for finals to be over! In another week, I’ll be flying back home. What are you doing over the winter break?
Ajay: Alan invited Lee and me to stay with his family. Home-cooked food for three holiday meals!
Lucía: Three holidays?
Ajay: Alan’s dad is Jewish, and his mom is Christian, so they celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas. And his mom is a professional chef, so she goes all out for both holiday meals.
Lucía: And what’s the third holiday?
Ajay: New Year’s Day. They have all their family over, and Alan’s mom cooks again. Alan has raved about his mom’s cooking all semester, so Lee and I can’t wait.
Lucía: Holiday meals cooked by a professional chef. I want to hear all about it later. I’ve never had a traditional Hanukkah meal.
Ajay: Neither have I. I’m looking forward to it.
让我们来学习一些词语（也可阅读英文解释）：
How’s (something) going? （一切或某事）怎么样？这是向一个人询问某事进展如何或者泛泛问他/她近来生活怎样的说法。例如： 可以说How’s the studying going? (学习进行得怎样？)。How’s it going?也是一种比较随便的打招呼用语，意思相当于 How are you?。
Can’t wait：等不及，迫不及待
A winter break：寒假，通常包含一些冬季节假日，如元旦
Home-cooked or homemade food：自己家里做的饭/食品
Hanukkah or Chanukah： 持续八天的犹太教光明节，时间通常在11月下旬至12月下旬之间，纪念2000多年前耶路撒冷圣殿的重新献祭
Commemorate：纪念（过去的重要人物或事件）
To go all out：全力以赴
To rave：极力夸奖，狂热赞赏
A holiday meal：节日传统餐，即只有在某一节日才会吃的菜肴，例如，美国许多家庭的感恩节传统餐包括蔓越桔酱，而它在一年其他时候很少见于餐桌。
有兴趣听更多英语对话吗？请浏览“英语学习”专题网页。
American English 网站提供可供英语学生和教师免费使用的多种英语资源。American English Facebook网页提供每天更新的英语学习资料。
“日常会话”由美国国务院教育与文化事务局英语语言项目处（Office of English Language Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs）资深项目官员海蒂·豪兰（Heidi Howland）编写。
