Connect with English uses dramatic storytelling, authentic natural language, and innovative approaches to teach and reinforce language and related skills. Designed for individual or group viewing, the broadcast series can be used on its own or in conjunction with the companion educational materials. Each half-hour program in the series includes two episodes of a continuing drama along with a segment featuring actual ESOL learners reviewing and discussing key issues raised in the story. Program #101 Introduction Meet the main characters and see highlights of future programs in this continuing drama. One of the ESOL learners featured in the series reveals how the storyline mirrors her own experience. The companion print materials are also introduced along with tips for using the series to help students connect with English. Rebecca's Dream Rebecca Casey, the star of Connect with English, is a twenty-eight-year-old woman with aspirations beyond her factory job and occasional, small-time singing gigs. After her accompanist tells her he wants to quit performing, Rebecca's boyfriend Matt suggests she do the same. Instead, Rebecca contemplates applying to music school so she can pursue a full-time career as a singer-songwriter. Program #102 Differences Rebecca begins the application process for music school while her brother, Kevin, prepares for high school graduation. Their father, a widower and disabled firefighter, worries about his children: Will Kevin pass his final exams? Is Rebecca making a mistake by pursuing such a chancy career? Although her own dreams are simpler, Rebecca's co-worker, Sandy, supports her friend's big ambitions. A Visit to the Doctor Rebecca's father goes to the doctor and learns he's at risk for a heart attack. Back at home, however, Patrick Casey ignores the doctor's advice to exercise and watch his diet. Rebecca and Matt attend a Memorial Day barbecue. Sandy and her boyfriend, Jack, are there too, until he gets drunk and storms out of the party. Program #103 Celebrations Kevin graduates from high school. After receiving rejection letters from three music schools, Rebecca is accepted at one in San Francisco, where she plans to live rent-free with her godmother. She tells Sandy the good news and prepares for a confrontation with her father. Breaking the News As expected, Rebecca's father disapproves of her plans to go to music school in San Francisco. Sandy has her own news to share with Rebecca: She plans to move in with Jack. Rebecca doesn't like the idea. Kevin helps his sister look for a car to drive across country, but they can't find anything in her price range. Program #104 Saying Goodbye While Rebecca gets ready to leave, her father secretly shops for a car that his daughter can drive to San Francisco. At a farewell softball game, Rebecca makes an important play but her team loses anyway. After the game, her friends give her a going-away present. Matt tells Rebecca they have different dreams and breaks up with her. Leaving Home Rebecca's father surprises her with a car and a necklace that belonged to her mother. Kevin's farewell gift is a four-leaf clover key ring for luck. Sandy gives her friend a diary to record everything that happens on her trip. On her way out of Boston, Rebecca stops at her mother's grave. Program #105 The Stranger Rebecca's cross-country journey reaches Texas. During a stop for gas, she discovers her car is leaking oil but decides she doesn't have time to check it out. Later that day, her car breaks down in the middle of the desert. An attractive man named Alberto stops to help her, but he can't get the car running. Although she's a bit nervous about it, Rebecca goes with Alberto to find help. The Motel Alberto and Rebecca reach a phone and call a mechanic, but it's too late in the day to do anything about her car. They drive to a motel for the night, where there is only one room available. Alberto insists he will sleep in his car so Rebecca can have the room. She feels guilty, but takes the room. Program #106 Negotiations After Alberto uses the shower in Rebecca's motel room, they get breakfast and wait for the mechanic to finish working on her car. Rebecca ends up selling her car to the mechanic after she finds out she can't afford the cost of the repairs. Alberto tells Rebecca he's from San Francisco and offers to drive her there. She declines, but accepts a ride to the bus station. Photos and Farewells Rebecca learns that Alberto is an amateur photographer and that his family is from Mexico. They stop at a canyon where he takes pictures, including one with Rebecca in it. On the road again, Alberto is pulled over for speeding, but they make it to the bus on time. Rebecca gives him her San Francisco address along with a warning that she isn't ready for a new relationship. Program #107 A New Home Rebecca arrives in San Francisco. Her godmother, Nancy, meets her at the bus station and drives her through the city to a beautiful, Victorian house. Rebecca is surprised to discover that Nancy has taken in two boarders to help pay the bills and that she, too, will have to pay rent to live there. Meet the Discussion Group Eight participants in the series' discussion group are profiled. They talk countries of origin, their dreams, their lives in the United States, and their connection to Rebecca Casey's story. Program #108 Job Hunting The boarders, Melaku and Angela, share a meal with Rebecca to welcome her to the household. Life in Nancy's house is an adjustment for Rebecca: new food, bathroom, paying rent. Rebecca takes the bus to school, where she work-study program has been canceled due to government funding cuts and that she needs to find a job. A Bad Day Rebecca searches in vain for a job. She finds out she isn't qualified for several positions and runs out of one interview after a man puts his arm around her and tells her he's looking for an attractive woman to work closely with him. Back at Nancy's house, Rebecca shares job-hunting horror stories with Angela. Alberto invites Rebecca out to see the sights of the city. Program #109 A Night Out Alberto takes Rebecca to the Palace of Fine Arts where he convinces her to sing for him. For dinner, they go to Casa Mendoza, his family's restaurant, where Rebecca meets Alberto's parents and his divorced brother, Ramon. When Ramon hears about Rebecca's music skills, he suggests a possible job opening at his son's after-school program. First Day of Class Rebecca's first day of classes is harder than she expected. She also discovers that her tuition is almost due and she doesn't have the money. After class, Rebecca goes to the after-school program for a job interview. While there, she meets Ramon's son, Alex, and his best friend, Vincent Wang. Meanwhile, Alberto tells his brother that investors want to buy the family's restaurant. Program #110 Casey at the Bat Rebecca takes the job at the after-school program and is a big hit with the kids, especially on the softball field. Alberto sends flowers to Rebecca and asks her out to a gallery opening where a surprise is waiting for her. While watching his brother's budding romance, Ramon realizes his own feelings for Rebecca are beginning to grow. The Art Gallery Ramon receives a letter from his ex-wife telling him she's moving to Los Angeles--and that she wants to take Alex with her. Alberto and Rebecca go to the gallery where the photo he took of her in the desert is on display. They kiss for the first time. When Alberto tells his parents about the investors' offer for Casa Mendoza, they are unsure. Ramon is against selling the restaurant. Program #111 The Picnic At a picnic, teenagers from outside the after-school program push Vincent and call him racist names. Alex defends his friend but the other children in the program laugh at Vincent. Vincent's parents are upset by the kids' behavior and remove him from the program. Meanwhile, Ramon and Rebecca have a heart-to-heart talk about his divorce and his ex-wife's plans to move to Los Angeles. Prejudice Rebecca and Emma, the after-school program director, explain to the children why it was wrong to laugh at the racist incident. A police officer tells them that what happened to Vincent at the picnic was a hate crime. Meanwhile, Vincent's parents refuse to let him go back to the after-school program. The kids write letters asking Vincent to return. Program #112 A Difficult Decision Rebecca and Emma go to Chinatown to deliver the children's cards and letters and talk to Vincent's parents about the racist incident. When the Wangs still won't allow their son to return to the after-school program, Rebecca suggests a way for Alex and Vincent to see each other: she will give the boys guitar lessons together. Ramon thinks it's a great idea. Guitar Lessons Alex and Vincent are thrilled when the Wangs agree to let Rebecca give them guitar lessons. Although Alex wishes his parents would get back together, he likes Rebecca and asks his father whether he plans to date her. Ramon confides in Rebecca that he may have to go to court to keep his ex-wife from taking Alex to Los Angeles. Program #113 The Retirement Party Ramon tells Alex about his ex-wife's moving plans. Alex has a temper tantrum when he realizes his parents aren't going to reconcile. Alberto takes Rebecca to Casa Mendoza for his parents' retirement party. Mrs. Mendoza gossips with her friends about whether Rebecca should marry Alberto or Ramon. The Phone Call At the retirement party, Mr. Mendoza announces that he will not sell the restaurant. Ramon asks Rebecca to dance while Alberto watches from afar. The fun ends abruptly for Rebecca when her godmother and Angela show up to tell her that her father is in the hospital. Alberto kisses her goodbye as she leaves to fly home. Program #114 Review As she flies back to Boston, Rebecca reflects on recent events in her life. The Emergency Kevin meets Rebecca at the airport in Boston and tells her about their father's heart attack. At the hospital, Patrick Casey is barely conscious and a doctor tells Rebecca and Kevin he may not survive. They decide to go back to the apartment where Rebecca is horrified to discover a huge mess and a practically empty refrigerator. Program #115 Bad News When Kevin and Rebecca return to the hospital, they learn that their father has had a second heart attack. They call for a priest to administer last rites and track down Patrick's estranged brother, Brendan. Sandy shows up at the hospital with a black eye from her boyfriend Jack and tells Rebecca her wedding to him is off. Brothers Brendan Casey arrives at the hospital to see his critically-ill brother. After reconciling with Brendan, Patrick has yet another heart attack and dies. Rebecca makes funeral arrangements and tries to find out what caused the feud between Patrick and Brendan. Alberto sends flowers to the funeral. Program #116 Grief At the funeral, Rebecca and Kevin are presented with Patrick's firefighter helmet in recognition of their father's bravery and service. Matt is there to pay his respects. Sandy stops by and tells Rebecca that Jack has promised never to hit her again. Kevin eulogizes his father. Back at the house, Brendan and his wife Anne offer to help Rebecca and Kevin. Life Goes On Rebecca asks Kevin to go to San Francisco with her so they can be a family again. Although Kevin has no idea how much an apartment costs, he tells his sister he can take care of himself. They add up the bills and discover there isn't enough money to cover the funeral expenses. Kevin and Rebecca search through Patrick's room for an insurance policy. Program #117 A Box of Memories Rebecca and Kevin find a safe deposit box key among their father's things. At the bank, they discover that the safe deposit box contains letters, pictures, $4,000 in savings bonds and a $50,000 life insurance policy. More financially secure than they thought they were, Rebecca and Kevin discuss the future. Kevin wants to stay in Boston, but his sister disapproves. The Missing Car Kevin and Rebecca have lunch with Anne and Brendan as they consider their options for the future. Kevin storms off when Rebecca starts making decisions about his life. He returns home long enough to take Brendan's rental car which he drives to his girlfriend's house. Meanwhile, Brendan and Anne invite Rebecca and Kevin to stay at their farm. Program #118 A Breakdown Kevin's girlfriend tells him she's seeing other guys and no longer wants a serious relationship. Back at the house, Brendan and Anne discover their car is missing. Looking for Kevin, Rebecca calls Sandy. Jack is angry at the late call and rips the phone out of the wall. Kevin returns home, but then runs off again. Rebecca finds him grieving over their father's death. A Call For Help When Kevin and Rebecca return home, Brendan again asks them to live with him on his Illinois farm. A phone call from Sandy interrupts the conversation. Jack hit her again and she's leaving him. Brendan drives Rebecca and Kevin to Sandy's house to take her out of the abusive situation. Program #119 Changes Jack tries to stop Sandy from leaving, but she calls the police and he is arrested. Sandy goes to a battered women's shelter at the recommendation of the police. Kevin and Rebecca decide to take Brendan up on his invitation to go to Illinois and they pack up the apartment. Their last piece of mail is a sympathy card from Ramon and Alex. The Farm Kevin and Rebecca arrive at Brendan and Anne's farm. Anne tells them the farm has been in her family since the early 1900s. After Brendan shows him the workings of the farm, Kevin decides to stay for a while so Rebecca can return to San Francisco without worrying about him, and he can help out his uncle. Program #120 Thanksgiving Brendan and Anne's son and his family arrive at the farm for Thanksgiving dinner, where everyone expresses gratitude for their newly extended family. Kevin announces his decision to stay at the farm. As he drives Rebecca to the airport, Brendan explains the reason for his feud with her father: Patrick married his girlfriend while Brendan was away at war. Starting Over Rebecca returns to San Francisco, where she discovers she is far behind in her studies and has been replaced at the after-school program. She discusses what she learned about Brendan and her parents with her godmother, who is happy to hear that the brothers made their peace before Patrick died. Meanwhile, Ramon and Alberto are both anxious to see Rebecca. Program #121 The Pressure's On When Rebecca and Ramon run into each other, they share a closer-than-usual embrace. At school, Rebecca learns that she'll have to study nearly `round the clock to pass her final exams or risk losing her scholarship. Angela and Melaku are going away, leaving Rebecca and Nancy alone for the holidays. Alberto welcomes Rebecca back with tickets to the opera, but she worries about taking a night off from studying. Sharing Feelings Rebecca and her classmate, Bill, study together for final exams. He confesses that he wants to be a rock and roll star and convinces Rebecca to join him at an audition for a rock group. Rebecca declines an opera date with Alberto, plunging him into depression. When he shares his feelings with his brother, Ramon chides him for being impatient and selfish. Program #122 Unexpected Offers After sending Alex off to Los Angeles for Christmas, Ramon delivers his son's gifts to Vincent, Rebecca, and Alberto. Meanwhile, Vincent's father is offered a job in Taiwan. Mr. Wang thinks it will be good for the family, particularly after the recent racist incident with Vincent. Surprising himself, Ramon invites Rebecca to share Christmas with him, then hastily withdraws the offer. He confesses the invitation to Alberto and they agree that they need to talk about Rebecca. The Audition Rebecca studies hard for her exams, telling Nancy her education is more important to her than a romance with Alberto or Ramon. At the audition, Rebecca and Bill are kept waiting. After they discover that the band has already left, the manager lets them record their songs in the studio. Rebecca sings a beautiful song she wrote called "Dream Catcher." Program #123 Dream Catcher The studio manager gives Rebecca a tape of her singing "Dream Catcher," which Bill offers to orchestrate for her. When Rebecca arrives home late that night, she receives a message from Alberto. Nancy tells Rebecca to resolve the Mendoza brothers situation or history will repeat itself. Bill narrates a flashback sequence about Rebecca's music education. Gifts Alberto shows up at the music school recording studio to talk to Rebecca. They break up but agree to be friends. He gives her a photo of Ramon and Alex, which Nancy later tells Rebecca is a sign that Alberto thinks she should be with his brother. Rebecca and Ramon spend Christmas together at the community center. When Ramon calls his son in Los Angeles, he is happy to hear that his father is with Rebecca. Program #124 True Love Rebecca and Ramon exchange Christmas presents and their first kiss. They make plans to spend New Year's Eve together at Casa Mendoza. Kevin celebrates Christmas at the farm with Brendan and Anne. They give him a plane ticket to San Francisco to visit his sister. Kevin calls Rebecca to tell her the good news. Friendship Kevin arrives in San Francisco where Rebecca finishes Bill's newly arranged version of "Dream Catcher." Bill reveals that he is quitting music school to follow his dream of working in the recording industry in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Alex and Vincent lament their impending separation and hatch a plan to spend one last New Year's Eve together. Program #125 The Lost Boys Alex and Vincent take off on their own for a night of ice skating. When the Wangs discover Vincent's empty piggy bank, Rebecca and Kevin help in the search for the boys. Alex hurts his ankle skating and ends up in the hospital. Meanwhile, Kevin meets Alex's babysitter and the two teenagers are obviously attracted to each other. A Very Good Year The Wangs pick up the boys from the hospital. Vincent learns that he and his mother will stay in the United States while his father goes to Taiwan. Before he realizes his son is safe, Ramon starts to question his parenting abilities. Alex is delivered home and Ramon promises to be a better father. As the old year winds down, Rebecca and Ramon kiss and hope for a very happy new year. Connect with English | About the Show | Program Descriptions Contact Us