English through Music
Christina Perri: A Thousand Years
Patience, courage and lasting promises
Your goal: Understand a song about commitment and describe a feeling or situation that has continued over time.
Romantic commitment and film imagery. No knowledge of the film or its characters is needed.
01 · 7 minutes
Watch
Watch the complete video once without pausing. Focus on the overall meaning and mood; you do not need to catch every word.
Listen for the relationship between love, fear and a willingness to keep waiting.
If the player cannot load or reports an error, open the video on YouTube.
Choose one word for your first reaction. There is no correct answer.
02 · 5 minutes
Useful English
Four useful items connected with the song. Definitions and examples are original; not every item is claimed to appear in the recording.
British English vocabulary audio
Choose an item to hear its word, meaning and example.
brave
adjective
Willing to face something difficult or frightening.
It was brave of her to ask a question in front of a large audience.
patient
adjective
Able to wait or deal with difficulty without becoming easily annoyed.
Please be patient while I check the information.
commitment
noun, countable / uncountable
A serious promise or a continuing decision to give time and effort.
Learning an instrument takes commitment.
lasting
adjective
Continuing for a long time.
The holiday left us with lasting memories.
03 · 9 minutes
Quick quiz
Choose one answer for each question. Questions 1–2 focus on the song; questions 3–6 practise useful vocabulary.
Open the six-question quiz
1–2 minGrammar in a minuteA2–B1 · For a duration; since a starting point
Use for and since to describe a real continuing situation, rather than copying the song’s very large time scale.
I have known my closest friend for eight years.
Original practice model, not a song lyric
For introduces a length of time: eight years. Since introduces a starting point: 2018 or when we started school. With the state verb know, use have known, not have been knowing.
04 · 10 minutes
Speaking
Give your opinion and explain it. Different reactions are welcome. You may use invented examples instead of personal experiences.
Open the three speaking questions
1. Can fear and commitment exist at the same time?
Give a general example such as learning, travel or a new project.
Someone can be afraid and still…
2. What helps a friendship or shared activity last?
Choose two habits and explain their value.
A lasting… needs…
3. Describe something you have continued for a long time.
Use for or since and explain why you have continued. An invented example is welcome.
I have… for/since…