📙 Part 2: Describe an important old thing that your family has kept for a long time

This episode's vocabulary

Heirloom (noun) – a valuable object that has belonged to a family for several generations. → The antique clock is a family heirloom passed down from my great-grandfather.

Portrait-style (adjective) – relating to a picture or photograph showing a person's face and shoulders. → We commissioned a portrait-style painting of our parents for their anniversary.

Hang on to (phrasal verb) – to keep something rather than throwing it away or selling it. → We've hung on to these old letters because they have sentimental value.

Continuity (noun) – the state of continuing over time without interruption. → Family traditions provide a sense of continuity across generations.

Show someone in a good light (idiom) – to make someone appear favorable or attractive. → The interview showed her in a good light by highlighting her achievements.

Ornate (adjective) – highly decorated with complex patterns or designs. → The mirror has an ornate gold frame with intricate carvings.

Cornerstone (noun) – something of great importance that everything else depends on. → Education is the cornerstone of a successful society.

Monetary value (phrase) – the worth of something in terms of money. → The painting has little monetary value but great emotional significance.

Sentimental value (phrase) – the importance of something because of personal memories or emotions. → My grandfather's watch has tremendous sentimental value to me.

Necessitate (verb) – to make something necessary or unavoidable. → The broken heating system necessitates immediate repair before winter.

Keepsake (noun) – an object kept as a reminder of a person or event. → She gave me a keepsake to remember our friendship by.

Pass down (phrasal verb) – to give something to younger family members through generations. → The recipe was passed down from mother to daughter for centuries.

Artifact (noun) – an object made by humans, typically of historical or cultural interest. → The museum displays artifacts from ancient civilizations.

Cherish (verb) – to hold something dear; to care for lovingly. → We cherish the memories of our time together as a family.

Legacy (noun) – something handed down from an ancestor or predecessor. → The jewelry collection is part of her grandmother's legacy.

Download the full-resolution file from the attachments.

Questions and Answers

Maria: You should say what it is, how when your family first got this thing, how long your family has kept it, and explain why this thing is important to your family.

Rory: Oh, I think we have a tonne of heirlooms in the house, to be honest with you, but the one that stands out the most for me is a portrait-style photograph of my late grandmother, which we must have had for decades now. When it comes to when we first got the thing, honestly, I have no idea. It's been with us almost as long as I can remember, and it's always been in our dining room next to the kitchen.

In terms of why we've hung on to it for so long, well, family is pretty important, obviously, so having pictures of past and present family members is important for a sense of continuity if nothing else. To tell you a bit more about what it looks like, I know I said it's a photograph, but it's also a very nicely done one, with good use of light that highlights all the features of my grandmother's face. You might even say it shows her in a good light. The frame of the thing is very ornate, and made with a sort of polished material that almost glows in the light of the room itself. It's like it's not just a picture, it's also a cornerstone of the decorations in the room itself, and everything on the walls is structured around it. I'm not sure it has much monetary value, but the sentimental value should be obvious, at least. It's also worth mentioning the material it's made from. I don't think it's like the normal celluloid or whatever photos are usually made from. It's like it's been pieced together from different parts when you look closely. You can make out these fine lines between the smaller segments that make it up. You would think that would make it look odd, but as long as your face isn't pressed up against it, then it's still a great photo, at least I think so. It's A4 size, so it's bigger, and maybe that necessitates something different, but I'm not really in the know about that sort of thing, I'm no photographer.

If we didn't have the portrait hanging in the house, I think we'd have missed out on a real connection to the past, as well as something that draws the room design and decoration together. It's really nice to have there, it's like a sign of home now.