English, baby!

Kanye the Controversial

Date: Feb 13 2006

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

We’ve talked before about celebrity controversies – from Madonna’s onstage shenanigans to the phony engagement between Ben Affleck and J-Lo. Everyday, newspapers and magazines have stories about the crazy things people do to get attention.

On the cover of this month’s issue of Rolling Stone, hip hop artist Kanye West is portrayed as Jesus wearing a crown of thorns. Many people say that he has gone too far, others are just too tired of it all to say anthing at all.

Listen to Taylor and I talk about Kanye West.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Dave

Taylor

Dave: Taylor, are you a fan of Kanye West?

Taylor: You know, I haven’t heard him, but I’ve heard of his recent controversy of speaking out against President Bush in the aftermath of Katrina.

Dave: Yeah, that was just a couple months ago.

Taylor: Yeah.

Dave: That, kind of, got him the title of, you know, “the outspoken Kanye West.” Now he’s on the cover of Rolling Stone dressed as Jesus at the crucifixion.

Taylor: Wow.

Dave: It’s a, it’s a bold move, I think.

Taylor: Uh huh.

Dave: But, it’s the name of the game in celebrity life, right? I mean, you just see celebrities, over and over again, doing things to make themselves stand out from the pack. And now the cover of Rolling Stone, it’s kind of, you know, it’s inappropriate.

Taylor: Well, speaking of inappropriate political-religious messages, there’s a big uproar right now in Europe over some political cartoons published by the Dutch.

Dave: Yeah.

Taylor: Apparently, it’s caused mass havoc and bloodshed.

Quizzes

Go Super to take Quiz

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3

Go Super to Ask Ebaby! teachers your questions!

The iTEP^® test

Sponsored by

Schedule an iTEP^® test and take the official English Practice Test.
Take Now >

Discussion

The flamboyant writer Oscar Wilde wrote: “There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.” Many celebrities greatly believe in this idea that “any publicity is good publicity,” and most of them are willing to do anything to maintain their fame.