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Product Placement

Product Placement English, baby! Video Lesson

Date: May 06 2008

Themes: Soap Opera

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.

These days marketing is all about being subtle. Look closely and you’ll notice fast-food restaurants in the background of a movie or that your favorite pop star always drinks the same soft drink on stage. Those things are no accident. Companies pay top dollar to have their products put in places where people will see them.

Ebaby! doesn’t yet sell ad space in our lessons, but here’s a dramatization of what it might look like if we did. Don’t worry, the soap opera will be back to its regularly scheduled programming next week.

3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.

Dialog

1. Watch and Read - Watch the video and read the dialog at the same time.

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

Marni

Marni

Beren

Beren

Amanda

Amanda

Devan

Devan

Jason

Jason

Marni:  Ugh. I’m all out of Coke. I hate that.

Beren:  Do you want some Tecate?

Marni:  Uh, no thanks. I just, I really want more Coke.

Amanda:  How about a Corona Extra? Miles from ordinary? Or maybe a scrumptious crunchy toast chip?

Marni:  I will take a chip. Thank you. I love these Tim’s potato chips. Mm. So good.

Beren:  Whoa, careful not to get any crumbs on the MacBook Pro.

Marni:  Mm. I know. I love these Macintosh computers. They’re so nice.

Devan:  Hey guys, what’s going on?

Marni:  Oh my God, did you get a new Gwen Stefani purse?

Devan:  Why yes, I did.

Beren:  What’s in your hand?

Marni:  Yeah!

Devan:  Did you know right now at Motorola that if you buy one Razor you get another free?

Amanda:  Cool!

Marni:  Wow!

Amanda:  Cute colors.

Jason:  Hey guys, check out my new Rivendell bicycle.

Marni:  Wow. Oh my God, I hate these banner ads. There’s so much product placement on the Internet, it’s so annoying.

Beren:  Yeah.

Amanda:  We’re more than consumers.

Marni:  Really.

 

Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

One by one, each member of the Ebaby! cast shows up to plug a different product. Then they complain about how much advertising there is on the Internet!

But the scene isn’t too far from reality. People do often have brand loyalty to a particular drink or type of computer or bicycle. Are you a big fan of a particular brand? What kinds of advertising do you think are annoying and what kinds do you think are helpful?

 

Comments

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aliena

China

Yeah, Advertising is everywhere. To say the truth, sometimes some of them can be kind of enjoyment, like some for vehicle or building or chocolate. But i don't like some products advertising, no matter what kind of ways they apply, like medcine, alcohol, and some of skin care products. It's obvious that they are telling a lie. It's really necessary for government authority to put some restriction on it. 

09:03 AM May 06 2008 |

kaushalyats

Sri Lanka

 

Marketing is everywhere even we, our selves are like products which we always try to market our selves to others. At interviews,discussions,at office etc we try to position our selves in other people minds in such a way to show that we are the best. Even at ebaby all the folks are trying to market their selves to each other. One to one and permission marketing(get permission before plug in) is helpful for both parties other than junk mails and spam mails.

07:35 AM May 06 2008 |

kaushalyats

Sri Lanka

Marketing is everywhere even we, our selves are like products which we always try to market our selves to others. At interviews,discussions,at office etc we try to position our selves in other people minds in such a way to show that we are the best. Even at ebaby all the folks are trying to market their selves to each other. One to one and permission marketing(get permission before plug in) is helpful for both parties other than junk mails and spam mails.

07:35 AM May 06 2008 |

kirn

Pakistan

The advertising is one necessary way to brand loyalty,but some hateful company deliberatelymake annoying advertising.

05:44 AM May 06 2008 |

john_zhang_q

China

The advertising is one necessary way to win many more consumers,but the advertising is also separated into pleasing and annoying.The pleasing advertisings give us enjoyment,and the annoying advertisings get us into trouble.The annoying advertisings are low-grade artworks,we shouldn't allow these advertisings coming out.

04:16 AM May 06 2008 |

hands_1411

hands_1411

Viet Nam

Hah, it's funny how each of them acted out something really advertising. Well, and it's a bit too broad to talk about my favourite brand. Just in terms of drinking, I always prefer Coke than any others. It's the best I've ever tasted.

As for the type of advertisement, I'd rather ones that describes something innovative and creative than those using images of famous people.

What is really annoying about advertisement is that sometimes it is overtaken on TV, which brings less time to other interesting programs. I don't know if the fact happens in other countries, but it's popular to mine.

03:57 AM May 06 2008 |

vigoss

vigoss

Kazakhstan

I'm a fan of Motorola brand Cool

03:32 AM May 06 2008 |

wanglong123

China

Advertise is really a good way to increase products selling,but some hateful company deliberately make annoying advertising so that you could remember it,they don't even care our feelings,and this website has little advertising,I truly like itSmile

02:32 AM May 06 2008 |

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