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Talking Iranian Democracy on Ebaby!

Talking Iranian Democracy on Ebaby!

Date: Jun 23 2009

Themes: News

Grammar: Present Perfect Progressive

Intro

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Iran is in crisis. The results of the country’s national election are being disputed and there are thousands of people demonstrating in the streets. Some of them have been killed or injured by police and military trying to stop the protests.

The whole world is watching Iran, but most of our information is not coming from traditional media since reporters in the country have been restricted. Iranians are using many different websites to plan meetings and share their experiences and English, baby! is among them. Take a look at this forum thread about the protests, and this one about Iran in general.

Listen to John on a radio news program in the US talking about how the events in Iran are playing out on English, baby!

Dialog

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

Kristian

Kristian

John

John

Kristian:  English, baby!, is a site where anybody who wants to learn English can go to chat. To make it even more compelling, English, baby!, is set up like a social media site. So students post their favorite music picks and make friends with each other online. The site has about 10,000 members in Iran and it’s easy to find discussions about the election. The founder of English, baby!, John Hayden, says he’s been surprised by the wealth of opinions expressed.

John:  We see a lot in the Western media, a lot of the protests and a lot of the bloodshed. And we’re seeing conversations talking about that as well on English, baby! But there’s definitely another side to that, that we’re seeing. Support for the election and wanting to abide by the results of that.

Kristian:  The Iranian government has been making sounds about shutting places down. Is that a concern for you and would it be possible for them to do that?

John:  You know, it’s tough. I think the major sites, the Facebooks, the YouTubes and the Twitters, it’s really easy to target those URL’s but the Internet is so broad now. There are so many niche sites, where people can communicate and have conversations, like English, baby!, where we feel like we’re pretty safe, underneath the radar and people are freely discussing their views on there. So we’re not concerned about being shut down and if that does happen, we’ll deal with it then.

 

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

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John tells Kristian that on English, baby! you can find Iranian people who support the protesters and believe the election was rigged, as well as people who think the election was fair and that the protesters should stop.

The government of Iran has banned some websites, hoping to stop the protests. Kristian asks John if the thinks English, baby! could be banned in Iran. Since Ebaby! is primarily a site for learning English, John hopes that the Iranian censors won’t notice it and that the discussion can continue freely.

Have do you feel about the events in Iran?

Listen to the rest of the radio story on our blog.

 

Comments

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Noor-alhalabi

Jordan

what we can said ..just we hope this problems resolved early ..

07:51 PM Jun 27 2009 |

Simili

Simili

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Hi Mr. Omar.

I am Miss, not Mr.

I can understand what you mean but just I want to say that you are not here, you don’t know Ahmadinejad as we know. Please don’t believe what are said in your country about Iran and Ahmadinejad. You don’t know what Ahmadinejad and the governors did through the last days, You don’t know how many people were killed and arrested just because they protest to the result of election. People of Iran didn’t choose Ahmadinejad, believe it.

05:11 AM Jun 27 2009 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

We always hope that these differences be resolved one day!

11:33 PM Jun 26 2009 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

Iunfortunately,I heard little about this issue…We are accustomed to concern ourselves with our own problems and just forget the rest of the world!

But I just know one thing,since the world is world,there have always been major differences in that area,move-based violence…We hope that these issues be resolved one day!

11:31 PM Jun 26 2009 |

Nany_333

Nany_333

Egypt

Although there're unfortunate incidents now like killing some people and injuries, the Iranian people have showed the whole world a high political level.

I hope that violence will end soon  

10:17 PM Jun 26 2009 |

omarOK

Russian Federation

Mr Simili!Hi

 I like  your logic, it is pleasant to me  very much,

You say , that I don't know Iran , its good, all right! But!!!

You do not have a desire, the same to tell to English and American politicians?

 If it not so,,,,,,,That I Am compelled to ask you:

why are we here? or..

Whether you wish that all have disappeared from here???

thank you  my  E baby friend

06:05 PM Jun 26 2009 |

happy 4 ever

Oman

brother othman ahmaro i don't actually encourge Iranians to voilence but you can you see in Iran these days. is this what people looking for? people need freedom and peace. in oman life is ultiamtely peaceful. we do we stand against Sultan Qaboos and he made us live in peace? you don't get my piont othman ahmaro

09:04 AM Jun 26 2009 |

othman ahmaro

Jordan

 To Mr joojootala

Palestinians are not terrorists.When you speak you should choose your words well.The Palestinians are fighting the occupation.The money that Iran gives is the duty of every Muslim. Palestine is an occupied Muslim country and every Muslim should do his best to help it.

04:09 PM Jun 25 2009 |

fadel san

fadel san

Saudi Arabia

I feel sorry about what happening in iran,but I think the violent is not solution for the problem.

i like ahmedinajad courage but I dislike his way  in talking, I think he said words with out thinking in it, this cause more problem for Iranian people.I wish in arab country will be election but I think it'll not happen.

in arab country just eat, sleep don't talk in politic u don't have vote so that is. 

03:37 PM Jun 25 2009 |

farag_50

Egypt

sorry, no comments is best at the current time.

09:23 AM Jun 25 2009 |

othman ahmaro

Jordan

Who is the dectator who makes elections in due time or who rules for ever like Sultan Qabus.Why don't you protest aganst him in Oman instead of encouraging Iranis to protest.?Most of Arab countries are ruled by their leaders for ever and when they go they left their spoiled sons to rule.Like the King of Jordan who is famous gambler and who is taking Jordan to a certain disaster by allowing Jews to buy land and properties in Jordan.

07:45 PM Jun 24 2009 |

happy 4 ever

Oman

 i think that issues should be solved using peaceful and democratic methods. But sometimes people need to use power to overcome the problems like Palestine. Palestine won't have Independence unless they fight.  If Iranian stay still doing nothing, dictator presidents will never stop dominating.

to all  Iranian wish you peace and richer life.  

12:10 PM Jun 24 2009 |

faranak55

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

 

WE Don't Want you. Get lost Ahmadinejad.

Shame to all dictators.

If you are not scared of the truth why you have blocked and filtered all SMS services, Facebook, Twitter,...????

It is very difficult to tolerate Ahmadinejad for onother four years.

10:43 AM Jun 24 2009 |

faranak55

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

This election was a clear case of fraud. They stole our votes.Death to every Dictator including Ahmadinejad and the military group in power called Sepah .Now strees are occuped with these dirty troops. No one dare to say anything against this iilegal government.They killed and arrested many intellectualls, university students and ordinary people. I'm here now in the midddle of the crisis and I see all this election rigging. Ahmadinejad has never been our president. In the previous elctions he was appointed and chosen by Khamenei and NOT elected by people. Neda, the brave Iranian girl, and other innocent people who are killed! Rest in peace. We will follow your steps.

10:33 AM Jun 24 2009 |

Mary**

Mary**

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

drmkazem !!! What a good president sir :D

 

09:29 AM Jun 24 2009 |

Simili

Simili

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Mr. Omarok,
I think you don’t know anything about Iran and Iran’s honored history. Your ideas about the recent problems of Iran and Mr. Ahmadinejad are not true. This is not the battle between the poor and the rich, this protest is just the opposition to the result of the election. People know best that to which candidate they vote. You can’t judge because you don’t know everything, you are not here and you don’t see the violence of police and Basij. Our protest now is because of the innocent people who were killed and arrested these days. Mr. Omarok do you accept a wrong word by violence and force????

06:13 AM Jun 24 2009 |

Ca_Brazil

Ca_Brazil

Brazil

I feel sad about the iranian people, the ones that have been killed, if they have protested it means there is something wrong, so i have been hearing on tradicional media and i just think the current president should be the first one to ask to recount the votes, not because of the others countries but for their people making sure everything is right.

10:39 PM Jun 23 2009 |

omarOK

Russian Federation

The Iranian democracy much more surpasses the western,

In Iran each person has the right to apply for a post of the president,

And the chance to win on elections at poor people always is more than at the rich,

 Mahmoud Nadzhad  from the poorest social classes,
he takes till now the meal from the house for work,
 And every week collects ministers in one of the poorest cities that they have thought up as it is possible to solve problems of the poor, 

And riches are  not pleasant, So they have arranged such attempt to show the indignation,

 the West(America and England France Germany Italy) and others, wished to play

on this disagreement. ,,,But, it has not turned out, they have lost the face,

 

09:40 PM Jun 23 2009 |

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