English, baby!

John Q.

Date: Oct 16 2002

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.

Denzel Washington plays a father who will do anything to save his dying son in the movie John Q. Listen to Nedra and Tanis talk about it to see if it’s worth watching.

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.

Nedra

Tanis

Nedra: I rented a movie the other night Tanis.

Tanis: What one?

Nedra: Um, it was John Q. with Denzel Washington.

Tanis: Oh, isn’t that the one where he, like, takes over the hospital?

Nedra: Yeah, he goes crazy in it, pretty much. Uh, he has real reasons because his son’s dying.

Tanis: Oh, uh, I thought this is more of a commentary on like health care reform or something.

Nedra: It is, but you want it to go further into it, but it just, just touches the surface, really.

Tanis: Did you like the movie?

Nedra: Yeah, but it wasn’t realistic. I mean, it was politically interesting, but it just would never have happened.

Tanis: Yeah, that’s kinda what I thought when I saw the previews, but I love Denzel, so, ya know, I could be coerced to watch it.

Nedra: Definitely!

Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

I wanted to like John Q., but Denzel Washington’s character was disappointing. In the beginning, I understood why he was frustrated when his insurance wouldn’t pay for his son’s operation. Later on when he decided to be forceful and tried to make the hospital give his son an operation, the movie wasn’t as interesting.
John Q. does make some statements about the quality of health care in America. It is sad to see a family suffer if someone is dying and their health insurance won’t pay for the help they need. I can only imagine what it would feel like to be sick and helpless. Hopefully, there will soon be changes to the system so that everyone is covered.
See ya next week,
Nedra