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Starbucks

Date: Jul 18 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.

Millions of people around the world drag themselves into Starbucks every morning for their daily fix of caffeine. Some go for a regular cup of Joe, and others go for something more sugary, creamy and elaborate.

Listen to Mason and Logan talk about beverages from Starbucks.

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.

Mason

Logan

Mason: So, I was going to go to Starbucks. You want me to pick you up something?

Logan: Ah, yeah, the only thing is, I’m not very good on names, and the only thing I really know about Starbucks is their sizes.

Mason: Okay.

Logan: Venti is their biggest, their largest, right?

Mason: Yeah, the venti is the big one and then the, ah, grande is the middle one, and the tall is actually the smallest one.

Logan: They all sound large, so…

Mason: They all do sound [large]. I think that’s their point. But, ah, so, okay, so you think you want a venti one? You probably want a big one.

Logan: Yeah, and I’m thinking something, I like chocolate, I like caramel.

Mason: Yeah? You want, like, the caramel macchiato, then? That’s what they do. It’s like a latte with caramel or vanilla syrup, and the macchiato – actually, it means ‘marked.’ It’s Italian for ‘marked,’ and so they put a dab of caramel sauce on top.

Logan: Oh, that sounds good, yeah.

Mason: That’s where they get the name for that.

Logan: I’ll take a grande of that.

Mason: A grande caramel macchiato. You’re going to downsize?

Logan: Yeah, that’s sounds good.

Mason: That sounds alright? I think I’m going to get myself a Frappuccino, ah, the mocha one. You know, it’s kind of chocolately, but it’s been hot out so something cold and Slurpee-like.

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Discussion

Starbucks, with over 14,000 stores and affiliates worldwide, is the world’s largest chain of coffee shops. In addition to its own coffee shops, Starbucks owns many other coffee companies, including Seattle’s Best and Torrefazione Italia.

Starbucks is credited with making people aware of fine coffee. Prior to Starbucks, many people drank freeze dried and instant coffee. The success of Starbucks and its gourmet coffee paved the way for others to launch their own coffee shops.