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New Choices

New Choices

Date: Apr 10 2007

Themes: News

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.

Even though the United States is home to a diverse population, the government is dominated by Caucasian men. Very few people of color even are considered for office. And although the US population is more than half women, women do not make up anywhere close to half the government.

The campaign for the next US President (2008) has already started. And leading the pack of candidates are Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. This is the first time in US history a woman and an African American have received such serious consideration for the highest office in government.

Listen to Marni and Amanda chat about the next US election for President.

Dialog

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

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

Marni

Marni

Amanda

Amanda

Marni:  So what do you think? Do you think that the US… I mean, I think we’re ready for… to have a female president.

Amanda:  It’s so interesting because people ask me all the time, “Do you think America’s ready for a female or a minority male?”

Marni:  Mm hm.

Amanda:  Which is more likely to happen first? And I’m not sure.

Marni:  I’m not sure either. But I think that’s so exciting that, that, you know, the prime Democratic candidates… there’s a woman, an African-American male…

Amanda:  Absolutely.

Marni:  And, you know, I…

Amanda:  And who woulda thought?

Marni:  Yeah.

Amanda:  The same year.

Marni:  I think… well, and I think it’s actually probably… it is time because we’ve seen the repercussions of having this sort of old, good old boys, the old white men running…

Amanda:  Absolutely.

Marni:  ... the country and…

Amanda:  Year after year.

Marni:  Yeah. And what, you know… our standing in the US is… or standing in the world I should say, is really not so great. And so I think it’s time that we have just completely different ideologies in the White House.

Amanda:  Absolutely. And, you know, whether or not they have a chance of winning is not so important. It’s just the fact that they are actually in the running and America is considering this as a possibility…

Marni:  Exactly.

Amanda:  And that’s a huge step.

Marni:  It is a huge step. And it seems so strange that our country hasn’t gone there…

Amanda:  It is… that we’re a little backwards.

 

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Discussion

Marni and Amanda don’t know who is more likely to win the election, a woman or an African-American man.

They both seem to agree that a government full of white men doesn’t seem to be working. Maybe it is time for a new perspective in the White House.

Would your country elect a woman or a person of color to be the country’s leader?


Links:
The official English, baby! 2008 presidential election page.
English lesson on women leaders around the world.

 

Comments

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Kas-ye

Kas-ye

Yemen

 women for president .. isee woard going duwn . may view..

09:18 AM Apr 07 2008 |

anzhela

anzhela

Germany

I am going with Hillary because she is a woman and women have more chance to make peace

10:57 PM Apr 06 2008 |

Jane Doe

Jane Doe

Indonesia

the races and the gender should not be a base of your decision to vote one of them.

go with whatever they offered if they are the president of the USA.

So far, I'm going with Obama.

McCain wants to continued the Iraq war and that's a big no no to me. Hillary…well I just don't trust her.

08:46 PM Apr 06 2008 |

jeissie

Uganda

how are u hope ur fine

 

 

01:21 PM Aug 22 2007 |

rosa88

rosa88

Taiwan

yeah…it’s really an interesting election….either of them wins… he or she must be a pioneer in U.S. history…

04:49 PM Apr 25 2007 |

Josh K

Josh K

Guatemala

I hope they win.

06:18 PM Apr 15 2007 |

travisdt

United States

I am a faithful Democrat but the presidential candidates stand no chance to win the election. Americans are not ready for female or color folk yet, and I dont get it because you know you lost the election already

10:29 PM Apr 14 2007 |

Mewzaa

Mewzaa

Thailand

Couldn’t agree more, teddy. yeah i think everyone is much better than the devil Bush even Suddam imo.

07:08 AM Apr 14 2007 |

humourliu

China

American’law give everyone chance to run for president if you have enough money.

12:09 PM Apr 11 2007 |

hady

hady

Russian Federation

hey guys you must be kidding!that all ados about nothing.kinda pr action from both side.the most important thing for them is being in spot no matter who wins.

05:33 AM Apr 11 2007 |

lilyxu

lilyxu

United States

Hillary Clinton will never win!!!!!actually President Bush is pretty good President.

06:23 PM Apr 10 2007 |

icingblue813

China

“whether or not they have a chance of winning is not so important!”That’s aboslutly ture.everyone,whether woman or a person of color,has right to take part in running this country.so,I agree this is a huge step.

02:49 PM Apr 10 2007 |

hskim7856

South Korea

I think US bet her special ability, she will get a title next year.

09:55 AM Apr 10 2007 |

justin810

justin810

China

I think ,whatever the president is a woman or man and Caucasian or people of color,he or she must make people living better than ever.if he or she can do it,we will support them.

08:41 AM Apr 10 2007 |

assia

assia

Algeria

yeah,women are more kind than man so if Hillary Clinton will the president there will more peace in the world especially in the middle east ;)

08:00 AM Apr 10 2007 |

abdeeq

abdeeq

Somalia

it is time for america to accept the color president

06:31 AM Apr 10 2007 |

somaliland

somaliland

Somalia

it is history only whether Hillary win or Obama,but in the US in order to find better government than Bush administration is not matter of Black man or Women.All of the world consider US election in 2008

06:07 AM Apr 10 2007 |

Marria

Marria

China

I wonder what will happen .It seems incredible,and I am looking forward to its development.

06:03 AM Apr 10 2007 |

sunnysmile1986

China

It is wonderful and interesting.

05:06 AM Apr 10 2007 |

teddy008

teddy008

China

Either of them is better than Bush,in my opinion.

02:54 AM Apr 10 2007 |

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