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.
How far is the nearest Starbucks from where you live? Two blocks? Three? Starbucks are everywhere. There is hardly a city on Earth that hasn’t been affected by globalization. Even the Forbidden City, a 600 year old palace and set of buildings in Bejing, China, is now home a Starbucks. A lot of people think that stores like Starbkucks shouldn’t be allowed to open in beautiful, historic places. Kevin is among them.
3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.
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.
![]() Kevin |
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Kevin: I was listening to NPR yesterday and there was quite a long report about this Starbucks that’s in the Forbidden City…
Amanda: Yup, Bejing.
Kevin: Which some people are really adamantly against and other people are like, “Oh it’s no big deal.” What do you think about that?
Amanda: It’s interesting because it kind of parallels...My friend just went down to Texas. She wants to move from Portland to Texas because in their churches they have Starbucks. The way that she sees it is it’s not really compromising the integrity of a place of worship as much as it is keeping with the times because everyone’s all about convenience and retail.
Kevin: Fair enough. But don’t you think that there have to be some places…
Amanda: That are sacred?
Kevin: Yeah, I mean…if you put a Pizza Hut there…
Amanda: I do, but how do you…how and where do you draw the line, I suppose?
Kevin: Well and I guess to me it comes down to demand. If people don’t want to support the business, then people need to stop going, and then the business won’t be a success. But I hear people complain, “Oh I don’t like this. I don’t like that. I don’t like McDonalds. I don’t like Starbucks.” yet when it’s the closest thing to their home or to their house they’ll walk there instead of walking another two blocks to a local coffee shop for example.
Amanda: Absolutely. So they feel one way but their actions say another.
Kevin: But I personally have a problem with there being a Starbucks in the Forbidden City.
Amanda: So what do you think, do you think that particular shop will shut down after all this settles?
Kevin: I think it probably will.
Amanda: OK. We’ll see.
Kevin: Wanna bet on it?
Amanda: I’ll bet you a latte.
Kevin: Alright.
Amanda: Okay.
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Discussion
Kevin was listening to a radio station called NPR (National Public Radio) when he heard a program about the Starbucks in the Forbidden City. Amanda is reminded of a friend of hers who might move to Texas because they have Starbucks in churches there. She doesn’t think it’s wrong, just keeping up with the times.
Kevin says that if people don’t want a certain business somewhere, they shouldn’t go to that business. He says that a lot of people say they don’t like Starbucks or McDonalds, but when it’s nearest thing, they go there.
Kevin doesn’t think it’s right to have a Starbucks in the Forbidden City. He thinks it will close soon. He and Amanda bet (what else?) a latte on it.
Have you ever been someplace old and beautiful and found a Starbucks or McDonalds there? Were you glad it was there or did you wish it wasn’t?
Comments
China |
China |
China |
Iran, Islamic Republic Of |
Turkey |
Thailand |
United Kingdom |
Pakistan |
India |
United States |
Pakistan |
United Arab Emirates |
United Arab Emirates |
Philippines |
China |
United Kingdom |
Germany |
Iran, Islamic Republic Of |
South Korea |
South Korea |