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Free Burma

Free Burma English, baby! Video Lesson

Date: Dec 07 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.

It’s a strange thing. Americans are famous around the world for not knowing any languages other than English and for not owning passports. Yet, the American government is famous for involving itself in the affairs of other countries.

When innocent people are being killed around the world, the US government often steps in to help as it did in the former Yugoslavia in the mid ‘90s and as it claims to be doing in Iraq right now (whether you believe it or not).

But sometimes horrible things go on in other countries for years and those nations that could help the situation, for whatever reason, don’t. Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, has been under military rule for over 40 years. The government violently suppresses any resistance from its people. Watch Marni and Mason share their thoughts on Burma.

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.

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

Marni

Marni

Mason

Mason

Marni:  Have you been following the news?

Mason:  No, I kinda don’t…because it makes me feel bad.

Marni:  It’s really awful what’s happening over there and I think that it’s easy for us here to kind of tune out, but it’s good to be apprized of the situation.

Mason:  So what…I mean…Fill me in. What is going on?

Marni:  Well, basically, it’s been going on for like 45 years, this back and forth...military via the government oppressing its people. There’s like a million undocumented refugees from Burma living in Thailand alone, not to mention all the other Asian countries. It’s very sad. There is a woman actually elected by the people who won the Nobel Peace Prize. I couldn’t tell you her name…

Mason:  Recently though?

Marni:  Well, not recently…like, I think in the ‘90s…Who hasn’t been allowed to govern.

Mason:  She is an elected official...

Marni:  She is an elected official is my understanding…

Mason:  ...who has no power. She’s totally impotent.

Marni:  And is actually under house arrest and things like that. And because the military and the coup that took over is just sort of terrorizing its people and not letting her leave.

Mason:  And we, as Americans, are of course doing nothing.

Marni:  Well, you know, there’s talk about it…The monks recently…September 24th was like the big day and the monks started rioting, so you know when the monks are actually protesting, not rioting, protesting, that the situation’s bad and we need to get involved.

Mason:  Monks are usually pretty chill, so…

Marni:  It’s sort of in their nature.

 

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Discussion

Tired of the news always being bad news, Mason says he doesn’t pay much attention to it anymore. He asks Marni to explain what’s going on in Burma.

She says in the 45 years of military rule, many people have been driven out of Burma into the neighboring countries. There are more than 1 million refugees in Thailand alone.

The woman whose name Marni can’t remember who was elected to govern but never allowed to do so is Aung San Suu Kyi. She is one of the leading advocates for democracy in Burma.

Recently, Buddhist monks protested the government and many of them were injured or killed. Mason notes that when monks speak out, you know a situation is truly bad.

Do you think the US or the UN should help Burma? Do people talk about Burma much in your country?

 

Comments

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lemur

Russian Federation

Hmmm… Do you really believe that US is unselfish? :) That they don’t have any gain from all these operations? And do it only to build democration all over the world? Pay millions dollar for it just to make other countries happy? Don’t be naive.

08:09 PM Dec 07 2007 |

Green Alice

Russian Federation

At first the phrase "we need to get involved" shocked me and maid my blood boil, because it is inadequate to intervene with independent countries like Burma. But every American believes that American political and social ideas are superior to those of other countries, so we can forgive Marni her rudeness.

If someone has right to interfere, it is United Nations, but never US alone.

06:37 PM Dec 07 2007 |

km_muhammedali

India

I agree to the openion of Mason.

Majority of the Americans are truely innocent but their government and weapon lobbies are oftenly trying to make terrorism to execute their hidden agenda. Eg. They did support Bin Ladan and former Afghan Militia to Fight against USSR, Another one They gave weapons and support Saddam hussain to fight against Iran. If they will play the role of peace in the world I am sure we can imagine in near future for a good humanized world.

06:09 PM Dec 07 2007 |

Logan86

Poland

I'm 21 and i'm from Poland, Europe. I can't agree with you. If the US hadn't got involved in the situation in Poland in the 80' I wouldn't live in a totally indenpendent and free country now. For example the president of the US Ronald Reagan put pressure on communist government to release political prisoners in order to help democratic opposition. I'm really thakfull for their involment. Burma's people won't be free without international support.

 

04:50 PM Dec 07 2007 |

metdemp

Turkey

hello ,my name is metin demircan.l am 40 years old.from turkey.l am türkish.my familly 5 person.wife name ayhan and big daughter name ravza ,middle daughter name is rabia,small doughter name is asena.ravza 12 years old.rabia 8 years old and asena 7 years old.we have to live eskişehir city.ı am agriculture engineer.

   my wife pharmacist.but l  am and my wife private work. l am fertilizzer to sell.ayhan

03:52 PM Dec 07 2007 |

lan.xianmei

China

I don't know what to say.Is the US really  ready to help?

Why they hadn't done anything so far? I have nothing to say.

02:15 PM Dec 07 2007 |

joaquin.3g

joaquin.3g

Spain

I don't know what would be better for Burma becouse I don't have enough Knowledge of this country. But I very much regret that innocent people like monks are being killed. Is so difficult to live in peace? In fact it's so sad this atrocities are happening at this time. These things turn over my stomach. Poor people!

01:50 PM Dec 07 2007 |

li xu

li xu

China

well done   perfect  judgement!

01:20 PM Dec 07 2007 |

jqh952987

jqh952987

China

kinda=kind of,i suggest you to see<friends>,there are much of slang like "kinda"

01:04 PM Dec 07 2007 |

guoqi

China

in my opinion,all the problems should be solved under the regulation of united state. any country has no right to interface other nations' inner affair. although maybe you are owning a great deal of wealth and enourse power.

on the others side,united states should take his own part in the issue, taking the responsiblilies.

it is my attitude to this .

 

11:51 AM Dec 07 2007 |

kaushalyats

Sri Lanka

I believe that countries like USA should look at terrorism in countries like Sri Lanka much seriously than how they doing now. whether terrorism is in USA, UK or Sri lanka doesn't matter where it's happens it is terrorism and no other definition for that. I would like to bring in one thing that every body should think about seriously. If you are a wepons manufacturer what will be your strategies and objectives ? definitely sell more and more wepons and create an environment for that. thats what most of the developed countries which dominated by wepons sellers, are doing right now. ...think a minute…!

10:52 AM Dec 07 2007 |

kaushalyats

Sri Lanka

I believe that countries like USA should look at terrorism in countries like Sri Lanka much seriously than how they doing now. whether terrorism is in USA, UK or Sri lanka doesn’t matter where it’s happens it is terrorism and no other definition for that. I would like to bring in one thing that every body should think about seriously. If you are a wepons manufacturer what will be your strategis and objectives ? definitely sell more and more wepons and create an environment for that. thats what most of the developed countries which dominated by wepons sellers, are doing right now

10:49 AM Dec 07 2007 |

kawthar

Jordan

America..stop acting like the wise government!!cz u r the worsttt!!u do noyhin but makin matters worse and damaging the world by the name of democracy…look at countries u get involved in such as Iraq..u destroyin everything..u kill..cz u r the terrorist…stop ur plays and leave ppl to live in peace.. 

10:33 AM Dec 07 2007 |

jungee

Nepal

i totally agree on Gavin opinion that every time US shouldn't interfer, yes of course its the problem of the whole world but sometimes we should leave them to solve the problems by themselves,US just wants to show their power by intefering which sometimes makes the country more in trouble n also makes them dependent .

As i think that a country can only progress when they are independent. 

10:15 AM Dec 07 2007 |

kawthar

Jordan

you americans…stop acting like the wise government!!!cz u r worstttt.u do nothin but getting matters worse in the world!!u damagin the world by the name of democracy and all things u doin is recognized all over the world…now look wats goin on in Iraq and many countries since U.S getting involved!!

09:43 AM Dec 07 2007 |

Phoenix1028

Russian Federation

I think US have done enough in Iraq… But situation in Birma is serious , because citizens are suffering. I don't know what would be better for Birma, if US or UN took part in this or if they didn't .

09:15 AM Dec 07 2007 |

jayalaxmi

India

hai

 

08:53 AM Dec 07 2007 |

jennifer_zhangying

Taiwan

I agree all of your opinions. Hope this is a peaceful world, every person in this world has not any kind of discriminations to any kind of other people…... every one should have their own right to live in well conditions.

08:05 AM Dec 07 2007 |

pookey

Singapore

I am from Myanmar (Burma)! I am happy for our country about this forum. Our people must need help from other countries. We need all countries should help to restore democracy in Burma and with the foreign affair. We pray UN give the help of our country. We felt very sad for our monks killed. The current governmet is terrible. We must need good future. Thanks for all of friend about telling our country. Please help our country for peace and free.

08:00 AM Dec 07 2007 |

leechunnen

Taiwan

I believe that there still have a sense of justice in Internation, Aung San Suu Kyi is a good example of winning the Nobel Peace Prize. So even USA has to follow a right way to help other countrys, not too over, otherwise he will pay a huge cost by himself. It is not easy to take care youself only if someone does need your help, but just do what you can do under no any condition, this is the way to be respectable and… be a leader.

07:52 AM Dec 07 2007 |

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