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Quite a Race

Quite a Race English, baby! Video Lesson

Date: Apr 04 2008

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.

Normally, by now, we would know which two people will be competing to become President of the United States next year. One candidate, the Republican (the conservative), will be Senator John McCain. But the Democratic (or liberal) primary is taking longer because it’s so close. Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are neck and neck.

A lot of people are very excited by Obama. Among them are the members of English, baby!. We posted a poll last summer that showed Clinton in the lead. But now Obama is ahead in a new poll. If you read this forum thread, you can watch people switch sides.

More so than any politician in recent memory, Obama seems to inspire young people. Watch Beren and Amanda talk about how their mothers are voting for Clinton.

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.

Beren

Beren

Amanda

Amanda

Beren:  So, have you been following the presidential elections?

Amanda:  Did you notice my little bracelet?

Beren:  Obama ‘08 hope.” That’s rad.

Amanda:  Pretty cool, right?

Beren:  There’re some super-rad t-shirts pimpin’ Obama.

Amanda:  Really? Pimpin’ Obama?

Beren:  Totally. So you’re voting for Obama?

Amanda:  Yes, I am. But it’s interesting because there’s a little divide in my family, the generational thing.

Beren:  Hillary or Obama?

Amanda:  Yeah. Which is kind of what’s going on right now, I feel like. It’s college-age to about early 30s or those just getting started in their career who are for Obama, but then that and older, for whatever reason, seem to be going with Hillary. That’s a pretty clear divide right there.

Beren:  I think it’s an older…I don’t want to say female thing, but I don’t know, there definitely is something…I know my mom, for one, is insane about Hillary.

Amanda:  Same as my mom.

Beren:  Definitely. I guess it is a generational thing.

Amanda:  It’s so interesting. My mom has gone so far as to call me a woman hater because I’m a female but I’m not for Hillary. And I wouldn’t take it that far. It’s not that I’m against women and that’s why I’m not voting for Hillary.

Beren:  What do you dislike about Hillary?

Amanda:  She doesn’t resonate with me but probably because of the stage I’m in in my life. There seems to be a huge disconnect right now with where I am and where Hillary is. And that’s great for her to be at her stage in her life, but she’s not speaking to me right now as an early 30-year-old.

Beren:  I’m voting for McCain.

Amanda:  You are? Really?

 

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Discussion

Amanda has a bracelet that shows she supports Obama. His campaign has made good use of the Web and other means of reaching young people. Beren says she likes his t-shirts.

But both Beren’s and Amanda’s mothers support Clinton. They guess that Obama, who is more idealistic, appeals to young people, while the more moderate Clinton has more older supporters.

Beren suddenly surprises Amanda by saying that she’s voting for John McCain. McCain isn’t exactly young, hip or cool, so it’s surprising that Beren likes him. But that’s the exciting thing about elections. They aren’t won on paper and people don’t always vote for whom they’re expected to.

Is your family following the US Presidential election? Do you find there to be a generational divide?

Links:
The official Ebaby! 2008 presidential election page
Ebaby! Blog about the election
New Choices: Which will come first, a black president or a woman?
Articulate This: Compliment or…

 

Comments

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canqemo

Azerbaijan

HI. I would like HARRY CLINTON woul win the election she really deserves it. She is against IRAQ WAR. She is a great political leader.

10:28 AM Apr 04 2008 |

zeus2006

zeus2006Super Member!

Turkey

Think shopwindow,it is always changed each season by owner.They are in the shopwindow,just they will do what backround (!) people want!!!

09:57 AM Apr 04 2008 |

imagination06

China

i do support Hillary!

08:31 AM Apr 04 2008 |

kaushalyats

Sri Lanka

Before vote every citizen of the country has to think about the country and have a responsibility to choose a president who can work for betterment of the country rather than just follwing generational norms or personal gains.Therfore vote for person who is having best solution and capability to overcome current conflicts in the country.

07:50 AM Apr 04 2008 |

kaushalyats

Sri Lanka

Before vote every citizen of the country has to think about the country and have a responsibility to choose a president who can work for betterment of the country rather than just follwing generational norms or personal gains.Therfore vote for person who is having best solution and capability to overcome current conflicts in the country.

07:45 AM Apr 04 2008 |

johanne

Philippines

Nice!I'm Nutral Voter.

05:33 AM Apr 04 2008 |

VOLTS

VOLTSSuper Member!

Brazil

Hey,... I don´t care who will be the next president. What it´s important to me it´s that, next president don´t make war!!!!

05:32 AM Apr 04 2008 |

Tohir

Tohir

Uzbekistan

Do you want to elect Obama? I think Obama is good, but Hillary Clinton is better than Obama. You know Mrs.Clinton promised to change the lifestyle of american soldiers. The Iraq war is so badly for US. That’s why i think USA needs for presidents as like as Hillary Clinton.

05:07 AM Apr 04 2008 |

rainy031

rainy031

China

I know  a little about presidential election of us,  but i think it is really a important matter for every body in amercans , "presidential election " it is too far to my life ,but i think i am insane about Hillary for his outstanding and courage.Kiss

04:31 AM Apr 04 2008 |

brook-guo

brook-guo

China

I have viewed something about presidential election of US.It`s really a important matter for anyone of Amercans.I know little about Obama,but I am familiar with Hillary. Hillary ,wife of the former president – Clinton,is an pretty outstanding women.Maybe she is the idol of American femals since there are so many women  voting for her.

03:50 AM Apr 04 2008 |

Neverland

China

vote for Obama!

03:49 AM Apr 04 2008 |

vigoss

vigoss

Kazakhstan

I live in another country. But if I would live in USA I voted for Obama

03:41 AM Apr 04 2008 |

pengquanyao

China

I love hillary!

03:39 AM Apr 04 2008 |

pairwen

pairwen

China

neither of them is best…i am the best~hahahaha~just kiddingLaughing

03:22 AM Apr 04 2008 |

godisone

godisone

Senegal

I really like the discussion between the two girl !!!But me iam for Obama.

12:41 AM Apr 04 2008 |

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