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President Obama

President Obama

Date: Nov 07 2008

Themes: History, News

Grammar: Comparatives and Superlatives

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.

Earlier this week, in cities all across America and the world, people poured into the streets to dance and celebrate the election of Barack Obama as the next President of the United States.

Although he was favored to win, you never know what will happen on election day. Sometimes the person who is behind in the polls wins. But Tuesday went better than expected for Obama. He won in a landslide victory.

Mason and Marni are big Obama supporters, and they’re still excited that he won.

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.

Mason

Mason

Marni

Marni

Mason:  I can’t get the smile off my face.

Marni:  I know! It’s like a new day. I feel like the sun is up even though it’s pouring rain out. It just doesn’t matter.

Mason:  So I’m kind of hoping that the cloud of happiness sticks around for the next four or eight years.

Marni:  Right, yeah. Well, I think that there was so much…This election really did feel vital to a lot of people, whatever party affiliation you signed up with. There was a huge effort to register new voters and get out the vote, more so than, I think, in previous elections because it really did feel like a do or die situation.

Mason:  Well, and I was totally struck by the cultural influence, even on both sides, but particularly Obama just spurred this wealth of creative movement about people doing…

Marni:  Yeah.

Mason:  I’ve seen more different kinds of posters and stickers and t-shirts, just people making things to express their enthusiasm, their passion for him and for this particular election.

Marni:  He’s one of the younger presidents we’ve had in a long time, so I think there’s sort of that renewed spirit of youth in the White House and also just with younger voters. He gets pop culture more so than McCain.

 

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Discussion

Marni and Mason hope the excitement so many people feel over Obama’s victory lasts throughout his presidency. And it just might because it was a particularly inspired campaign. People found ways to express their enthusiasm through arts and crafts.

But without a doubt, Obama appealed to younger voters like Mason and Marni because his campaign made use of technologies like social networks and email to stay in touch with America’s tech-savvy youth. It also didn’t hurt that he had the support of many celebrities.

Did you expect Obama to win? Were people excited about it where you live? What do you think Obama’s victory will mean for the world?
Hey! Check out the lessons we recorded for other possible outcomes of the election on our blog!

 

Comments

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venkatesan.R

India

how he’s getting more salary?

12:14 PM Nov 12 2008 |

yangwei_ye@126.com

China

A good American , a good America.

03:57 AM Nov 12 2008 |

yangwei_ye@126.com

China

I hope so , a good American and a good America!

03:53 AM Nov 12 2008 |

alez1986

China

I've never thought that there are somebody still talk with Mr Obama's victory.I'd like to see the President Obama after several months.

岂曰无衣?与子同袍。

Excuse me,Mr or Ms Fish,pardon that i reply you insted of my brethren.

I noticed a word "prejudice" you mentioned. It made me to speculate.

I saw a movie "tropic thunder" recently.It's so funny,but cann't I feel uncomfortable where you show.Even,some elements mke me angry.

One of the protagonist said "dirty heathens",unfortunately,he said a word "F*ck" too,who is dirty?

One of the protagonist killed a panda,will panda attack person?Is there any panda's fur in the forest of Viet Nam?

Why the villains speak "mandarin Chinese" which is too shoddy to uderstand by a chinese.Why the head of the villains is a ugly,barbarous and cruel child.why…

 Please,tell me why?

who is biased against who?

who is less responsible?

Dog,for God;Evil,for live.

 You asked us some questions.I think the answer is the big character "和"what we have shown in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

 Certainly,we are thankful to our friends who help us.

I'm so glad to see you living in china.Welcome.You can understand China really and closely.If you want,you can have a try to understand the Tao ideology (not Taoism)of China,then you will find that how peaceful Chinese are.

I'd love to make a friend of you,will you love me?

Whatever,have a good time in China.

 

p.s

If i'm wrong ,correct me,please.thank you.

My dad will beat my ass with a broom if he know that i chat with a eldership in this strain…Cry

07:17 AM Nov 11 2008 |

joyfish

United States

Lu Rola,

 I feel so sorry for you. You were not even born when Kennedy was asassinated and you do not know where of you speak. Please put away your prejudice. It is this kind of attitude that prevents change from happening in the world, so much more than big interest groups.

Did your grandparents believe China could change to become what it is today? Did your parents have the opportunity to go to college as you do? Change does happen and it is the people who make it happen in spite of big business, government, or any other persons who hold power for a while.

I am an American teacher and I have lived in China. All the young people there were so open and so positive. I hope you become so also. Give it a chance. Wait and see what happens. 

11:37 PM Nov 10 2008 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

Many peolpe here in Brazil were cheering for him,he deserved…For sure,he will give a new face to the USA government ;)

07:24 PM Nov 10 2008 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

It was a landslide vitory!

I charismatic guy…he have deserved!

I was happy for your wonWink

07:05 PM Nov 10 2008 |

vanishou

vanishou

Cote D'Ivoire

In Côte d’Ivoire, we were very happy for Obama’s victory! It’s a great step in human history !

06:03 PM Nov 10 2008 |

TwiGGy91

TwiGGy91

Russian Federation

I don't think that US does right things. And why i think that US is unhonesty? it's more than enough to know that everything that us said about war in South Osetia is lie.Frown After it my  attitude to USA and president  have become worse. If Obama will be just the same with Bush USA won't getting better at the international relations and cooperation.Undecided

10:05 AM Nov 10 2008 |

alez1986

China

Don't stay in the memory,there is a new lesson today.Laughing

04:25 AM Nov 10 2008 |

chunxiao.1204

China

i jus hope that OBAMA 's win is a good news for China,for everybody,for the whole world.

04:12 AM Nov 10 2008 |

peaceboy

peaceboy

Somalia

Change we need! change has come to america!!

Yes we can!!

 

05:21 PM Nov 09 2008 |

Christoph07

Germany

By the way what is happen with Beren? She wanted McCain for president. Is she unhappy now or becomes crazy because so much people are happy with the result of election? Sealed

03:42 PM Nov 09 2008 |

Christoph07

Germany

A greatfull moment of hope. And a pretty lesson in freedom and democracy for some other folks of this planet. Better than the last presidential election in U.S.A. in 2004. I hope he dont will find the same end like Kennedy.

 

 

 

03:39 PM Nov 09 2008 |

wsbilly

China

so cool!

GO GO GO~

02:19 PM Nov 09 2008 |

chris.xie

chris.xie

China

i don't think he can change the rule consitituted by the consortium of both party. The USA consortium only care for money and political droit,where the money from,you know,oil and others from the countries in the worthwide.they don't hope the worthwide peacefull. so our chinese member should pay our attention for the election of the USA. Whoever be the President,will change nothing.

02:18 PM Nov 09 2008 |

alez1986

China

Hello,my friends who reply me.

U know,i am just a very ordinary student from China.I come here to make some friend if we can and make a progress in my english.So ,don't mention the words like democracy to me please,I don't care.

In my culture,the is a sentence :"穷则独善其身,达则兼济天下".I am very poor in english,so i just interpret it literally:"advance yourself if poor,help the world if rich".So,i don't care the words somebody mentioned.It mostly like that u don't care the words like Rothschild,Morgan,etc.

What the word politics mean?

So,i care that how can change me kinder,stronger,more thankful.There's not the most absolute thing.but,everything will change better if everyone change better,if we love each other more.

Actually,China had,having a great change.We take a road in 30 years that  the western countrys used 300 years.So,u see,how hard we are.

Dear Brazilian friend,i love football too,i am so willing to select the Brazil team when play Playstation.I can felt that how proud u were when u got ur the fifth star in 2002.It's a wonderful time for me too ,although u win us. In football's name,congratulation to u again.

Mr Obama say that he will change something in the worst financial crisis in a century all over the world.God bless him,God bless American.But i'm sure that there will be no one die because of hunger in China.

Wish that we have a better tomorrow!


p.s,correct me if i'm wrong,thank you.

12:51 PM Nov 09 2008 |

aoyunhui

aoyunhui

China

i saw some women were weeping tears when Obama was giving a campaign speech.they are too excitable.

11:06 AM Nov 09 2008 |

steppe

steppe

Viet Nam

The policies of the US are stable but I believe in some changes that could help the world become better. I believe in Obama. Remember that he is an African- American. I think that he has some opinion different from the former presidents.

I'm very glad when he wins the election. His victory prove that nowadays US is the country where everybody of any race can live happily together^^

10:20 AM Nov 09 2008 |

houxf3411

houxf3411

China

Obama won the election! i hope he can realize the truth that what everyone around the world care about most is the peace and harmony in the future not else and bring a chance for people having a steady life.GOOd luck,OBAma

10:14 AM Nov 09 2008 |

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