G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

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• credibility
• in your shoes
• giddy
• no way

• G.I.
• action figure
• child's play
• grew up on

• spirit
• children of the eighties

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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As long as there have been toys, little boys have made them fight each other. In the 1960s, G.I. Joe changed toys forever. Suddenly toy soldiers could move! You could make them walk, crouch, wrestle, hold weapons and more. The action figure was born.

In the 1980s, the G.I. Joe line of toys was adapted into a popular cartoon show. And recently it has become a feature film, G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra. But the movie is no child’s play. It includes an accelerator suit that can turn you into a superman and a battle to (what else?) save the world from nuclear destruction. Both Mason and Dale grew up on G.I. Joe. Listen to them talk about how they feel about this new stage in Joe’s career.

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.

Dale

Mason

Dale:  I have to tell you, Mason, G.I. Joe, I’m so excited about it. I grew up with G.I. Joe. I know all about G.I. Joe. I can’t wait to see the movie.

Mason:  Dale, here’s the thing. I know I’m with you on this, man. We are children of the ‘80s. G.I. Joe…

Dale:  Transformers...

Mason:  All these things. They’re just stealing them from us. It’s like taking all that credibility. It’s like if you were to take all the money out of your retirement account like now. It’s too soon. It’s the wrong decision. ‘Cause I saw it, right? I was in your shoes.

Dale:  You were excited before you went in?

Mason:  I was giddy is how I was.

Dale:  That’s where I’m at right now. I have G.I. Joe action figures. Those are my favorite toys in the world. I remember watching the trailer on TV and I was like, “I gotta go see it!” I actually stopped what I was doing and I was like, “No way! G.I. Joe is coming out!”

Mason:  Yeah. It’s just…it’s big and loud, it’s a big action blockbuster, but they didn’t really hold on to the spirit. Your favorite people are there. Snake Eyes is there and whatnot. But there’s no way they can make up for quite literally the cartoonishness of the original. And now you know, Dale.

Dale:  And knowing is half the battle.

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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