Adjectives English lesson

Intro

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

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• pop
• gross someone out
• geeky
• lanky

• get behind
• fan
• classical
• dubbed

• like fingernails on a chalkboard
• intrigued

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Some of the best things in life come from combining two totally different things into one awesome, new thing. Think peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, or coffee and ice cream.

Well, Josh Groban is sort of like a Frappuccino. He’s a pop star who sings opera, or an opera singer who also does pop. Actually, he’s so unique that a whole new word has been invented for what he does. His musical style is being called “pop-era.”

But while pop-era is definitely something new, not everyone agrees that it’s awesome. Hear Marni and Jason discuss their feelings about Josh Groban.

Dialog

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

Jason

Marni

Jason:  I’ve been singing in the shower lately, just every day since the new Josh Groban record came out.

Marni:  Are you a fan?

Jason:  Yeah, definitely.

Marni:  Really?

Jason:  I don’t know, I just like that it’s classical yet pop, you know?

Marni:  It’s “pop-era” from what I hear, his music is being dubbed “pop-era.” It’s pop-opera.

Jason:  Right.

Marni:  I really don’t like him, so I’m intrigued by why you do like him. I don’t know, I just…he grosses me out. Groban, ewww.

Jason:  Wait, what? What does he do to gross you out? What’s not to like?

Marni:  I don’t know, just this like geeky, sort of lanky guy who sings this, like, opera. I don’t know, I feel like if you’re going to be an opera singer you should be like 300 pounds and just be Italian.

Jason:  Huh.

Marni:  Apparently that’s just…it’s probably a terrible way to think of things, but I don’t know, I can’t get behind him.

Jason:  I mean, I think it’s cool that he looks like a normal dude and that he has such an amazing voice, so when he’s a teenager he’s filling in for Andrea Boccelli.

Marni:  Yeah, I guess that’s very impressive, and I should give him some kudos for that. But I just…I don’t know, when I hear his voice it’s just like fingernails on a chalkboard.

Jason:  Woah, ‘cause for me it’s like, oh, if this guy can do it, maybe I can be an opera singer too. That’s what I like about it. It’s bringing opera down to a pop level. But it sounds like maybe you want pop stars to just be pop stars, and opera singers to just be opera singers.

Marni:  Exactly. There should be a very definitive line between the two genres.

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