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Joining the Military
Joining the Military

Learn English with this patriotism English lesson

Date: Sep 18 2019

Themes: News, Work

Grammar: Phrasal Verbs

Intro

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Being part of the military is a serious job. It requires a lot of training, a commitment of several years, and the willingness to go where you’re asked. While some people get military jobs that keep them safe, many people lose their lives. There is always that risk, so enlisting is a big decision.

Talking about military service can be hard, even between friends. Some people feel that joining the army shows how patriotic you are, some don’t agree with having a military at all, and many have opinions in the middle. It’s important to remember that even if your ideology is not the same as your neighbor’s, it’s likely that you both care about keeping your country safe.

Do Lily and Gary agree on the subject of joining the military? Read more in today’s English lesson.

Dialog

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

Lily

Lily

Gary

Gary

Lily:  So Gary, what are all these army pamphlets that are on your desk right now?

Gary:  Well, we don’t have a draft right now, but I’m considering enlisting to join the military.

Lily:  Oh, really?

Gary:  I feel like it is my patriotic duty to serve our country, and I feel like I’ve got to follow through on my convictions.

Lily:  Well, I respect your ideology, but aren’t you a little bit worried that you’re just going to get sucked into some conflict that doesn’t actually mean anything?

Gary:  See, that’s just it. I’m not getting sucked into it. I am taking part in this to protect you, to protect your mom, dad, my family, everybody. To protect our rights.

Lily:  Yes, I respect the heck out of you for doing this.

Gary:  Thank you.

Lily:  But at the same time, it’s really scary because you’re kind of at the country’s whim. They’ll send you wherever they want, and then you have to fight for something that you may not necessarily believe in.

Gary:  I agree with that. And it is scary. But I feel like I’ve got to enlist to do something because this country has given me so much.

 

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

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Gary believes it’s his duty to join the army, so he has been seriously thinking about it. He thinks that his country has given him a lot of opportunities, and Gary feels that he should repay this gift by enlisting in the military.

While Lily respects Gary’s opinion, she doesn’t agree with it. Lily’s worried that if Gary joins the army, he will be asked to fight somewhere for something that he might not believe in. She reminds him that he could be sent anywhere in the world, and he won’t have any say in the matter. It’s a difficult subject to talk about because Gary and Lily clearly have very strong but very different convictions.

Can you choose to join the military in your country, or is it mandatory? How do you feel about it?

 

Comments

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handwriter

handwriter

Norway

”...military needs dominated the country. When boys turned seven they were registered for military service, and each year men ages sixteen to thirty had to present themselves to an official for possible induction. Some men were exempted because their occupations were considered vital to the state. But others, such as school dropouts, bankrupts, servants without masters, idlers, and the unemployed, were deemed “expendable people” and could be forced into service at any time.”

12:28 AM May 05 2014 |

seungmanlee68

South Korea

I would like to recommend joining  the military as an ex-military officer. You can get a leadership and control hardships through all year round training all your life. I completed all military services in Republic of Korea Army before. During my stay, I learned how to make right decisions in various situations. I developed my strategic thinking skills by using my job title. After service, I realized that business is not different with fighting skills. All strategic thinking skills which I got in a military service are applied business field in a same way.   

01:34 AM May 03 2014 |

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