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Shark Tank
Shark Tank

Learn English: Meaning of Shark Tank

Date: Mar 22 2019

Themes: Pop Culture, Work

Grammar: Direct vs. Reported Speech

Intro

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

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Some people dream of working for themselves and not for someone else. Many of these people become entrepreneurs and open their own small businesses. But having your own business can be a lot of work and you might need money to get started. Where can these business owners go to get help?

“Shark Tank” is a TV show where entrepreneurs can go to pitch their ideas. The “sharks” listen to the ideas, and then choose if they want to pay for a part of the entrepeneurs’ business. It’s interesting to watch what the small business owners and inventors say to the sharks. And it’s even more interesting to hear what the sharks ask the entrepreneurs. The show is so popular that it can be seen in many countries around the world.

Jessica tells Gary about how much she enjoys watching the show. Learn more in today’s English lesson about getting in the “Shark Tank.”

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.

Gary

Gary

Jessica

Jessica

Gary:  Jessica, I’ve been hearing about this show called “Shark Tank.”

Jessica:  I love that show, Gary!

Gary:  I didn’t know that.

Jessica:  I love it! It’s a great platform for inventors and small businesses.

Gary:  Right, right. What I understand about the show is that people go on. They pitch their ideas. And they tell these people, who have some money, “Here’s my product, here’s what I do. I’d love for you to invest in my company, so that I can make it big.” Right?

Jessica:  Exactly. That’s exactly what it is. And some of these inventors and really small business owners, who believe in themselves and believe in their product and actually get these investors to pitch in- they make it big. These are millionaires and billionaires now, who started from their garage.

Gary:  Right. That’s the universal appeal to it, is that you start from your garage and you make it up to this huge business.

Jessica:  It’s pretty impressive.

Gary:  I didn’t know that you enjoyed it so much.

Jessica:  I do.

 

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

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Jessica really likes watching “Shark Tank.” It’s a TV show that’s a great platform for small business owners and inventors to find help. If one of the “sharks” likes an idea or a product, they might choose to invest in it. Having a shark on your side can really help your business to become successful.

Gary didn’t know very much about the show, but he likes the idea and wants to watch it now. He thinks that the show is interesting because it’s about how an entrepreneur can begin really small and then become a big business.

Have you ever watched “Shark Tank”? Do you like the show?

 

Comments

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pentatonical

Argentina

I like this show, but I dont think it’s very realistic

03:46 PM Apr 23 2019 |

hassnaa_badr123

Egypt

 I haven’t watched the show before , but I loved the idea 

06:30 PM Apr 14 2019 |

seiyf_

seiyf_

Turkey

ohh sharks !!!! the biggest animals of seas and oceans,also relentless,scary and cold-blooded killers , at least we all know tlike this..


in Today,there are too much people who have “American dream” for having money in a short time..for having big business..with their interesting ideas..and these small,skinny inventor-entrepreneur fish needs to be under shark’s wings for making  their dreams true.


win-win game :) 

11:54 AM Mar 23 2019 |

1 person likes this

manish0007

manish0007

India

I am going to watch it right now….

12:30 AM Mar 22 2019 |

rahana

rahana

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Wow!


I liked that idea very much. I haven’t seen it yet but it seems to be exciting. I mean the “shark tank”.☺

04:01 PM Mar 26 2015 |

danielenglish

Chile

I think is a good programm where everyone can express their opinion about a topic or a big ideas. to be a entrepeneur is good because you can compite with others.

10:39 PM Mar 22 2015 |

englishteacher24/7

United States

The Shark Tank is one of my favorite TV shows because it allows a business the opportunity to succeed if a lack of money is holding them back.


However, you can also get your feelings hurt if your businress will not make the investor(s) money because it’s like being in a tank of sharks!

05:57 AM Mar 22 2015 |

meorazaghi

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I didnt watch this program or hear about it. but i believe this is a good way for find inventor and think more.

07:14 PM Mar 21 2015 |

ScienceBoy

ScienceBoy

Turkey

I’ve not seen this show. I’ll give it a try.

02:29 PM Mar 21 2015 |

selpie

selpie

Indonesia

I have not watch it, it’s really interesting concept i guess..n more interesting is that they call “shark” for the investors. so, the investor actually a shark? It can bite anytime

06:29 AM Mar 21 2015 |

Dellsey

Dellsey

Slovakia

not just a shark tank, any socializing event can get you out there. DOnt be shy if you think you idea is big. make it big! :)

elsagrcic

Uruguay

No, I didn’t , but I’d like see it .

01:14 AM Mar 21 2015 |

julito1

julito1

Argentina

If we are not familiar  with the show  we could ask why ” SHARK TANK”. I have googled the programme and this is what i came up with.


The sharks often find weaknesses and faults in an entrepreneur`s concept, product or business model.  Some of the investors try to soften the impact of rejection, like panel member Corcoran, while others such as O`Leary can be brutal and show no patience even for tales of hardships . 


I remember what a friend told me not long before. He had to attend a business meeting of several entrepreneurs and an investor.  ( My friend`s role was of a counselor) That investor was brutal and  without pity with the people.  At the end of the meeting and on the way out one of them asked him ” did you notice that that guy (the investor) had a glass eye ? no, i didn`t,my friend replied.  Well , the little humanity that man  has is  only in his glass eye.   jejejejej

La Princesse de la vie

Egypt

I haven’t watched the TV show, but, like Gary, I like the idea and want to give it a try.


I know something that maybe is the same as the whole idea of this TV show. It’s an international organization, called Enactus, and it helps the university students to be good entrepreneurs and it exists most of the universities around the world. It works through some sponsors investing in the ideas that students present. It’s a whole impressive matter. It has the spirit of competition also, and that makes it more enthusiastic among the students.

crazyshadow

Yemen

ummm, it’s not about the show. it’s about if people are intresting in watching as the past. because i stop watching TV but yeah it seems interesting :)

01:31 PM Mar 20 2015 |

habiba 18

habiba 18

Tunisia

i’ve never heard of it but it seems very interesting

12:17 PM Mar 20 2015 |

ran92m

Yemen

:(

11:36 AM Mar 20 2015 |

Erfan7

Erfan7

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I’m interested to know why they have named themselves “sharks” ?!! Do they really eat small businesses?!!

Shoba

Shoba

Sri Lanka



No, I haven’t watched it and didn’t know there was a show like this till today. 


From the sound of it, I too feel that it would be pretty thrilling to see how the small entrepreneurs or inventors play their cards right and get the sharks to invest in their ventures. 



07:39 AM Mar 20 2015 |

ruanfang

ruanfang

China

this is a benificial show for both the audience and the attendants.because it can inspire more young people to work on their dreams and is also a huge opportunity for the inventors or entreprenuers to gather lots of money…there should be also a show like this in China!

06:37 AM Mar 20 2015 |

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