Learn Renegade English in This Lesson About 'Above the Law'

Intro

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

Go Super to Listen

• above the law
• detective
• high-tension
• take a risk

• mellow
• nickname
• get behind
• behave

• incredible
• renegade

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

Go Super to Listen

Most people follow the rules most of the time. After all, the world would be crazy if we didn’t! However, what if you are running late for an important meeting? Do you follow the speed limit exactly, or do you go a little faster than you’re supposed to? If you are alone at a crosswalk and the street is empty, do you wait for the sign to walk, or do you just cross the street when you feel like it? And, be honest… if you really want to see an episode of your favorite TV show, do you pay to stream it online, or do you find a slightly-less-legal website and watch it for free?

Sometimes, it can be easier to bend or break the rules a little. But be careful! If you do it too much, you might start to think that you’re above the law. We use the expression above the law to talk about someone who does whatever they want. They do not care about what is legal. They might not even care about getting caught or punished. People who live above the law take a lot of risks and break a lot of rules.

It can be dangerous to act above the law… unless you are the law! Watch the video to find out what happens next in Andy’s 1970s police drama dream.

3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

Log in to Listen

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

Kelsey

Andy_H

Jordin

Sheila

Kelsey:  And Andy’s dream continues. The two detectives sit in the front of Andy’s car, waiting….

Andy_H:  Were you followed?

Jordin:  Of course not. I’m undercover.

Sheila:  Oh! Hey, Jordin. How’s it going?

Jordin:  I’m bored. Nothing is happening.

Sheila:  That’s for sure.

Andy_H:  This isn’t boring. This is a high-tension crime drama. You never know when we’re going to need to take a risk and act above the law.

Jordin:  I don’t know about the high tension part. I mean, it’s pretty mellow if you ask me. We should at least have cool nicknames if we’re in a crime drama.

Kelsey:  That’s a good idea. I like the idea of nicknames.

Sheila:  I can get behind that. I want mine to be Sparkle Fairy…

Andy_H:  Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! You can’t give yourself a nickname. That’s not how it works.

Kelsey:  Why not? I have a few I like.

Andy_H:  Because other people give you nicknames because of what you do or the way you behave. Like Kelsey, for example, is our narrator, so she talks a lot, so her nickname is… Talkie!

Sheila:  Talkie? Really?

Jordin:  That’s a terrible nickname.

Andy_H:  OK, OK. It was just an example.

Kelsey:  How about Kelsey the Incredible?

Jordin:  That’s a good one.

Sheila:  What’s Andy’s nickname?

Andy_H:  Renegade.

Sheila:  Aw, that’s cute.

Jordin:  I thought you weren’t allowed to give yourself a nickname.

Andy_H:  I didn’t. In my dreams, I’m always named Renegade because I play by my own rules. I’m a detective who thinks he’s above the law.

Kelsey:  Where’s Dominique? What’s her nickname?

Andy_H:  Well, she’s the police captain, so her nickname is just Captain. Which brings me to the next part of the dream….

 

Grammar Point

Go Super to learn "Reflexive Pronouns" from this lesson

Quizzes

Go Super to take Quiz

 

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3