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Circus
Circus

Learn English with this circus English lesson

Date: Feb 22 2019

Themes: Holidays

Grammar: There, Their & They're

Intro

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

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Although they can be hard to find now, once upon a time, circuses were the main event of the summer. Posters of tigers and clowns would tell a town about the arrival of the annual circus months before it arrived. As soon as the circus truck or train rolled in, children would come by to stare at the large tents going up. They couldn’t wait for their turn to buy tickets and see the show.

In the olden days, animals had a large role in the circus program. Lions, tigers, elephants, horses, and bears were all part of the show. The modern circus looks a little different, though. Today, humans do most of the entertaining. There are trapeze artists, clowns, and other performers who try to make the audience happy. The circus has adapted to fit the times, and it’s still an extravaganza!

Find out what Jeff is looking forward to this summer in this English lesson about live entertainment.

Dialog

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

Jeff

Jeff

Lily

Lily

Jeff:  You know how everybody can’t wait for summer for obvious reasons? I can’t wait for summer because every summer, I visit the circus.

Lily:  Really? They still have circuses?

Jeff:  Favorite part of summer. I mean, they’re a little different from the olden days. They’ve kind of adapted, still like three ring style circus.

Lily:  Like with animals and clowns and that sort of thing?

Jeff:  Yeah, a little bit. Not so much with the animals anymore because people aren’t into how they traditionally treated them.

Lily:  Yeah.

Jeff:  But it’s an extravaganza. Annual circus.

Lily:  So you go to the circus, to this arena, and you watch all of these amazing performers. Fill me in on what the modern parts of the circus are, then.

Jeff:  One I went to had guys and motorcycles in this cage doing loops and stuff.

Lily:  What? That’s awesome.

Jeff:  Yeah, it was pretty cool. I mean, it’s not quite the same as a Cirque du Soleil. That’s kind of the quintessential modern circus.

Lily:  Yeah.

Jeff:  I like the more traditional stuff: the trapeze artists, clowns, juggling, unicycles…

Lily:  You like clowns?

Jeff:  Oh, they’re great! They are great.

Lily:  Can I come with you to the circus this summer?

Jeff:  Sure thing.

Lily:  Awesome.

 

Grammar Point

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Discussion

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Jeff tells Lily he can’t wait for the summer. Instead of looking forward to an obvious activity, like swimming or playing outside, Jeff is totally excited for the annual circus. It’s an event he goes to every year, and he knows this year will be as good as ever.

Lily seems surprised that circuses still exist. For her, it’s a form of entertainment from the olden days. She asks Jeff to tell her about what makes the modern circus special.

Jeff agrees that things have changed. For example, there are not as many animals involved in circuses today. Instead, people have a bigger role. Jeff tells Lily that trapeze artists and clowns are common at the circus. He’s also seen other performances, such as motorcycles.

Lily’s sold on the circus and she asks Jeff if she can go with him this summer. She’s excited to see it for herself.

Does Jeff’s description of the circus seem exciting to you? Have you ever visited a circus? What was it like?

 

Comments

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olga_hq

olga_hq

Russian Federation

I’m not so exciting of the circus like Jeff, but I like it. Of cource I don’t mean animals. As every normal people I think that use animals to satisfy human needs through their pain is unacceptable. 


I was there about five years ago, and it was realy amazing. Most of all I like trapeze artists. It is so unbeliveble what can do people like we. So flexible and beautiful body, so lots of courage and fearlessness. When you see their perfomances and tricks, your heart stops. They are realy brave guys.

05:17 PM Feb 23 2019 |

1 person likes this

berlucchi

berlucchi

Italy

To use the animals into the circus for the amusemant of the peolpes is inhuman.


There are more actor clown trapezius ecc that can amazing the people.

03:19 PM Nov 05 2017 |

1 person likes this

Naghmeh_M

Naghmeh_M

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I sing animals in circus is inhuman because they must annoy them to teach them for example jump or dance so I prefer new circus

05:54 AM Jun 08 2015 |

1 person likes this

Naghmeh_M

Naghmeh_M

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I sing animals in circus is inhuman because they must annoy them to teach them for example jump or dance so I prefer new circus

05:54 AM Jun 08 2015 |

1 person likes this

bravevivian

Ecuador

This new concept of a circus seems exciting to me.  I’ve watched some videos about Cirque du Soleil and I think it’s awesome.


I’ve been to live shows with trapeze artists and high flying performers.  I loved them.  It’s just amazing.


About the animals, people don’t get into it.  It’s good we are changing our minds about it.  Let’s respect ourselves as well as other living beings.

04:21 PM Feb 24 2014 |

1 person likes this

ABHIJITAK

ABHIJITAK

India

During my childhood, circus was one of the exciting thing to watch. I liked it.I enjoyed it very much. We  siblings usually  go to watch it along with our parents. I wanted to know how animals can perform stunts..Also I liked to watch Elephants , Monkeys , Lions/tigers ..


Now I wanted to show my child ,  circus. Till today he has not seen it ..


06:27 AM Feb 19 2014 |

1 person likes this

ola33

ola33

Japan

I like also figure skating.



 

11:55 PM Feb 17 2014 |

ola33

ola33

Japan

Ryo, you want to say the woman upside down is a male?

10:37 PM Feb 17 2014 |

1 person likes this

ttsuka

ttsuka

Japan

When I was a kid, there was a TV show called The Wonderful World Circuses, or something like that. It showed top circus performances from around the world. The most exciting was the swing up in the air, performers jumping from one swing to another doing all tricks airborne.  They tended to be brothers and sisters. Parents were also involved, so it was like a family business. There was something poignant about circus though – a sentiment I don’t feel when I watch, say, Olympic gymnastics or diving (but the snowboard, a little bit similar to me).   

10:15 PM Feb 17 2014 |

habiba 18

habiba 18

Tunisia

watching a circus on tv may look a bit silly for some people but when u actually attend it it’s so much fun 

07:20 PM Feb 17 2014 |

jef_maiko

jef_maiko

Brazil

Yes, I’ve already viseted a circus. It was awesome. I intend to visit again with my son. I think he will enjoy a lot. I can’t wait to go…...

04:02 PM Feb 17 2014 |

ola33

ola33

Japan

I love circus. Especially the Cirque du soleil where there’s not just artists perfoming their stunts but there’s a program, a plot and it’s really keeps your awake as it has got an atmosphere of something beautiful, amazing and mysterious. The clowns in Cirque du soleil made me so laugh that I neally fell of the chair. Definitely, it’s different from the regular circus that we used to go. Cirque du soleil is admired and loved by many, and in great demand and no wonder, the tickets for the show are not that cheap. The music of their program is so awesome that even downloaded on my mp3 and listen from time to time. 


BTW,  the Russian Olympics ceremony, reminded me the plot of one of the du soleil show, where a little girl was walking around and representing her country. The opening ceremony was the best ever I’ve seen! Like the du coleil perfomance that is done on a highly professional level.

02:01 PM Feb 17 2014 |

Jobee

Jobee

China

I am looking forward to seeing a circus.you know,it’s hard to find circus in China.I have seen the puppet show in primary school.I still remember the happiness I had in the good old days. so I could picture the extraganza in the summer—circus.


01:50 PM Feb 17 2014 |

1 person likes this

S&W

S&W

China

I was excited to watch circus shows.Watching those adorable monkeys make funny movements can make me laugh.But,lately someone post one piece of video online about one stuff in circus torture Siberian tiger.He just riding on the back of the tiger and hit it strongly with whip.Can’t believe those fierce animals looks very gental during a show were suffered with terrible treat in usual.

10:36 AM Feb 17 2014 |

ahmet55

ahmet55

Germany

As long as these activities are somehow due to entertainments it sounds pretty cool. Showing up in the special arena with many professional performers would be quite exciting. BTW, I’ve never settled down at these fully happiness events, unfortunately. However I incline to take part in it someday if i achieve its opportunity.


In fact I’ll be perfectly pleasant to watch astonished juggling along with magical shows and things like this. I suppose it’s thoroughly worth watching. BCZ I think coming over audiences who clapping through out the show would be wonderful. Crazy behavior by clown makes viewers laugh loudly as well as other outstanding presentations that displays their perilous actions which seem wonderful. 

07:47 AM Feb 17 2014 |

AryelLanes

AryelLanes

Brazil

I don’t like circuses that much… I prefer a good theater! The animals really do a great presentation, but just because they’re afraid to be kicked around as they’ve always been.


I don’t think that this is a good point. They should be ashamed of themselves… Is it worth it to mistreat a living being just for money and amusement? Come on! We’re not in the age of stones anymore… 

04:34 PM Feb 14 2014 |

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