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Temper Tantrum

Temper Tantrum

Date: Jan 12 2007

Intro

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

If you’ve ever seen the American sit-com Seinfeld, then you know Cosmo Kramer, Jerry’s crazy neighbor. Since the TV show ended, Michael Richards, the actor who played Kramer, has continued his career as a comedian.

But a couple of months ago, Richards got angry with a man in the audience. The man was black, and Richards started into a tirade using some very offensive racist terms. Many of the black people in the audience were so upset they left the club. Someone at the club filmed the incident and it ended up on You Tube and elsewhere.

Richards has apologized for the incident, but concerns remain. Listen to Mason and Amanda express their feelings about what happened.

Dialog

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

Mason

Mason

Amanda

Amanda

Mason:  Did you catch the Michael Richards thing? Like, it’s been a few weeks…

Amanda:  I did. I did. Kinda gives me a stomachache to think about what he did.

Mason:  It’s just awkward. I don’t think I’ve seen anything that uncomfortable in, in a while.

Amanda:  Well, since the whole Mel Gibson thing, right?

Mason:  This is worse.

Amanda:  It hasn’t been that long.

Mason:  This is worse by a lot though.

Amanda:  It is worse. It is worse.

Mason:  I mean, the guy just flipped, you know? I mean, I don’t know if he’s really racist and it just came out or…

Amanda:  The crazy thing is how he’s backpedaling on all the late night shows saying he’s not racist.

Mason:  Mm-hmm.

Amanda:  He doesn’t even know where those thoughts came from.

Mason:  Yeah.

Amanda:  And he had an out-of-body experience. Come on!

Mason:  I haven’t heard that one yet. I… to me, I mean, listen, I think his actions are somewhat unforgivable. He’s probably kinda done.

Amanda:  Right.

Mason:  But I think it opens up an interesting conversation about racial terms that are kind of forboden. It’s, like, because, the, the… you know, what are some that are acceptable things that you hear?

Amanda:  I’m scared to say them, Mason.

 

Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

Both Amanda and Mason agree that Michael Richards’ behavior was shocking and appalling. They feel very uncomfortable about what he said. They wonder where the anger came from and how he can claim he’s not a racist.

Have you ever seen someone yell racist remarks at someone?

How did it make you feel?

 

Comments

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magnum357

Philippines

this issue is a nine day's wonder, people will forget this eventually.

05:21 PM Apr 28 2009 |

yana011

yana011

Philippines

i hate racist! its someone that see people down. I like this conversation..ts superb!!!

12:31 PM Nov 20 2007 |

liza13

liza13

Syrian Arab Republic

v

02:35 PM Jan 14 2007 |

diazbarreiro

Mexico

Against racism too

07:07 AM Jan 14 2007 |

Nida786

Nida786

Pakistan

Super!

06:53 AM Jan 13 2007 |

waleedmahmoud

Egypt

exceptional

06:46 AM Jan 13 2007 |

Everwelwisher

Pakistan

Excellent!!!
New Vocabulary

05:46 AM Jan 13 2007 |

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