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Forbidden Espresso

Forbidden Espresso English, baby! Video Lesson

Date: Jun 05 2007

Themes: News

Intro

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

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

How far is the nearest Starbucks from where you live? Two blocks? Three? Starbucks are everywhere. There is hardly a city on Earth that hasn’t been affected by globalization. Even the Forbidden City, a 600 year old palace and set of buildings in Bejing, China, is now home a Starbucks. A lot of people think that stores like Starbkucks shouldn’t be allowed to open in beautiful, historic places. Kevin is among them.

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.

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

Kevin

Kevin

Amanda

Amanda

Kevin:  I was listening to NPR yesterday and there was quite a long report about this Starbucks that’s in the Forbidden City…

Amanda:  Yup, Bejing.

Kevin:  Which some people are really adamantly against and other people are like, “Oh it’s no big deal.” What do you think about that?

Amanda:  It’s interesting because it kind of parallels...My friend just went down to Texas. She wants to move from Portland to Texas because in their churches they have Starbucks. The way that she sees it is it’s not really compromising the integrity of a place of worship as much as it is keeping with the times because everyone’s all about convenience and retail.

Kevin:  Fair enough. But don’t you think that there have to be some places…

Amanda:  That are sacred?

Kevin:  Yeah, I mean…if you put a Pizza Hut there…

Amanda:  I do, but how do you…how and where do you draw the line, I suppose?

Kevin:  Well and I guess to me it comes down to demand. If people don’t want to support the business, then people need to stop going, and then the business won’t be a success. But I hear people complain, “Oh I don’t like this. I don’t like that. I don’t like McDonalds. I don’t like Starbucks.” yet when it’s the closest thing to their home or to their house they’ll walk there instead of walking another two blocks to a local coffee shop for example.

Amanda:  Absolutely. So they feel one way but their actions say another.

Kevin:  But I personally have a problem with there being a Starbucks in the Forbidden City.

Amanda:  So what do you think, do you think that particular shop will shut down after all this settles?

Kevin:  I think it probably will.

Amanda:  OK. We’ll see.

Kevin:  Wanna bet on it?

Amanda:  I’ll bet you a latte.

Kevin:  Alright.

Amanda:  Okay.

 

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Discussion

Kevin was listening to a radio station called NPR (National Public Radio) when he heard a program about the Starbucks in the Forbidden City. Amanda is reminded of a friend of hers who might move to Texas because they have Starbucks in churches there. She doesn’t think it’s wrong, just keeping up with the times.

Kevin says that if people don’t want a certain business somewhere, they shouldn’t go to that business. He says that a lot of people say they don’t like Starbucks or McDonalds, but when it’s nearest thing, they go there.

Kevin doesn’t think it’s right to have a Starbucks in the Forbidden City. He thinks it will close soon. He and Amanda bet (what else?) a latte on it.

Have you ever been someplace old and beautiful and found a Starbucks or McDonalds there? Were you glad it was there or did you wish it wasn’t?

 

Comments

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DAR

DAR

Taiwan

Well…I don`t know. business can promote the habit/idea.but a mass of business can….

sometime the conclusion is the same but structure is different. maybe, ther are not ready

12:45 PM Jun 07 2007 |

natalja

natalja

Russian Federation

Will it make you glad to see McDonald in Kremlin?Cry

11:27 AM Jun 07 2007 |

kekelele

China

hello,evreyone, i come from baise ,china.

02:18 AM Jun 07 2007 |

kekelele

China

hello,evreyone, i come from baise ,china.

02:18 AM Jun 07 2007 |

natalja

natalja

Russian Federation

When we are traveling we look for national peculiarities, not for total things, so I would not  want to see Starbuck or McDonalds in Forbidden City and in other sacred national places

03:14 PM Jun 06 2007 |

ishrat_79@yahoo.com

Bangladesh

we don’t have any starbucks in dhaka, Bangladesh. how can u say “Starbucks are everywhere”. we don’t even have a McDonalds here.

10:49 AM Jun 06 2007 |

ishrat_79@yahoo.com

Bangladesh

we don’t have any starbucks in dhaka, Bangladesh. how can u say “Starbucks are everywhere”. we don’t even have a McDonalds here.

10:48 AM Jun 06 2007 |

hady

hady

Russian Federation

exactly, we’ve got Macdo over here in Moscow just next to the Kremlin. weird thing.

06:51 AM Jun 06 2007 |

DAR

DAR

Taiwan

All right,I remember this is an old news but I did not pay attention to it.but the question is that place,not the starbucks.some reasons are derivative.

07:03 PM Jun 05 2007 |

tnas

tnas

Brazil

I never heard about this expression, but with the explanations from the folks I suppose that this term can be applied for some kinds of shops or stores  from here in Brazil (more or less).

05:22 PM Jun 05 2007 |

tnas

tnas

Brazil

In Brazil there are very, very starbucks. That's cool!!

04:39 PM Jun 05 2007 |

klarinetka

Czech Republic

you are sooo lucky…Tongue out

04:30 PM Jun 05 2007 |

Josh K

Josh K

Guatemala

In my country where starbucks buys the seed of coffee.

04:26 PM Jun 05 2007 |

Jaja16

Jaja16

Slovakia

I dont know make my mind about it:-(

04:07 PM Jun 05 2007 |

DAR

DAR

Taiwan

I know it`s painful,I wish I can smoke opium at starbucks.

12:24 PM Jun 05 2007 |

jens_

jens_

Germany

fortunately we have starbucks in germany – when i visit a starbucks where i live, it´s nearly the same like on vacation in fort myers, fl  – only the ocean is missing Cool

11:10 AM Jun 05 2007 |

klarinetka

Czech Republic

back in egland i used to love Starbucks, but I am from the Czech Republic and there is none. Its really unfair…Yell

10:39 AM Jun 05 2007 |

laoer413828

China

i do not like coffee,i like tea.

10:26 AM Jun 05 2007 |

DAR

DAR

Taiwan

All right I knowKiss

 

08:54 AM Jun 05 2007 |

carolgyfl

carolgyfl

China

please read text book regarding China history if possible

08:43 AM Jun 05 2007 |

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