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Olympic Torch

Date: Jan 29 2002

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.

It is a real treat to have the Olympics hosted in your country. One of the good things about it is having the torch relay.
The Winter Olympics will be held in Salt Lake City this year. The torch will travel from Atlanta, the site of the last Olympics in the U.S., through 46 of the 50 American states.
The other night it came through Portland, our city. Migs and I went to see it, and you can listen to Migs tell Tanis about it below. Have fun!

Dialog

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

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

Tanis

Miguel

Tanis: Miguel, I want to carry the Olympic flame!

Miguel: Tanis, you’re not famous enough.

Tanis: You don’t have to be famous, you just have to be inspirational.

Miguel: I went to see the torch being carried a couple of nights ago and I didn’t recognize any of the people that were carrying it.

Tanis: Yeah, I think only the famous people are the ones that carry it into the actual Olympic stadium.

Miguel: So, what are the qualifications?

Tanis: I think the only qualifications were that you had to inspire somebody. But who cares about that, tell me what it was like to see the torch!

Miguel: Well, to be honest, it wasn’t quite as exciting as I expected, but, it was really neat to think that that flame has been carried, you know, all the way from Greece. And it also seemed like all the people who were there to watch were really in a good mood. They were really fired up about, you know, the whole Olympic spirit and everything.

Tanis: Oh really? Were there lots of people there and stuff?

Miguel: Yeah, the streets were packed and people had American flags and Olympic flags and they were all cheering when the guy ran by and everything. And everyone seemed really jazzed, you know. They’re getting excited to see the Olympics.

Tanis: We’ll I’m excited to see the Olympics. I love the skiing and the figure skating.

Miguel: Right on.

Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

The Olympics are a very special and unique event. What other time do most of the world’s countries come together in peace? We are proud to be hosting this occasion here in the U.S.
Tanis’ favorite part of the Olympics is the skiing and figure skating. Mine is the luge and ski jump. What’s yours? Please come to the Life Goes On message board and share your opinion!
Your American friend,
John