Alvin and the Chipmunks

Intro

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

• I could have sworn
• grew up on
• hot air balloon
• swear

• helium
• high pitched
• cartoon
• inexplicable

• nerdy
• set straight

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

One easy way to make a kid laugh is to breathe the air helium balloon and talk. Your voice will be high pitched and funny.

Another way to produce the same effect is by speeding up a recording. Since the 1950s, Alvin and the Chipmunks have been a favorite for children. They are a cartoon band in which the vocals are sped up to make it sound like little chipmunks are singing.

The Chipmunks recently starred in a new movie with their inexplicably human father. Each of the three Chipmunks is easy to identify based on physical appearance and t-shirt color, but Jason can’t seem to keep track of who’s who. Listen to Devan set him straight.

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.

Jason

Devan

Jason:  Wait so which one is the fat one?

Devan:  Theodore.

Jason:  Theodore’s the fat…

Devan:  Yeah.

Jason:  ...chipmunk?

Devan:  Yes.

Jason:  Are you sure?

Devan:  Yeah! Simon’s the one with the glasses and Alvin’s the leader that wears red.

Jason:  They didn’t change it for the new movie that came out like six months ago?

Devan:  Nope.

Jason:  Oh.

Devan:  The only difference is…well, no there is no difference.

Jason:  I could have sworn it was Simon!

Devan:  And then Jason Lee plays their dad. What’s their dad’s name?

Jason:  Oh I don’t know. But Jason Lee’s in it? That’s great.

Devan:  Yeah, so have you seen it?

Jason:  No. I kinda want to. I mean, if I had children I would definitely take them to see it because I feel like I definitely grew up on Alvin and the Chipmunks. Did you?

Devan:  I did. I used to watch the movie all the time where they fly around the world in hot air balloons.

Jason:  I think about them every time I hear audio sped up.

Devan:  Yeah.

Jason:  Do you?

Devan:  Yeah.

Jason:  Is that how they do their voices or is that just what it sounds like?

Devan:  I think so. I don’t know. That or somebody’s sucking on helium balloons.

Jason:  The dad’s name is Tom! I just remembered.

Devan:  No, it’s not Tom.

Jason:  John!

Devan:  Dave. His name’s Dave.

Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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