English, baby!

And Then There Were Two

Date: Jul 04 2008

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.

Earlier this month, Barack Obama defeated Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary. He will face off against John McCain, the Republican nominee, in November for the presidency.

This years Democratic primary was one of the most hotly contested primaries in history. Clinton and Obama were evenly matched, each with millions of supporters.

Of course, as we’ve mentioned before, our users generally favored Obama, so this is good news for many of you! Marni and Mason think it’s good news as well.

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.

Marni

Mason

Marni: I’m so excited! I feel hopeful for the first time.

Mason: It’s pretty crazy, right? I mean, when you look back at it, who’da thunk? So what do you think of it? From my standpoint, his amazing success is kind of tied to how well he tapped into youth and using social media and just different channels to get his message out.

Marni: Absolutely. I think that’s a huge part of his success, a testament to his insight about where he wants to take this country. It’s like McCain represents the old…

Mason: Do you put Hillary in that old-school camp? Was that part of her downfall?

Marni: Partly, actually, yeah. She is older and she’s been more of a career politician and I think that that’s what I admire so much about Obama was how positive he was and he kept coming back to the real issues and what this country is about and we need to heal. She was just like…

Mason: Yeah, you know a weird…it’s not really a PC insight, but the fact that she…being a woman…we’re so used to the political grandstanding from the male perspective. This very yelling, kind of angry, warlike general speeching and she tried to do that and it doesn’t work.

Marni: It didn’t work for her.

Mason: I don’t know if she could have found a more innovative way or if the public would have embraced it if she did.

Marni: It wasn’t genuine. Obama, I think, truly speaks from the heart and it’s obvious and it’s effective and it’s moving.

Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

Marni is excited and hopeful now that Obama has won the nomination. She likes his style of campaigning. He focuses on issues like war and healthcare rather attacking his opponents or worrying about dumb stuff like who’s wearing a flag pin and who isn’t.

Mason thinks that Obama made good use social media like English, baby! and Marni thinks that his openness to new technology shows he’s a good leader.

When it comes to her style of speaking and campaigning, Mason thinks Clinton is more like McCain. She uses a more classic approach involving lots of yelling. Mason thinks this approach didn’t suit her, in part because she’s a woman.

Are you glad Obama won the nomination? Do you think he can defeat McCain in November? Why do you think Clinton lost the primary?

Comments

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kimnga

Viet Nam

I am happy that Obama is the President of the United States.

Adriana15

Mexico

I think that if Obama win the presidency nothing will change.

wujuan223

China

i don't care who won the election,but i only care the relation of china and american.

in the world ,many people have to face inflation and war,life is the lead.

peaceboy

Somalia

money is the bset thing in the life money it's evry thing

victor25

Moldova, Republic Of

Definitely Obama is a better candidate. Republicans showed just an aggressive American policy which had shaken the world.

dt.mucu

Turkey

i think obama ii win the election.He spend lots of money(his own money i know he didnt take money from government.).İ think he engrave to be president of amarica

sharp_muslim

Egypt

thanx but, why Obam !!!

jeongminjeon

South Korea

Ebaby on Obama’s side.

Christoph07

Germany

The reason of Obama's success is simple: he had the better campaign. The voters want a radical change in politic of her president and he gave the democrates most of hope. Congratulation for Obama.

Now the second run is much more difficulty – because I am not sure that he can mobilizing his voters in economicaly harder times. Mostly the Republicans are winning in this situations.

By the way – I read a statistic today: 72% of Germans prefer B. Obama.

dearpesar

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

good

iris20512

Taiwan

different types of way to deliever a speech could really change the attitude of the audience

SÉRGIO

Brazil

I don’t think it will change something!

SÉRGIO

Brazil

I think it doesn't matter who will be the president of one country now a days, everything is in of interest of several businessman that dictate the rules of the "game". I think the president is just a figure!

vakala

Congo, Democratic Republic Of The

Hello !

Thank you for your stopped mails on different subjet especially this last one.

This is fantastic, but I did have access to the audio file that's why I'd like to suggest if you can send me it via my mail box for a better understanding.

Best Regards !!!

evaristo melendez

Mexico

I THINK OBAMA IS THE BEST CANDIDATE.

sweetmarins

Nigeria

the two guys are pretty great, bt the best candidate will win.

Dekler

Kazakhstan

somebody…but not BUSH..

rameez

Pakistan

In my opinion OBAMA is better instead of others. because obama's thinking is to grow and no fight in the world, rather than others are trying to being keeping US no 1. and for that they can do wht ever they need to do.. There are very much lower chance to have one more world war if Obama is gonna be President. Its my opinion. Thanks