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The X-Files: I Want to Believe

Date: Nov 19 2008

Themes: Alternative, Pop Culture

Grammar: Gerunds vs. Infinitives

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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.

According to a recent poll, 24% of Americans believe that aliens have visited Earth. Some of those people may have been influenced by The X Files, a hit science fiction TV show in which FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully investigate mysterious, unsolved cases. Through the 1990s, Mulder and Scully shined their flashlights on all things paranormal, from UFO sightings to bizarre monsters, and tried to uncover government conspiracies.

Now, after five years off the air, The X Files is back with a feature film called I Want to Believe. Fans of the TV show want to believe that the movie will be as good as the show. But will they be disappointed? Listen to what Marni and Mason think.

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 was a huge X Files fan.

Mason: Back in the day, right?

Marni: Yeah, but like, you know, shockingly, they just came out with a new movie. But it was very under the radar. Like, nobody really knew it was coming out.

Mason: What? Everybody knew it was coming out. It was like, “Oh man, The X Files are back.” But everyone was worried, myself included, and I think justifiably so.

Marni: Well, my point is that in the information age we’re in, you know, nobody knew the plot or anything. The plot being, Mulder is actually wanted.

Mason: Yeah, the thing is, The X Files kinda lost touch with me when they really…They didn’t really like hold on to that paranormal aspect. The spooky, like, “The Truth Is Out There.” Um, they started getting into the romance sort of thing…And like these really big conspiracies as opposed to just that simple, “Government’s hiding stuff, there’s aliens…”

Marni: Right. But I think it’s interesting that Mulder, you know, was like a great FBI agent and now he’s like on the lam.

Mason: Why did he…Why did he ever leave the show in the first place? I stopped watching before that happened.

Marni: I agree…I kinda stopped watching too.

Mason: Yeah. Yeah, it was like end of third season, they’re like, “Oh wow, there’s aliens now.” And it was like, man, that was the whole point of the show, maybe there’s aliens.

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

Marni used to love watching The X Files TV show and is surprised to hear a new X-Files movie just came out. In the new movie, Mulder, who used to be an FBI agent, is now a wanted man.

Mason used to like The X Files too, but he stopped watching the series after the stories started to get too complicated and the romance between Mulder and Scully became a bigger part of the show. He liked it better when the show was just about chasing extraterrestrials and monsters, and the government conspiracies were easier to understand.

Do you believe in aliens and other paranormal beings like ghosts or monsters? Do you think people in the government would try to keep it a secret if they knew that aliens were real?

Comments

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alez1986

China

don't believe.

kaira_harry

Yemen

weiniland

China

I haven't watched this TV show.As a matter of fact,I am not fond of scientific featuring TV shows or movies that much

In my opion,TV series are usually wonderful in the 1-2 seasons.If continue,the series always get boring,complexing and straying from the initiate point.

As for rearanging into a movie,I think,it's just a way provided for its fans to regain the once happiness.

susan1964

China

I believe there are aliens on the planet.They are maybe more developed.Perhaps one day we'll all live together.

metal21

Nicaragua

I never saw the tv serie and the two movies either, but I think Aliens and ghosts exist. In my case, I prefer real video shoots of ghosts, these kind of home videos make me feel scared in deed.

shiva1981

Poland

I have watched this movie and I have to say that in some way it disappointed me but the idea of it was quite good, but to be honest with U I don't believe in staff that they showed there, but I won't spoil anyone it with saying what I mean, but after that film I've read in magazine an article talking about the same things that were showed in X Files Movie – people like crazy scientists have mad ideas and sometimes they try to bring them to life…

For me TV Series were more interesting cause every single part of it was short and if producers want to bring it on a huge screen sometimes and in many times it does not work in the same way.