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Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson

Date: Jan 12 2009

Themes: News

Grammar: Verbs with "-ing"

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.

Everyone’s life has its ups and downs, but most people don’t see their greatest dreams and worst nightmares come true at the same time. That’s what happened to Jennifer Hudson, who first stepped into the spotlight as a contestant on the TV show American Idol. Even though she didn’t win, her performance on the show helped her get a role in the 2006 musical Dreamgirls, in which she sang and acted alongside Beyonce Knowles. She did such a good job in that film that she won an Academy Award, the highest honor an American actor can receive, and became a superstar overnight.

Then, in October 2008, Jennifer’s mother, brother, and seven-year-old nephew were all murdered. Soon afterward, her brother-in-law was charged with the killings. Now, Jennifer’s debut album, which came out just a few weeks before the shootings, is nominated for multiple Grammy awards, including Best R&B Album.

Devan and Amanda were both shocked to hear about what happened to Jennifer’s family. Listen to them wonder what it would be like to be nominated for Grammys so soon after losing your family.

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.

Devan

Devan

Amanda

Amanda

Devan:  Jennifer Hudson just got nominated for five Grammys. This must be somewhat bittersweet, to get the happy news in the midst of all the sad news she’s had lately.

Amanda:  Yeah. She so needs that. I just can’t believe it. With the triple homicide, she pretty much had all the closest people in her family taken away from her.

Devan:  It’s so sad, what happened to her family. But then at the same time, it’s like, “Here comes the Grammys!” She’s nominated for five Grammys. She very well might win some of them, which should be like one of the happiest days of her life, besides winning the Oscar that she won for Dreamgirls.

Amanda:  Yeah. She’s really blowing up because she’s so multi-talented. I mean, she was a finalist on American Idol. Most finalists just kind of disappear. They crank out their album and then you never hear from them again, and here she has a supporting role in…what was it called, with Beyonce?

Devan:  Dreamgirls.

Amanda:  Yeah! And she overshadowed Beyonce Knowles, which was ridiculous. Both with the singing and with the acting. It was almost like she had this huge blessing and then it was taken away from her in her personal life.

Devan:  Yeah.

Amanda:  It was almost too much to process, and swallow.

Devan:  It’s just such a shame. That’s such a horrible tragedy, also, to overshadow all of her accomplishments.

Amanda:  It makes you wonder how she can actually focus on her career right now.

Devan:  Yeah.

Amanda:  But on the flip-side, it’s probably what keeps her going.

Devan:  Definitely. At least she has stuff going for her, and she has the music career to continue embracing and look forward to. I certainly hope she wins some of those Grammys, ‘cause I think she deserves it.

Amanda:  She certainly does.

 

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Discussion

Devan tells Amanda that Jennifer Hudson was just nominated for several Grammy awards. They agree that she must have really mixed feelings right now. Even though it’s always been her dream to release an album and be nominated for a Grammy, her personal life has been full of tragedy.

Amanda is impressed by how multi-talented Jennifer Hudson is. She not only sings, but also acts. Most performers who get their start on American Idol don’t achieve lasting success, but Hudson really made it. Devan hopes that her work is a source of comfort. But Amanda wonders if she can pay attention to her career while dealing with such an intense personal crisis.

Do you think Hudson’ssuccess will help her cope with her loss? Have you ever lost someone who was close with you? How did you deal with it?

 

Comments

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NIJ321655

NIJ321655

United States

Hi I think you cool

02:49 PM Apr 20 2015 |

hooshmand

hooshmand

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

If i had been instead of her , I coudn't have withstood that disaster . But power of forgeting is a god's blessing in such a situation.

02:52 PM Jan 18 2009 |

sadegh.ghasemi

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

The life is brutal , I am so sorry for Jennifer and her family . I wish we had n't been witness for crimes that happening around the world .

07:30 PM Jan 16 2009 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

It seems that Jennifer Hudson has been strong to bear the losses in her family,but certainly she will be compensated with good things after that sad stage through your hard work :)

07:21 PM Jan 15 2009 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

Thanks for God I not yet to lost anyone of my family or friends…If it happens I undestand that we have to touch our lifes in front!

07:12 PM Jan 15 2009 |

kukuka

kukuka

Ukraine

no comment

01:58 PM Jan 15 2009 |

ola3

ola3Super Member!

Ukraine

I think Jennifer's success will at least distract her attention from depression and grief. Wish her to get over it.

04:10 AM Jan 15 2009 |

lukeyy

lukeyy

China

Life is just like a show, in which everybody acts as a little charater. But some are so lucky to get a good role, some are unlucky to get a bad role. In this big show, some get much and achieve a lot, while some get nothing, even some lose much.

10:47 AM Jan 13 2009 |

Trilogy

Canada

Was she acting a supporting role in the movie of “Sex and the City’? Her voice is fair-sounding!

01:50 AM Jan 13 2009 |

tazz23

tazz23

United Arab Emirates

wonder what they did for murder?

07:03 PM Jan 12 2009 |

Lesena-ufa

Lesena-ufa

Russian Federation

I read this article and was upset such  misfortune.

I wish her happiness in her future life.

I am ashamed that I didn't  hear her songs before,

but  now I'll do it surely

 

 

 

 

06:52 PM Jan 12 2009 |

camdek

Uganda

This thing has happened to many people and not only her.So let her not break up because of this.There are still many wonders waiting for her to bring new things and come out of sadness.

05:24 PM Jan 12 2009 |

camdek

Uganda

I think she should not stop there with her life.B

05:21 PM Jan 12 2009 |

silenceylj

silenceylj

China

so poor….she must be very sad right now….

02:15 PM Jan 12 2009 |

N1col@y

N1col@y

Russian Federation

I think her life show that we must pay for everything that happen in our live. Nothing give us freebie

12:18 PM Jan 12 2009 |

Jenny58

Jenny58

Ukraine

that is what life is.

07:37 AM Jan 12 2009 |

Amandeep Singh

India

I sympathize with her. Well this what life is…....we have to accept it as it comes like. Winning Grammy Awards is an achievement for her but without loved ones its difficult to celebrate. The award can be the tribute to the souls she loved the most but left her her in grief.  

06:27 AM Jan 12 2009 |

weiniland

weiniland

China

If i were Hudson,the happiness of getting nominated for Grammy may proberbly be overshadowed by the grief of family crisis.After getting through it all,the happiness starts to show off.

05:42 AM Jan 12 2009 |

lanekey

lanekey

China

AMEN.I sympathize with her in her bereavement.

05:37 AM Jan 12 2009 |

chens027

chens027

China

it's so tragic news for her ,

 life is dramatic,  hope she could face it and be out of dejection,make a better life  ,it's the only thi she can do for the dead people

05:08 AM Jan 12 2009 |

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