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.
Tété is a one-man melting pot. He’s a French guy, born in Senegal to Caribbean parents, who plays music inspired by American folk and blues. Tété mostly sings in French and his songs are mysterious and fun, like music you might hear at a circus in the South.
In France, Tété is a famous, platinum-selling artist. When he tours the US, he plays in smaller clubs. This fall, he took a break from fame and came to Portland, Oregon, to record his new album with a recording staff who has worked with artists like Sheryl Crow, R.E.M. and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah in the studio.
Ebaby! paid Tété a visit while he was working on some tracks to talk about the word “take.” Did you know that in addition to being a verb that means get, steal or catch, “take” is also a noun? Find out how to use “take” as a noun and see what Tété’s take on America is.
3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.
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.
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Jason: Welcome to English, baby! We are here in the recording studio with French recording artist Tété. How are you?
Jason: Great, man. So, uh, what brings you to the United States?
Jason: This is gonna be your fourth album. What’s it gonna sound like? You’re kind of a blues, folk guy. Do you have any tricks up your sleeve for this next record?
Jason: Very cool, man. So we’re gonna do an English lesson today. And right when I walked in, they said, “You gotta wait a minute because Tété is doing takes right now.” Can you tell us what a take is in the recording studio?
Jason: You know, “take” as a noun is also, when you’re talking about slang, can be, like, an opinion. So I just wanted to ask, like, what’s your take on life in the US?
Jason: Yeah.
Jason: So your take on it is that it lives up to your expectations, I guess.
Jason: That’s great, man. And my take on your music is that it’s really inspirational, so I think we’re really lucky to have you in the United States right now. So, thanks a lot. Can I get you to give me a high-five and say, “English, baby!”?
Jason: English, baby!
Grammar Point
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Discussion
When Jason arrived at the studio to interview Tété, he was told that Tété was busy “doing takes.” He was being recorded singing and each try at the song is called a take.
Once Jason starts talking to Tété, he discovers that the French singer really looks up to American musicians, since they invented blues. It has been a dream of his to come record in America and now he is doing it!
Since Tété has thought a lot about America, Jason asks him for his take on it now that he’s here. Your take on something is your opinion of it. Tété’s take on America is that it’s great. What’s your take on Tété and his music?
Visit Tété’s website, and to see one of his music videos and read a review of his concert in Portland, visit our blog.
Comments
France |
Taiwan |
China |
United Arab Emirates |
United States |
South Korea |
Mongolia |
Mongolia |
Albania |
Brazil |
El Salvador |
Sri Lanka |
China |
Ukraine |
Taiwan |
Colombia |
Japan |
Philippines |
Mexico |
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