Oprah

Intro

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

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• mogul
• icon
• stamp
• fanatic

• African-American
• single mother
• pull oneself up by one's bootstraps
• tycoon

• trendsetter
• on air

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

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Thirty years ago, nobody would have predicted that an African-American woman raised by a poor single mother in a tiny southern town would become one of the most influential people in the world. But while not everyone is a fan of Oprah Winfrey, nobody can deny that she pulled herself up by her bootstraps to become a rich and powerful media tycoon, as well as an American icon.

Oprah produces movies, writes books, and publishes magazines. But she is best known for her TV talk show, which has been on air since 1986. Recently, Oprah announced that the show will end in 2011. She wants to retire so that she can devote more time to her philanthropy and other projects. Find out if Marni and Ella will be sad to see her go.

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.

Marni

Ella

Marni:  So, Ella, I assume you’ve heard the news that millions of Oprah fans were dreading.

Ella:  Oh darn. Yes I did. I was so disappointed.

Marni:  I can sense the sarcasm. But I’m actually a huge Oprah fan. I think she’s kind of an incredible person. I mean she’s obviously a media mogul, an icon to many people. But I think that she does have a lot to say, a lot of interesting value. But also she’s had a really interesting stamp on our culture, because she’s so far-reaching, and you think about how she has such a huge impact on book sales with her book club, and it’s just like people are total fanatics about anything that she recommends.

Ella:  No, this is true. I don’t dislike her. I respect her as an individual, as being, you know, kind of a trendsetter. And like, it’s very authentic, and that’s what I respect about it. It’s very her, she’s not basing it on anyone else, it’s just what her tastes are.

Marni:  Right.

Ella:  Did you hear about the woman who’s living one year based on everything Oprah says?

Marni:  Oh, no. How interesting. So she just…was she so fascinated with Oprah, is that why she’s doing it?

Ella:  She wasn’t a fan. She’s trying to understand why people liked Oprah. So she watched Oprah all the time. And every day, a lesson was lived by Oprah. She said it was expensive.

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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