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Les Miserables

Learn English with this musicals English lesson

Date: Dec 28 2012

Themes: Pop Culture

Grammar: Simple Future Tense

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Intro

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melodramatic

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

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One of the most popular musicals of all time is coming to the big screen. A brand new adaptation of Les Miserables, the classic tale of love, justice, and the French Revolution, will be in theaters soon. Based on the classic novel by Victor Hugo, the musical has all the elements of a romantic epic.

The thing about musicals, though, is that some people love them, and some people really hate them. Those who love them love the melodrama and the fantasy. Those who hate them usually hate them for the same reasons. Learn what Marni and Greta think in this movies English lesson.

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

Greta

Marni: I have to say, there’s a new musical coming out, but I don’t think I can bring myself to see it, because…I don’t like musicals.

Greta: I have to say, I love Les Mis. I saw it on stage, I think I’ve probably seen it on stage two or three times, and I saw the movie that came out maybe six or seven years ago, and it was not that great, but it was not a musical. It was an adaptation of the book, and didn’t have any of the music in it.

Marni: OK. So this is a straightforward adaptation of the actual musical?

Greta: This one coming out in December is the musical.

Marni: Got it. Gosh, don’t you think, you know, musicals, they just get so melodramatic. They’re kinda corny.

Greta: I think it’s great. I think it’s a way for emotion and sentiment on a grand scale to come through.

Marni: OK.

Greta: Because we all have those feelings, but we don’t sing about them in real life.

Marni: This is true.

Greta: Mm hm.

Marni: Well, I had never thought about it that way. Who knows, maybe I’ll be persuaded to go see it.

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Discussion

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Marni has heard that a new movie version of Les Miserables, or Les Mis, as fans refer to it, is coming out. She doesn’t want to see it, though, because she doesn’t like musicals.

Greta loves Les Mis, though, and she likes musicals in general. Marni doesn’t get it. She just thinks that musicals are overly dramatic and corny.

Greta thinks that that’s kind of the point. Musicals provide a way for actors to express emotion in a grand way. Musicals allow big emotions to come out through dramatic performance and song.

That’s a new way to think about it, for Marni. Maybe she’ll try to see Les Mis, after all.

Do you like musicals? Why or why not? Will you try to go see the new movie of Les Miserables?

Comments

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Katia1

Brazil

Yes, I do. Because they make it to the depths of our being: our sensitivity.

alinanick

Ukraine

New year holidays are the right time to wach musicals.Tthere are a lot of them on TV during this period. They are mostly adaptation of old popular movies or fairytales

bellaboo2422

Pakistan

yeah i love ‘high school musical III alot. i like the actors i like the music and lyrices of the movie. story and performance of the actors is just great. i ll surely like to watch les miserable too because anne hathway is in the movie and she’s my favourite too. musicals are different type of movies for a specail group of people usuaslly like to watch. these are epic movies with beautiful melodies and catchy tunes. these are inky romantic picturesque in a way i feel and captivate the viewer with its magic. its a good source to get rid of ennui. whenever i feel alon in long winter nights i just need a musical saga with a hot mug of coffee and thats all, its great of being alone now.

julito

Argentina

Many years ago just by mistake I found myself watching a musical ,i can still remember the name:Oklahoma, I was so bored that I still have a grudge against musicals , and we have had blockbusters as :The phantom of the opera and Evita. Is all a matter of preference ,I don´t want to take any chance to repeat the mistake , I will not give a green light to this new musical..

khaled_islam

Yemen

SAVE *

khaled_islam

Yemen

i don’t care of these junk things surely for reason the first reason is religiously % , secondly these thing ( musicals ) rather music stars they don’t make senses to me at all , thirdly musicals could bring me to the way which has no ending you know romantic stuff , and the well-known about them that they will end in a word , so once i tried to watch one of the musical party on tv after finishing the party i asked myself did it benefit you O’ khaled did you get what you want from this junky since that time there is no such these things in my life anymore, in bold ( O’ ALLAH SAME ME FROM ALL THE DEROGATORY THING AMEEN .

ballin25

United Kingdom

I look for love but i cant find tru love i dont know why im alon dont be alon ?

ballin25

United Kingdom

dont be alon i will be whit you in time you want me.

aoshibinxue

China

Musical…..For me it mybe amazing , but some people don’t like it.Why? because we are different person.who likes sports ,art,writing and so on.

I hope can find some good friends who likes musical!

Grammarist

United Arab Emirates

It is really amazing when everything that is prepared well flows smoothly, especially if the music selected and scene performed go well with mutual harmony. According to the musical, I am not into it very much. But I will bring my self to see it, and then write my review here. I feel a little bit bored, so I might go and see it on the big screen.

Ngubo Sixtus

South Africa

i would like to see this movie. i ‘m the one who watch any type of movie.

naira71

Azerbaijan

I havent heard of this musical.But it would be interesting to watch it on the big screen of course.Honestly I dont like musicals,but some years ago I watched one,it was called Sherburg umbrellas,it was melodramatic and sentimental.

8312016

Switzerland

i like hear music and i do it every day but about musicals i dont like it becuse didnt have many experiences about. i like comedian-honor and action moveis

in my country theater isnt popular i havent gone to theater yet.

mojtaba

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I thing the musical theater is interesting for childeren but at last it is boring for me drowsy

Adat

Costa Rica

About the movie it’s a very classy and sentimental movie that worth to see it. I only had chance to see the film version with Liam Neeson who is a great actor and did it great as the main character. The character of Javert is so artistic and wonderfully performed because during all the movie you think that that’s the bad one but at the end you kind of understand him, his sad life and his last action whom take him to the inmortality.

About the musicals i have to say i don’t have a formed idea of them cus i never get to see them on the theater, only on tv and that maybe depends of the film that you like it or not but may depend on the music too. I believe it’s like to watch a movie on your tv or watch it in the cinema, it’s not the same even though it’s the same movie. To realize if i like musicals i have to go to the theater to see my first one and then i’ll tell you. ;)