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The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Learn English with this dragon English lesson

Date: Dec 11 2013

Themes: Pop Culture

Grammar: Zero Conditional

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Intro

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

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If you enjoy the books of author J.R.R. Tolkien, you are likely to be excited about The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. In this sequel to The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Bilbo Baggins fights the dragon Smaug with the friends he has made on his long journey.

Bilbo is a hobbit, and his friends are elves, dwarves and wizards. These creatures aren’t only in The Hobbit books, though. For thousands of years, stories have been written or told about people and animals that look nothing like the ones we live with today. Could they be real?

Find out who is a fan of this kind of movie in this English lesson about a dangerous dragon.

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.

Rafael

Marni

Rafael: Hey, Marni. If I seem a little tired today, it’s because I went to the midnight showing of The Hobbit.

Marni: Oh, really?

Rafael: Yeah.

Marni: Are you just a huge fan of the books and everything?

Rafael: I’m a big fantasy person in general, but The Hobbit is one of my favorite fantasy genres of all time.

Marni: Really?!

Rafael: The movie was a flat-out blockbuster. And I think the movie industry is really going to benefit from the new things that this movie did.

Marni: What did it do? I mean, it’s just a fantasy piece. What was so amazing about this one compared to all the other movies?

Rafael: Well, the way they depicted elves and dwarves was really acute. What would you rather be? An elf or a dwarf?

Marni: I just… you know, the whole Tolkien thing… I can just take it or leave it. I don’t get what all the hype is about.

Rafael: Well, take it or leave it, it’s a fun movie and you should definitely go watch it.

Marni: All right. You buying?

Rafael: Sure! I’ll go with you tonight at midnight again.

Marni: That’s too late.

Grammar Point

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Discussion

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Rafael is excited to talk about The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. It’s one of his favorite movie genres, and he stayed up really late to see it at midnight. Rafael is impressed by how much work was put into this film, and he thinks it will impress Marni, too.

But Marni isn’t really into The Hobbit movies and she doesn’t read J.R.R. Tolkien’s books. She sounds tired and bored as Rafael shares his enthusiasm. Somehow, Marni agrees to see it, but only after Rafael has agreed to pay for her.

Do you plan to see The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug? What do you think about movies with hobbits, dwarves and elves?

Comments

ola33

Japan

I watched the movie. I’m a fan of Hobbit sequel movies. They’re like you just sit in a chair, don’t think too much and watch. The special effects will just take your breath away and you’ll be awestruck by the agility of elves, by the resoucefullness of dwarfs, by the wisdom of hobbits, but the powerful and magic force of wizards and by the uglyness of orcs and all that stuff. I like it, a good way to switch off and travel into fairy kingdom of good and bad.

Nadya_Hope

Russian Federation

I adore Tolkien’s films. in my view they are really amazing. sure I plan to see The Hobbit and I’m looking forward starting of showing.

movies with hobbits, dwarves and elves are fabulous, just super duper!

Stephieee

Poland

I cant wait to watch this movie in a cinema. I like all Tolkien’s books and this fantasy world. Its good to see sometimes diffrent world, creatures, amazing special effects. And what its important, all Tokien’s books have message, that overcome evil with good, but its not easy, it depends of sacriface, power of friendship, matter of honour, union of hobbits, fwarves and elves, etc. I like all parts of LOTR and I grew up with Tolkien’s books. Watching The Hobbit will be like return to my childhood.

CAIDI1996

China

......not bad

Ria1990

Germany

I plan to see this movie, but before I must see part I. ^^

ahmet55

Germany

I saw some kinda these fiction movies before. I’m gonna say that i’m not a big fan of this genre. these movies do not make sense to me. In fact i prefer to watch action, comedy and also romantic films. I like “game of thrones” serial a lot.

LilianSouza

Brazil

hello!

julieq

United States

I can’t wait to see this movie!

kowatch

Hungary

I will see it next week. The Lord of the Rings was an awesome trilogy so I can’t ignore watching these movies too. Although the fantasy is not my favourite genres but director Peter Jackson made such good movies that are must seen. I enjoyed the Unexpected journey but it was needless to make it so long. That is my only critic.

sungchous

United States

How come I can’t hear audio source of dialogue?

saveme911

Algeria

In sush kind of movies the most thing i enjoy is “how far people can stretch their imagination? “they really are highly creative ,how could they think about creatures sush as :hobbits,dwarves,elves ,goblins ,fairies ,vampires,wolves ...what a fertil imagination ! makes sb’s jaw drops in surprise

i watched the first part ,it was good and i’m on pins and needles wating for the sequel ,ihad the feeling that it would be far better than the first.

inflamara

Poland

The first part of The Hobbit was great,and I hope that the second will be great too.I can’t wait when this movie will be appear in cinema in my town ;)
But in my opinion The Lord Of The Rings is better than The Hobbit xx

Jasonlongo

Congo, Democratic Republic Of The

I’m not really into the whole thing about these kinds of books, but I really like the way the author J.R.R. Tolkien thought about this book, it was good and interesting for some people.

Seiyf_khawas

Turkey

Story is continuing ,

with a hobbit,a wizard and 12 dwarves …

also with dragon Smaug,Elves and creatures

))))))))

Eric_

China

I haven’t watched the first part yet.!!!

OH, In China,the second part will come out on 13th this month? Awesome!

Can’t wait….

S&W

China

Yes i have a plan to see “The Hobbit:The desolation of Smaug.In china it will come out on 13th Dec.I do like the music and the gorgous scene in Hobbit An unexperience journey.Some plots were very grateful.

The movie with hobbits,dwarves and elves was very fantastic.It seems like movie give them lifes no more limited by words and paintings.They become real just like they live in a planet which is different from us and full of adventures.Movie like this can made the story more attractive and give people more space for imagination