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.
Being part of the military is a serious job. It requires a lot of training, a commitment of several years, and the willingness to go where you’re asked. While some people get military jobs that keep them safe, many people lose their lives. There is always that risk, so enlisting is a big decision.
Talking about military service can be hard, even between friends. Some people feel that joining the army shows how patriotic you are, some don’t agree with having a military at all, and many have opinions in the middle. It’s important to remember that even if your ideology is not the same as your neighbor’s, it’s likely that you both care about keeping your country safe.
Do Lily and Gary agree on the subject of joining the military? Read more in today’s 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.
Lily: So Gary, what are all these army pamphlets that are on your desk right now?
Gary: Well, we don’t have a draft right now, but I’m considering enlisting to join the military.
Lily: Oh, really?
Gary: I feel like it is my patriotic duty to serve our country, and I feel like I’ve got to follow through on my convictions.
Lily: Well, I respect your ideology, but aren’t you a little bit worried that you’re just going to get sucked into some conflict that doesn’t actually mean anything?
Gary: See, that’s just it. I’m not getting sucked into it. I am taking part in this to protect you, to protect your mom, dad, my family, everybody. To protect our rights.
Lily: Yes, I respect the heck out of you for doing this.
Gary: Thank you.
Lily: But at the same time, it’s really scary because you’re kind of at the country’s whim. They’ll send you wherever they want, and then you have to fight for something that you may not necessarily believe in.
Gary: I agree with that. And it is scary. But I feel like I’ve got to enlist to do something because this country has given me so much.
Grammar Point
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Discussion
Gary believes it’s his duty to join the army, so he has been seriously thinking about it. He thinks that his country has given him a lot of opportunities, and Gary feels that he should repay this gift by enlisting in the military.
While Lily respects Gary’s opinion, she doesn’t agree with it. Lily’s worried that if Gary joins the army, he will be asked to fight somewhere for something that he might not believe in. She reminds him that he could be sent anywhere in the world, and he won’t have any say in the matter. It’s a difficult subject to talk about because Gary and Lily clearly have very strong but very different convictions.
Can you choose to join the military in your country, or is it mandatory? How do you feel about it?