Learn English with this electronic music English lesson

Date: Jun 16 2014

Themes: Celebrity, Music, Pop Culture

Grammar: Gerunds vs. Infinitives

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Intro

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

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

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Tim Bergling, or Avicii, is a Swedish DJ whose success has taken the world by surprise. At the time of Avicii’s first big hit in 2010, he was only 20 years old. Now 24, Avicii has performed around the world, won awards, and worked with many famous musicians.

In addition to making music, Avicii started a charity in 2011 called House for Hunger. His charity was created to help people everywhere who are hungry and need food. Avicii also gave $1 million to Feeding America, a similar charity in the United States. Even at 24, Avicii is making a huge difference in people’s lives while at the same time making great music.

Do Brian and Jeff listen to Avicii? The only way to find out is by reading today’s English lesson about dance music.

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.

Jeff

Brian

Jeff: So, Brian. What’s up, man?

Brian: Nothing. I just watched this music video by Avicii, I think it’s pronounced.

Jeff: Oh, yeah. I don’t know too much about it, but isn’t that some Scandinavian kid that just…

Brian: Yeah, he’s a DJ. And I don’t know a lot about his music. It was OK. The music video, though, is Lego stop-motion. And it’s kind of a Matrix-like dystopia, and a Lego guy killing a bunch of other Lego guys. I really liked the music video. The music was just kind of repetitive. It was very like (sings).

Jeff: It’s EDM.

Brian: Yes.

Jeff: Electronic dance music.

Brian: Exactly. It is EDM. There’s a woman’s voice. It wasn’t very memorable except for that there were Legos fighting.

Jeff: We all love Legos.

Brian: And I love fighting.

Jeff: Apparently a lot of people love Avicii, because that guy’s rich.

Brian: Apparently he’s making millions of dollars. Do you want to start a DJ band?

Jeff: A band? I’m going solo, dude.

Brian: Man!

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

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Brian is telling Jeff about the Avicii video he just saw. What’s interesting is that Brian’s not talking about the music, but the Lego toys that are telling the story in the video. It’s created with stop-motion, making it look like the toys are moving by themselves. Not only that, but the toys are killing each other!

Jeff doesn’t really know Avicii’s music, but he knows that the DJ is making a lot of money. When Brian suggests that they put a band together, Jeff says that he prefers going solo. He thinks that if Avicii can earn millions of dollars by himself, maybe he can, too. But does Jeff even know how to DJ?

Is electronic music popular with you and your friends? What’s your favorite Avicii song?

Comments

ahmet55

Germany

To be candid, usually, i’m not very into these kinds of music. But in some seldom cases just to get rid of normal life i prefer to listen EDMs. GETTING CARRIED AWAY WITH Listening to pop, classic, Rock (Turkish, Persian and Azerbayjanian kinds) of music DAY IN AND DAY OUT looks like boring and EDMS are good choice in these conditions specially Avici’s voice. In addition to, whenever i try to WORK MY BUTT OFF or RISE TO THE OCASSION and truly need more energy DJ music will help out me.

I did not know Avicii’s name before and now I think “wake me up” is enjoyable.