INTRODUCE
Technology has led to many new forms of art. However, some people feel that these new forms of art are not as authentic as traditional ones.
PRESENT
STEP A EXPRESSIONS
Go over the first two expressions with your tutor and answer the questions. Then, guess the meaning of the third expression based on the clues provided.
1. Legitimate is used to describe something that is considered real, true, or accepted (as opposed to fake or unaccepted).
My mother doesn’t consider online classes to be legitimate college classes.
Q: Do you think that graffiti is a legitimate form of art?
2. To weigh in on something means to give an opinion or a statement on a topic.
None of the staff weighed in on the new office policy when it was announced. Everyone just silently listened.
Q: Are you comfortable with weighing in on your friends’ personal matters?
3. .
My favorite rock band has a huge following on social media. Their video channel has around 20 million subscribers.
Q: What do you think have a huge following means?
STEP B SPEAK YOUR MIND
Sometimes you want to add more detail to something that has been said or correct a misunderstanding.
I heard the boss is back. Is he in a bad mood again?
No, as a matter of fact, he seemed really happy today.
UNDERSTAND
SPEAKING
Motoko, a Japanese businessperson, is chatting with her French coworker Pierre during their break.
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- Pierre:
Do you remember that bet we made about who would win the top award at the film festival this year?
- Motoko:
Yeah! I remember betting Love Cube would win.
- Pierre:
Yup, and now you owe me a euro!
- Motoko:
Huh? How come? They didn’t pick the winner yet, did they?
- Pierre:
No, but the film festival released a statement yesterday saying that only movies that were released in theaters can win the top award. Love Cube was made by StreamLine, that online streaming service, which means that it’s out!
- Motoko:
But isn’t that unfair? Why did they exclude movies made by online streaming services?
- Pierre:
Apparently, many film critics think that the movies produced by streaming services aren’t legitimate films because they’re not released in theaters. They say they’re on the same level as direct-to-DVD movies. In other words, second-rate.
- Motoko:
Ugh, seriously? As a matter of fact, some of the movies made by streaming services are better than the stuff you see in movie theaters now! I mean, how many more remakes can Hollywood do? At least the streaming services are investing in original content.
- Pierre:
That’s true. I think the festival critics also have ties to traditional movie studios, which are feeling threatened by the streaming services. I don’t think banning streaming services from winning awards will help their side, though. Most people weighing in on the issue seem to be very against the decision.
- Motoko:
Yeah, I bet. StreamLine has a huge following. I’ve been a subscriber ever since they ran that 6 euros for 6 months deal!
- Pierre:
Speaking of euros, I’d like mine now, please! (laughs)
TRIVIA
Streaming services are welcome to show their original films at France’s most famous film festival, but only movies that were released in French theaters are eligible for the top prize. This recent rule came from a conflict that the festival had with a popular streaming service. According to French regulations, movies cannot be released on streaming services until 36 months after their theatrical release, but the company refused to make its subscribers wait that long.
PRACTICE
Complete the dialogues using the instructions in parentheses and the expressions in the box. Some expressions may be used more than once, and the form of some expressions may need to be changed.
1.
Tutor: I’m curious. Paul Camp’s new comic book is horrible, but no one is really writing any reviews about it. Why is that?
Student: Well… (Say that he has a lot of supporters and they often harass people who criticize him online.)
2.
Tutor: Huh? I thought that Mike was going to pursue a career in professional gaming.
Student: Not anymore. (Say that Mike’s parents don’t consider professional gaming to be a real career, so they told him not to pursue it.)
3.
Tutor: Do you often talk about political issues?
Student: No. (Say that you’re not comfortable sharing your opinion about political issues.)
4.
Tutor: What? You think video games are a real form of art?
Student: Yeah! (Say that you think video games are real art because they have excellent graphics, stories, and music.)
5.
Tutor: How do you know that a social media user is influential or not?
Student: (Say that he/she would have a lot of subscribers.)
CHALLENGE
Challenge 1
You and your friend are big fans of an anime from 15 years ago. A remake of the anime is coming out next month, but there’s a bit of a controversy behind it. Discuss it with your friend.
Today's Expressions
- legitimate
- weigh in on something
- have a huge following
Speak Your Mind
- As a matter of fact, …
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Challenge 2
What do you think? What does your tutor think? Discuss.
If TimeAllows
1 TRADITIONAL AND MODERN ART |
2 WEIGHING IN |
|---|---|
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1 TRADITIONAL AND MODERN ART
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2WEIGHING IN
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FEEDBACK
I can discuss the value of new forms of art.
LESSON GOAL ACHIEVEMENT
-
4
Very GoodCould complete the task with ease
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3
GoodCould complete the task with some clarifications
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2
FairCould complete the task with additional instructions
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1
PoorCould somehow complete the task with difficulty
PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK
- RANGE
the ability to use a wide variety of vocabulary - ACCURACY
the ability to speak correctly - FLUENCY
the ability to speak smoothly without pauses or fillers - INTERACTION
the ability to manage a conversation
