Applied English for American Society and Culture through Music

Special Activity: Second Language Partner Meeting

This assignment is due Friday, October 28, 2005

Name ___________________________

Purposes

• Practice using what you have learned in American Society and Culture through Music
• Speaking and listening practice and a chance to help others with these skills
• Fun

Procedure

Divide your time so that you speak Japanese for about 1/2 hour and English for about 1/2 hour. Try not to mix the languages.

Hints

• Relax! This is a conversation not an interview and it's not a presentation or speech.
• Look at your partner, not at the desk.
• The focus should be listening and speaking not writing. Take short, quick notes.

Use these phrases when appropriate

• Hi, nice to see you again!
• Could you say your name again for me, please.
• Excuse me. Could you please repeat that?
• Excuse me. Could you please speak more slowly?
• How do you spell that?
• I'm sorry, but I'm not sure I understand.
• I have a question.
• Hmm, let me think a minute.
• Could you tell me more about . . . .
• Could you give me an example?
• When? Where? Why? How?

OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER

Your Name ___________________________ Your partner(s) _____________________________
When and where did you meet? _____________________________________________________

• There are some questions below. If you don't like them or have more time, there is a list of many other questions attached.
• Be prepared to say what you think. Don't only ask questions.
• Before you meet with your partner, practice saying the words below. Remember to stress the correct part of the word (say that part higher, longer, and louder)
  • mu-sic
  • mu-si-cal
  • mo-vie
  • Broad-way
  • the-a-ter
  • New York
  • ly-rics
  • Lion King

Music for Theater and Film

Explain to your partner: We're studying music for theater and film now.

• Tell your partner about "The Lion King ".

• Have you ever seen a musical? (Which one? Could you tell me about it? Where?)

• Have you been to Broadway in New York City and seen a theater production or a musical?

• Is there a movie you like because of the music? (Which one? Could you tell me about it?)

• Do you know the lyrics and melodies of any songs from musicals? Why have you remembered them?

Other topics if you have time

Do you feel a "generation gap" between you and your parents? In what ways is there a "gap"?

If so, does this "gap" include very different musical tastes? What do your parents listen to? Is there music that you and your parents enjoy?

When you were growing up, did you and your parents ever disagree about what music was okay for you to listen to? Do you think there is a relationship between drug use and music? How about violence and music? Should music lyrics be "rated" like movies are rated (PG 13, etc.)? Should parents try to control the kind of music their children listen to? What would you do as a parent?

Do you listen to any music that was popular before 1970: Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, the Beatles, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix? What you you like and why?

How about music that became popular a little later: Bruce Springsteen; Kurt Cobain; Courtney Love; the Rolling Stones; Blood, Sweat and Tears; Earth, Wind and Fire? What you you like and why?