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Cirque du Soleil

Date: Jul 23 2002

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.

Hi Friends!
Zach is such a lucky guy! He had the chance to go to see Cirque du Soleil last week, when it came through town on its most recent tour. Listen as he and I talk about his circus experience!

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.

Tanis

Zach

Tanis: I know you went to the circus last week, but I’m going to confess that I used to want to be in the circus when I was little. So you have to tell me everything about Cirque du Soleil!

Zach: Oh, it was absolutely amazing. There were just a bunch of little kids that had been training, obviously, for months or years, and just had mastered their craft. There were acrobats, uh, people climbing up into the rafters and just doing amazing contortions of their bodies… and just dancing around. It was really beautiful.

Tanis: Was it, uh, I mean, were these like little kids, or were they adults, or…?

Zach: Yeah, I think half of them were actually, were really young. Um, totally just little kids. Um… and the other half were adults. It was kind of hard to tell because everybody was wearing a costume.

Tanis: What were the costumes like?

Zach: Well it was a mix of kind of, sort of tribal... You know, stuff from all around the world. And, there were also some uh, there were some clowns that were dressed up and just really funny.

Tanis: Were they still like funny clowns, you know… Like the kind of clowns that are in a little clown car or was it different than that?

Zach: Yeah, they were a little more, kind of, advanced than that, I guess. For, for a, you know, for an older audience I guess. And they, but they were walking around just making fools out of themselves, and, and the audience members. It was really fun.

Tanis: That sounds cool. Now, Cirque du Soleil, Circus of the Sun, right? Um, but, what was the theme for this one, or what was the show that you went to called, cause they, don’t they have a lot of different shows or something?

Zach: Yeah, they have a lot of different shows, and this one was called… um, I forgot the name, but it was a mixture between a dragon and a lion.

Tanis: Oh, a Griffin!

Zach: Yeah, I think it was called Dralion.

Tanis: Oh, Dralion! Okay. So… got it. They made up their own word. (laughs)

Zach: Yeah, yeah totally.

Tanis: Oh, you know what. A griffin is an eagle and a lion. I’m sorry. You tell me about the circus Zach! I’ll just be quiet!

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Discussion

Have you ever been to the circus? I have only been when I was very young, but I would love to go again! Cirque du Soleil is known around the world for their acrobatics and the beauty of their productions.
Zach sounds like he had a wonderful time when he went to see the circus. What do you think he liked best about his experience? If you have questions, or a story to share with us come to the Life Goes On Message Board! We would love to hear from you!