President Obamas 2012 victory

speech
http://www.luizotaviobarros.com/2012/11/obama-speech-esl-lesson.html
A. Look at the words and phrases in bold. What do you think they mean?
1. In general, do you share most of your presidents political beliefs?
2. Does your country have a strong middle class?
3. Is your country going through tough economic times right now?
4. Which is the more serious issue facing your country right now the nationaldebt or
social inequality?
5. In your voting district, do people face very long lines to cast their ballots?
6. Who were Americas founders?
7. In the US, states that usually vote for democrats are called blue states. What do we call the states
that usually vote for republicans?
B. Choose 3 questions from A and ask your partner. Any unexpected answers?
C. Watch six excerpts from President Obamas 2012 victory speech (video 1 below). What is each
excerpt about? Match number to topic.
___ My family.
___ America for future generations.
___ Its all about you.
___ What makes America unique.
___ Democracy isnt simple.
___ A bright future for everyone.
D. Now watch five very short extracts from the same speech (video 2 below). What does he mean in
each case?
1.
[ ] Were living our best days.
[ ] Our best days are ahead of us.
2.
[ ] Weve been married for 20 years.
[ ] Weve known each other for 20 years.
3.
[ ] In difficult times, we tend to disagree.
[ ] In difficult times, we should think as one.
4.
[ ] We all agree on whats essential.

[ ] We all believe in certain things very strongly.

5.
[ ] America is what it is because of its culture.
[ ] America is what it is because of its diversity.
E. Read 1-6 and match the bold words to their definitions. Ignore the gaps.
1. Tonight, more than 200 years after a former colony won the right to determine its own destiny, the
task of perfecting our union moves forward [ ]. It moves forward __________ you.
2. the belief that __________ each of us will pursue [ ] our own individual dreams, we are
an American family and we rise or fall together as one nation and as one people.
3. But __________ all our differences, most of us share certain hopes for Americas future.
4. The freedom which so many Americans have fought for and died for comes with responsibilities
__________ rights. And among those are love and charity [ ] and duty and patriotism. Thats
what makes America great.
5. I have always believed that hope is that stubborn [ ] thing inside us that insists, __________
all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us __________ we have the courage
to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting.
6. I believe we can seize [ ] this future together __________ we are not as divided as our politics
suggests. Were not as cynical as the pundits [ ] believe. We are greater than the sum of our
individual ambitions, and we remain [ ] more than a collection of red states and blue states.
a. expert
b. try to achieve
c. persistent
d. take control of
e. continue to be
f. advance
g. helping people
F. Complete the blanks in exercise E using the discourse connectors below. Then watch video 3
(below) and check.
reason: because, because of
contrast: while, despite (x2)
addition: as well as
condition: so long as
G. What were your two favorite lines from the debate? Compare your choices in small groups