1

UNIT

Whats your talent?

Language in action
1
Learn how to

Available at: <http://www.thetalentstore.net/>.

Accessed on: March 1, 2013.
greet someone
and make
introductions
Understand
nonverbal signs
Learn how to
give information
about you and
about others

C/ID/BR
Divulgao UF
3

Claro Cortes/Reuters
2

Australia's Shelley Chaplin (L) celebrates with Katie Hill after

winning a match against Britain during the Beijing 2008
Paralympic Games.
Brazilian MMA fighter
Anderson Silva, at UFC Rio.
4
5
ges
eImage/Getty Ima
Kevin Mazur/Wir
1 Express Yourself

Luis Louro/Alamy/Glow Images

British boy-band One Direction (L to R: Niall Horan,

Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson).

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 Lead-in
1. Look at picture 1 and make a list of the talents represented by the silhouettes.

2. Read the text below and classify the talents into the two groups in the chart.

Welcome to the Talent Store Performers

The Talent Store is a networking source for
entertainment agencies, businesses, and
individuals or groups who are seeking job or
gig opportunities, discovery, exposure, online
community support, and advice. Our services
are targeted to a wide variety of people who
either provide a service to, or are a part of,
the entertainment industry. The list of services Technical Crew
includes, but is not limited to: singers, dancers,
actors, comedians, technicians, camera
operators, stage hands, clowns, mimes,
cartoonists, parade organizers, and event
planners.
Available at: <http://anndandridgepublicrelations.ning.com/
profile/LithorniaLibbieHarper>. Accessed on: February 4, 2014.

3. What other talents do the pictures on the previous page represent?

4. Which elements tell us that the person represented in picture 4 is not a real doctor?

5. What hand gestures can you identify in some of the photos used on the previous page? Shutterstock.com/DBR

Check () the corresponding options.

( ) high five (a celebratory gesture) ( ) thumbs-up (approval)
( ) A-OK (no problem, fine) () thumbs-down (disapproval)
() crossed fingers (hope) () handshake (greeting ritual)
( ) V sign (victory or peace) () waving with palm facing outward
(greeting)
6. What do these hand signs mean? Discuss your ideas with a classmate. Then check your
guesses at the bottom of the page.
1 2 3
Shutterstock.com/DBR

Answers to activity 6: 1) The shaka sign or hang loose; 2) The approval sign; 3) The loser sign.

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 Lets read!
Before you read
Hint
What type of talent does the girl have in text 1? In your first
What does she probably do to help sick children? contact with a
Which elements are common in both text 1 and text 2? text, it is possible
Can you guess the type of talent the boy in text 3 has? to predict many
What do the headphones tell us about this boy's hobby? things about it.
For example,
pictures, familiar
1. Now, read the three texts more carefully and check () the statements words in titles,
which are true. etc. tell us a lot
about the topic.
Text 1
Fac-smile/The Clown Doctors
1 Express Yourself

Available at: <http://media.gimnazijabb.edu.rs/2010/03/THE-CLOWN-DOCTORS.ppt>. Accessed on: October 29, 2013.

This text is part of a slide presentation available on the Internet,

entitled The Clown Doctor. This is the seventh slide of a total of 13. In the
presentation they explain in detail what clown doctors do in hospitals.

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 Text 2
Theodora Childrens
www.theodora.org.uk Trust is a British
charity specialized
in helping children
Theodora Children's Trust/
ID/BR

recover from
operations and
illness. They train
people to become
clown doctors
in order to work
in collaboration
with hospital
professionals.
Theodora Childrens Trust brings music, magic and laughter to children
in hospital and to disabled children through bedside visits from Giggle
Doctors.
[]
Our Giggle Doctors are specialist entertainers, highly trained to work
both in the hospital environment and with children with disabilities.They
come from a wide range of backgrounds and bring with them a variety
of skills (among our team are actors, entertainers, teachers, magicians,
musicians and singers).
Available at: <http://uk.blog.globalgiving.org/2012/12/12/childrens-christmas-appeal-2012-the-giggle-doctors/>
(paragraph 1) and <http://uk.theodora.org/en-gb/our-mission> (paragraph 2). Accessed on: October 29, 2013.

Byron Purvis/AdMedia/Latin Stock

Text 3

Astro The X Factor U.S. Audition 1

Brian: Hello Brian.
Steve: Brian, Im Steve, nice to meet you. Uh, who are
these people here?
Brian: Mom, stepdad. Here are my mom and my
steppops. Yknow, they are both huge supporters of
me. And my mom, shes shes my number one fan.
I have er an insane love for music. I listen to music all
the time, so its in my blood.
American rapper Brian Bradley This text is a video
[] (stage name Astro) posing at a transcription of
movie theater in California, 2011. an interview with
Brian: Ive always dreamed of performing at Madison Brian Bradley, also
Square Garden. To know that 20,000 people are here for known as Astro.
This young artist
me, that would be big. became famous
Adapted and transcribed from: <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJu_lsb2oVQ> after taking part
(0:00-0:26 and 0:41-0:48). Accessed on: May 7, 2014. in "The X Factor"
competition (USA).

( ) Lucy and Brian are artists.

() Giggle doctors don't need training to entertain patients in hospitals.
() Lucy and Brian help sick children in the hospital environment.
( ) Both are talented people.
( ) They are entertainers.
() Lucy and Brian are supported by their parents.

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 2. Based on your answers in the previous activity, write correct sentences as in the example.
Giggle doctors need training to entertain patients in hospitals.

3. Which text presents an alternative name for clown doctor? What is this name?

4. Read text 3 again. Can you infer who Brian is?

5. Who are Brians supporters?

6. Brian is talented in a specific area. What is it? Check () one option.

() dance () drama () clowning () DJing ( ) music

7. Text 3 is a transcription of part of a videotaped interview. Read it again and find examples
of the following characteristics of oral texts. Copy the words.
a) Hesitation particles:
b) Abbreviations:
c) Repetition:
d) Informal vocabulary:

8. Now find in the three texts sentences or words that are used to express the ideas below.
Copy them here.
a) Peoples age:

b) Talking about peoples occupation:

c) Names of occupations:

9. What questions would you ask Brian if you had a chance? Consider information such as S

hobbies, plans for the future, favorite artist, etc. Use your notebook.

10. Make a list of the talents in your family. Write sentences as in the two examples. Use your
notebook for this activity.
My sister Carla plays the guitar.
1 Express Yourself

My stepbrother Diego designs games.

11. Compare your list in activity 9 with a classmates and find out if there are similar talents in
both families.

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 Lets listen!
1. These are dialogues related to talent shows in the USA and Nigeria. Can you predict
what the missing parts are? Write them down based on your knowledge and the hints
the texts give.

Dialogue 1
Brian: How youre feeling? Are you feeling good? Anybody from Brooklyn here?
Jury member: Hi,

Brian: Its Brian Bradley.

Jury member:

Brian: Im fourteen years old.

Jury member: And

Brian: Im from Brooklyn, New York

Transcribed from: <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJu_lsb2oVQ> (1:08-1:22). Accessed on: October 29, 2013.

Dialogue 2
Reporter: So, how are you doing?
Interviewee:

Reporter: Im great.
Interviewee: Yes.
Reporter: So, are you a huge fan of Nigerian Idol?
Interviewee: Oh, Im a very huge fan of Nigerian Idol.
Transcribed from: <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lw7Nu36QXTU> (1:55-2:03).
Accessed on: October 30, 2013.
R
D/B
om/I
ck.c
ttersto
Shu

Dialogue 3
Jury member: How are you?
Contestant:
Jury member: Are you OK? You...
Contestant:
Transcribed from: <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAnQQ4bwRgg> (0:12-0:18).
Accessed on: October 30, 2013.

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 Dialogue 4
Reporter: Im on the district of Lagos. Im gonna be doing
a vox pop on Nigerian Idol. So, lets go talk to a few people
as to what they feel about Nigerian Idol... Hello. How are
you doing?
Interviewee:
Transcribed from: <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lw7Nu36QXTU> (0:03-0:13).
Accessed on: October 30, 2013.

Did you know?

Dialogue 5

Shutterstock.com/ID/BR
Rachel: Hi.
Jury member: Hi Rachel.
Rachel:
Jury member: Whatve you chosen, Rachel?
Rachel: Its a surprise.
Jury member: Ah, I like surprises.
Rachel: OK.
Jury member: Good luck.
Rachel: Thank you.
Transcribed from: <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KJMOUzBDzM> (0:22-0:37).
Accessed on: October 30, 2013.

Rachel Crow began singing

2. 1 Now listen to the recording and check if your predictions were as a toddler. She sang her first
correct. Then discuss these questions with a classmate. song, "Breathe" by Faith Hill at
just 18 months. She later went
a) Which of the expressions used in the dialogues are new for you? on to enter talent contests at
b) How much would you understand if you didnt read the transcript? local fairs.
Available at: <http://www.rachelcrowofficial.
c) Did you pay attention to different accents while listening to the com/bio/>. Accessed on: October 30, 2013.
dialogues?
d) Which of the five dialogues matches the picture below?
Available at: <http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=Lw7Nu36QXTU>. Accessed on: May 20, 2013.
1 Express Yourself

Image captured from:

<http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=Lw7Nu36QXTU>.
Accessed on: October 30, 2013.

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 Lets focus on language!
1. Look at this excerpt from text 3 in the Lets read! section. Then check () the right
option to complete the statement.

Brian: Hello Brian.

Steve: Brian, Im Steve, nice to meet you. Uh, who are these people here?

In this interaction, we can say that Brian uses

() a formal introduction,
( ) an informal introduction,
and that Steve is
( ) more formal.
() more informal.

Keystone
2. Now read a dialogue from the movie The Express, the story of an
African-American athlete who changed the way fans looked at men of

Everett Collection/
his color. Then check () the right option to complete the statement.

Gloria: Im Gloria. This is my friend... Sarah. Shes visiting from

Cornell.
Jack Buckley: Gloria and Sarah. OK. Im Jack Buckley, but you call
me JB.
Gloria: JB. JB.
Jack Buckley: And this is my friend, Ernie.
Gloria: How do you do?
Ernie Davis: Very well.

In this interaction, Gloria replied to Ernie in

( ) a formal way. () an informal way.

3. What factors determine the level of formality in an interaction between people?

() cultural background () the relationship between them
() age () other:
() the place where they are
Everett Collection/Keystone

4. Read the dialogue from the movie The Express again. Circle
the parts in which someone introduces someone else to
another person.

Look at some other options for Jack Buckley to introduce

Ernie Davis.
Option 1: Gloria, have you met Ernie?
Option 2: Id like to introduce you to Ernie.

Ernie could also have replied using one of the following options.

Option 1: Pleased to meet you.

Option 2: Nice to meet you. Scene from The Express (from left: Rob Brown, Omar
Benson Miller, Linara Washington, Nicole Beharie).

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 5. Practice formal and informal greetings according to each of the situations represented in
the pictures. Choose expressions from the box below and complete the bubbles.

Greeting Answering greeting Greeting Answering greeting

Formal Formal Informal Informal

How do you do?

How do you do?
Pleased to meet you. Hows you? Fine thanks. You? / Fine!
Pleased to meet you.
I am fine, thank you, and Hello. Fine, and you? /
How are you?
you? Hi. Im fine. / Im OK. / Im
How are you doing?
I am fine, and you? Hiya. great!
Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you too. Hey! Hi. / Hello. / Hi there! /
Good morning /
Good morning / Whats up? Hey. / Hiya.
afternoon /evening
afternoon / evening

a) Old friends meeting on the street

b) Teacher greeting students in the morning

Illustrations: Estdio Mil/ID/BR

c) Classmates meeting during the weekend

In
formal
situations,
when you meet
someone for the
first time, you can
say How do you do
and shake hands. In
informal situations you
normally dont shake
hands, but you can
say and do Give
me five.
1 Express Yourself

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 Lets talk!
1. Lets play talent show! First, talk to your classmates using these questions.
a) What kind of TV show is being represented in the pictures below?
b) Do you know the woman in the picture?
c) What questions is the man probably asking her?
d) Do you think this contestant was successful?

Available at: <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSrAJsWvEIc>.

Accessed on: May 20, 2013.
y 20, 2013.
utube.com/
essed on: Ma
ttp://www.yo
sWvEIc>. Acc
Available at: <h
watch?v=VSrAJ

Scottish singer Susan Boyle. Image captured from:

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSDoPY9B0wQ>.
English TV producer Simon Cowell. Image captured from: Accessed on: October 30, 2013.
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSDoPY9B0wQ>.
Accessed on: October 30, 2013.

2. Now it is your turn to interview or be interviewed. Have a similar conversation with a classmate. Use the
information in the speech bubbles and vocabulary from the box.

actor cartoonist ceramist clown comedian

dancer designer graphic designer gymnast juggler
mime musician painter rapper sculptor singer

Student A
(a member of a judging panel)
Greet your partner. Student B
(a contestant)
Ask his/her name.
Greet back.
Ask how old he/she is.
Say your (artistic) name.
Ask where he/she is from.
Say your age.
Ask him/her what his/her talent is.
Say where you are from.
Say what your talent is.

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