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"Try" by Colbie Caillat
"Try" by Colbie Caillat

Learn English with this Try by Colbie Caillat English lesson

Date: Sep 05 2014

Themes: Celebrity, Fashion, Music, Pop Culture

Grammar: Contractions and Abbreviations

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

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2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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American singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat is a pop star who is tired of the infamous glitz and glam associated with the Hollywood limelight. Instead of encouraging women to continue to put on makeup and always look perfect, Coblie’s newest music video “Try,” shows her stripping it away. She and other actresses and models take off their makeup during the video, and they all still look gorgeous.

The video is moving, perhaps, because it’s so personal. Many women believe their value comes from their body image, not from their personality. “Try” encourages women by telling them they are beautiful, no matter what they look like. It’s a song that shows women their true self worth is not based on looking like Photoshop pictures, but on being real people.

Do Gary and Jessica agree with Colbie Caillat’s song? Find out in today’s English lesson about beauty.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Jessica

Jessica

Gary

Gary

Jessica:  I saw the most beautiful, moving music video the other day.

Gary:  Really?

Jessica:  It was Colbie Caillat.

Gary:  She’s great.

Jessica:  I know. I love her. It was her music video for her new song “Try.”

Gary:  Oh, I’ve heard that on the radio. It’s really good.

Jessica:  It’s a great song anyway, but the music video was so beautiful. She basically starts the video, and she looks gorgeous and has all this makeup on.

Gary:  Yeah, yeah.

Jessica:  And then, slowly, all of the actresses and models, you start to realize, are just real people, and they…

Gary:  Oh, because all their makeup is coming off, so you see them without the lipstick and eye shadow.

Jessica:  Exactly. And they do this really cool split screen, so you see on one side of the screen the person with all of their makeup on, looking beautiful.

Gary:  And the other side without?

Jessica:  Exactly.

Gary:  Oh, that is so cool.

Jessica:  And you see them stripping it away, and they’re still so beautiful.

Gary:  Yeah.

Jessica:  And it’s just showing you that without all the glitz and glam, we are all still beautiful.

Gary:  That’s really wonderful.

Jessica:  I know.

Gary:  I really want to see that.

Jessica:  I know. It made me cry. You have to check it out.

Gary:  I’m going to go look for it right now, actually.

 

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

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Jessica and Gary are discussing Colbie Caillat’s new music video “Try.” Jessica’s seen the video, and Gary’s heard the song. Both friends agree that the message of self worth for women is important and powerful.

Jessica thinks that the women in the video are just as beautiful without makeup as they are with it on. Gary thinks that it’s a cool idea. Since the video is so moving, Jessica lets Gary know that she cried when she watched it. Gary tells Jessica that he’s going to look up the video right away.

Have you seen Colbie Caillat’s “Try”? What do you think is important for self-worth?

 

Comments

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S&W

S&W

China

I can’t believe how great lesson that i had missed.I just carelessly press “like” and never seriously read it.That’s my fault.However,I was gald i can re-opened this lesson in this special day.Great song!!! The music video is simple but expressed a lot,You must like yourself and don’t cover yourself in a heavy make-up in oder to attract other people’s favor.


You don’t have to try
You don’t have to try
Take your make-up off let your hair down
Take a breath look into the mirror at yourself
Don’t you like you
Cause I like you


Happy valentine’s Day!!!!


  

01:58 AM Feb 14 2015 |

1 person likes this

sara1234b

sara1234b

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Hey, guys !


“Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart, i think True beauty in a Woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows. 



What’s the whole point of being pretty on the outside when you’re so ugly on the inside?

12:13 PM Sep 07 2014 |

mahbubeh92

mahbubeh92

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

ALL right .just let me write down the expressions.

09:01 AM Sep 07 2014 |

HAMAL

HAMAL

Yemen

we saw it because the famuos and beautifal cast i think the smile is important in any job

07:17 PM Sep 05 2014 |

1 person likes this

Hajiyeva Ayshad Super Member!

Azerbaijan

We can use make up just little bit, not excessive, and we look more gorgeous. 

04:45 PM Sep 05 2014 |

EmErAlD

EmErAlD

Egypt

I agree with colbie 

02:32 PM Sep 05 2014 |

2 people like this

valencia irene yunita

Indonesia

Honestly… I LOVE COLBIE ..She is a good singer… i like her style and her voice..Regards from Indonesia…<3 <3 

01:31 PM Sep 05 2014 |

vik32

vik32

India

no i couldnt see that video but still liked the idea so much..self worth is really important be confident no matter how you look. 

09:02 AM Sep 05 2014 |

Eric_

Eric_

China

Bubbly…

03:07 AM Sep 05 2014 |

buttafly

buttafly

Germany

I’m amazed how a simple video can provoke such emotions. It’s an inspiring song..well done, Colbie Caillat!


In all of the women – even with their imperfection – I can see how the deeper beauty shines out from within. There’s no need to hide behind excessive make-up. The best beauty advice ever: Smile!...and stay true to yourself!


07:30 PM Sep 04 2014 |

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