English, baby!

Syriana

Date: Dec 28 2005

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.

George Clooney has really come out swinging this year. His movie Good Night, & Good Luck got rave reviews, and his new movie Syriana is getting a lot of praise for its approach to the fiasco in the Middle East.

Listen to John and I talk about the movie.

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.

John

Dave

John: So, you saw Syriana last night?

Dave: Yeah, it was a good movie. It really lays the foundation for a discussion about what’s going on in the Middle East right now.

John: Yeah, how we’re basically running out of oil, you mean?

Dave: Yeah, pretty much. I mean, our gas guzzlers are taking up, you know, all the, all the, ah, reserves.

John: And it’s not only us, but other countries in the world, like China trying to go after it.

Dave: Right. I think that’s what’s interesting about the movie is it, it kind of shows how the U.S. and China are really vying for control over these limited resources.

John: Right. Which creates a lot of instability in the Middle East.

Dave: It does.

John: Because a lot of people are fighting over that.

Dave: Right. So, I think the movie does a good job portraying, um, power struggle in the, in the, ah, Middle East, and how businesses are manipulating the region.

Quizzes

Go Super to take Quiz

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3

Go Super to Ask Ebaby! teachers your questions!

The iTEP^® test

Sponsored by

Schedule an iTEP^® test and take the official English Practice Test.
Take Now >

Discussion

Syriana ties together the multiple stories of how nations, corporations and individuals are fighting for power in the Middle East. The movie follows a Pakistani boy desperate to improve the condition of his family and nation. It shows how the U.S. and China, the world’s largest oil consumers, are trying to secure access to oil fields.

Matt Damon plays an oil broker – a person who buys and sells oil on the international market – who describes the situation when his character says, It’s running out, and 90% of what’s left is in the Middle East. This is a fight to the death.

While most oil industry executives say that there will not be an oil crisis in the coming five to ten years, many independent analysts say that hard times are ahead. They say that within five years the price of oil will double, causing a collapse of the global economy.

This is a very touchy issue. What are your thoughts?

Comments

< Previous
21 through 38 of 38
1 2

沈伦

China

I really agree with you!

mohamed_said4480

Egypt

hi im mohamed said from egypt

Omarj

Palestinian Territory, Occupied

utmost and absolutly right they even wants to crush the region not only USA and China. France UK, Jermany, and even rusha do. They are like a foxes pursue the deer. God help the region

engalmjad

Italy

wow

that really true

Snowmountain

China

Why do not i open this movie !!!

I cannot watch this movie, but i want to see it .

Which one can heip me,please!

jianer666

China

let's hope for new technology ,and scientists to finally invent some more relyable stuff so as to replace oil ,maybe they r the only hope we can count on

jianer666

China

and what can we do ? everytime i see movies ,media ,news relating to criss of natural resources or enviromental sitation that is going downhill and near to its end. i feel kinda doomed~ cuz the world will not be safe anymore . it could totally ruin my day and linger on in my mind ~~

carlao1600

Brazil

that's right!!

ferghana

Uzbekistan

I`ll wwatch this movie!!!!

vicky-tran

Viet Nam

I guess I'd love it too. The movie is relating to the "hotest" issue in the world nowadays.

Geethanair

India

It was really interesting to read the talk about film Syrina. Though I have not seen this movie or even heard about it until I saw this in your site. I will defenitely watch this moview soon.

MOEEN

Pakistan

i havnt seen the movie but this is the best practice to impove your english

katiavolos

Greece

it's the first time i reply.I haven't seen the movie yet but i will definitely see it. I guess the story appeals to me. I have to admitt that i enjoy this way of improving our english

kamuos@yahoo.com

Iraq

khaledlover

Saudi Arabia

I DID NOT SEE THIS MOVIE BUT ACCORDING TO WHAT I READ I WILL THE MOVIE SOON.

BEST REGARD

duke-nukem

Germany

SYriana a politic film ( fiction ), that shows us the criminal energy in gulf of persia and the suppression of democratical thougts, the liberal successor of the oil throne were eliminated by the secret service of the united states of america. a good film