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Pass the Torch

Pass the Torch English, baby! Video Lesson

Date: Feb 16 2010

Themes: Sports, Work

Grammar: Present Progressive Tense

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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Just after the rings, comes the torch as the most widely recognized symbol of the Olympic Games. For each Olympics, the flame is ignited in Greece a few months before the opening ceremonies. Then, an international relay carries it to the host city.

When a leg of the relay ends, the torchbearer holds his or her torch up to the next person’s torch to light it. Then that person carries it to the next person and so on. The Olympic Flame never stops burning until the games are over!

But you don’t need a fire to pass the torch. The president of an organization passes the torch on to the next president. A beauty queen passes the torch to the next winner of the pageant. If you pass the torch, it means you transfer something important or meaningful to someone else.

This year, the torch relay to bring the flame where it is burning in Vancouver, Canada, is the longest in history. Get ready to meet one of the people who helped bring it there.

3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.

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.

Jason

Jason

Torchbearer_Jen

Torchbearer_Jen

Jason:  Welcome to English, baby! I’m Jason, here in Stanley Park in Vancouver, British Columbia, and we’re standing across the water from the Olympic Torch. As you can see, the flame is burning brightly. That flame traveled thousands of miles to be here and it touched hundreds of peoples’ hands. In English, we have an expression, “pass the torch.” To pass the torch means to carry on a tradition. Someday you’ll leave your job and you’ll pass the torch to someone else who will take it over. And so, for that flame to reach this point in Vancouver, it had to be passed. Let’s see if we can find one of the torchbearers, who passed the flame along the way. Alright. We’re here with a torchbearer. What’s your name?

Torchbearer_Jen:  Jen.

Jason:  Jen, so where did you carry the torch today?

Torchbearer_Jen:  I carried it yesterday, actually, across the Burrard Street Bridge and I passed the flame to my colleague, Brian.

Jason:  And so, how did it feel to carry the Olympic torch?

Torchbearer_Jen:  It felt amazing. I cannot describe it. The feeling is still going through me. It was just…It was incredible.

Jason:  So can you just tell us about the Olympic Flame and what does it represent to you?

Torchbearer_Jen:  It’s gone around the world. It represents, you know, unity and spirit and I just think, like, it’s amazing that the whole world is coming together for this.

Jason:  Is there a time you’ve ever passed the torch in your life?

Torchbearer_Jen:  Yeah. I guess my previous job, when I left that position, I sort of passed it on to someone else. But it still stays within me. I think that’s part of the key of passing it, right, is you remember it and it lives with you.

Jason:  Thanks so much, Jen. If you can hold it with one hand, can I get you to give me a high-five and say, “English baby!”? English, baby!

 

Grammar Point

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

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Jason explains the different meanings of “pass the torch.” The Olympic torch travels around the world before the Olympic Games begin, and one torchbearer passes it to another. But outside of the Olympics, when you pass the torch to someone, you pass on a tradition or responsibility.

Jen has had plenty of experience passing torches. When she left her last job, she passed the torch on to the next person who took the position after her. Jen is also one of the many people who passed the Olympic flame on its way to the waterfront in Vancouver, British Columbia. It felt amazing to her to be a part of the Olympic relay. The Olympics bring the whole world together, and Jen felt lucky to be a part of the excitement.

When was the last time you passed the torch? What does the Olympic Flame represent to you?

 

Comments

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rebel lee

rebel lee

China

I like to watch Olympic games,but the Olympic Flame means nothing to me.It's nothing special except for good-looking.

I've never passed a torch,but I will do it very soon.Because I am leaving my old job,I have to pass it to somebody,I guess.

05:50 AM Jun 27 2010 |

hasan salem

Yemen

hi

 

11:59 AM Mar 25 2010 |

mahak90

India

hi i want to give trial

07:56 AM Mar 25 2010 |

@.....michel....@

Yemen

hi

09:54 AM Mar 14 2010 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

I could complete that idea…Pass the torch it means "to pass the knowledge and responsibility" too…In my job I have to pass the torch to the each new trainee to come work here so I have to teach them about bodybuiding and trainings…I guess this is a form to pass the torch :)

08:19 PM Mar 09 2010 |

alhanooty

alhanooty

Saudi Arabia

i like this video my hope to lern english

09:43 PM Mar 07 2010 |

khaled mohamed

Egypt

hi every body    how are now

 

11:30 PM Mar 06 2010 |

klaudita1203

Poland

it's good to exercise listening:) like this

09:25 PM Mar 06 2010 |

lemoo 3asl

Yemen

very niiiice I like it Laughing 

05:15 PM Mar 03 2010 |

chemosta

Egypt

i'm only 17 …........ i haven't even carried the torch in order  to pass it :D  

02:30 PM Mar 02 2010 |

rosendo

rosendo

Mexico

i agree with kpl.

10:20 PM Feb 26 2010 |

kpl

kpl

Taiwan

we will pass the torch on lives when we are being parents as our parents .

 They alson pass the blame,fight,lie…. and more other bad things to us, and we always learn it up incrediblel easily than some good !

05:52 PM Feb 26 2010 |

kukuka

kukuka

Ukraine

Thу last time I passed the torch  when I graduated from the univ, as my younger brother became a student that year. I guess it was somehow a kind of passing the torch action. I just hope I got the meaning of this expression. 

The Olipmpic fire means nothing special to me, I am not watching the Olympic games taking place in Vancouver  now, I'd rather participate as a spectator at some summer Olimpics. That would be great for sure.

09:52 AM Feb 22 2010 |

Romio79

Romio79

Russian Federation

Olympic flame represents spirit of competition and struggle, but also peace and friendship. 

09:03 AM Feb 21 2010 |

sima z

sima z

Egypt

I passed the torch to someone else when i quit my job since 4 months

05:00 AM Feb 20 2010 |

~MemoTheHun~

Germany

pass the torch, drop in, goofy, regular

 

thanks

03:17 PM Feb 19 2010 |

ala4fadeel

Sudan

I'm waiting for the day in which I will pass the torch to some one else, sooner or later that's going to come.

08:17 AM Feb 18 2010 |

Ca_Brazil

Ca_Brazil

Brazil

the olympics represents the unity of the world and superation of all athlets. its great to watch they performing. my favorite is ice skating.

12:27 AM Feb 18 2010 |

Gabi Mendes

Brazil

When I decided to leave my stage , I passed the torch to a friend.

To me, the olympic flame represents equal rights. 

 

12:16 AM Feb 18 2010 |

s id

Saudi Arabia

 when  my mother was  traveling . she passed the torch  on me .           because  take care of our house and siblings 

07:07 PM Feb 17 2010 |

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