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Celebrity Salaries

Date: Apr 15 2009

Themes: Work

Grammar: Modal Verbs

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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.

According to Forbes.com, Will Smith is the highest-paid actor in Hollywood. In 2008, he raked in 80 million dollars. So if he gave up his salary for one year, he could afford to give each of the 1 million English, baby! members 80 bucks!

Some people think that celebrity salaries have gotten out of control. It’s hard to imagine how anyone could possibly need, or deserve, to make tens of millions of dollars. But stars have to spend a lot so they can look great, wear beautiful clothes, and maintain the fabulous lifestyles that their fans love to read about in magazines.

So, should actors like Will Smith make millions? Listen to what Marni and Dale think.

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.

Marni

Dale

Marni: I just read recently that Brad Pitt earns like 20 to 30 million dollars per movie that he makes.

Dale: 20 to 30 million dollars? How ‘bout the other actors, like Johnny Depp?

Marni: I think he earns something like 75 million dollars.

Dale: So do you think they should actually earn that much money?

Marni: Absolutely not!

Dale: I think it’s talent. I mean you have to have star power, and you have to have a lot of talent. And I know that a majority of the actors also have the ability to give to charity.

Marni: Yes, which hopefully they do. And I don’t doubt that all those stars do that. But the mere fact that they’re making in the millions…Look at all the professions that are so underpaid and so overworked. Like, for instance, teachers, who make absolutely nothing. I just think…

Dale: What do you think actors should earn?

Marni: You know, I understand that they need to earn a lot of money. Whatever. But millions of dollars?

Dale: What’s fair?

Marni: OK, you know, maybe a few hundred thousand. Wouldn’t that be sufficient?

Dale: Few hundred thousand. Few hundred thousand. So where would the rest of the money go?

Marni: I think it should go back into the community.

Dale: And I think that a lot of them do give back to the community.

Marni: I know, but aren’t we really just going crazy and…We lift these people up on a pedestal like they’re gods just because they make millions of dollars.

Dale: Well, some people do think that they are gods.

Grammar Point

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Discussion

Marni is shocked by how much money superstars like Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt earn. She doesn’t think anyone needs to earn more than a few hundred thousand dollars, even famous celebrities. Considering how little money other hardworking people make, it seems unfair to Marni that famous actors get paid so much. She also thinks we put celebrities on pedestals because of all their money. But they’re normal people just like us who shouldn’t be treated like gods.

Dale disagrees. He thinks the celebrities deserve to make millions of dollars because they’re very talented. Also, many of them give money to charity. So they do give back to their communities.

Do you think celebrities’ salaries are too high? Why? Are celebrities special or just regular people with unusual jobs?

Comments

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Nikauchi

Russian Federation

let's not be envy )) life is life ))) whose fault is that teavhers, doctors and others are underpaid?? and actually it's also a question of how much money is enough for you ))

zhouzihan

China

gad have two wings that's leech named sanitary napkin

andrescisneros

Colombia

I think that DALE is one person that believe in actors like gods. This boy is outside, end the other hand, Marni, listen to me, I agree with you

AMOUR

Congo

I just think that is worth earn all that money

VladimirR

Russian Federation

Athan.

Maybe we help on our world stars and raise their salaries by force of pool our money and send this resourse to them.

Athan

China

How to say,their salaries are not too high,cause in this society,there are like millions of people making millions of dollars,so you can't say all of them are unfair just because you can't earn as much as them do.It's a commercial society,like stars they have more commercial value than nomal people,so it's suitable for them to get high paid.But they are nomal people,we can't just go crazy to lift them up on a pedestal like they're gods.It's just they get special job which makes them millionares,there is nothing to do with them.I can't say everyone,but most of them dreaming to become rich,in that case we can do whatever we want,but you are not always lucky and you shouldn't wait the opportunity come to you,but to find it yourself with as much endeavor as you can make.

mehmetd

Turkey

ı think,it s important one not how much can we get money,where can we hand out to.. you know if we want to hand out money we can find out a lot charity anywhere….