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Casa de mi Padre
简体
Casa de mi Padre
《我爸爸的房子》

How to Use "Be Able to"

Date: Apr 06 2012

Themes: Pop Culture

Grammar: Be Able To

Intro

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Since Hollywood movies are popular worldwide, many actors from other countries have to learn English and make movies in English if they want to become internationally famous. It’s much, much rarer to see an American movie star make a film in a language other than English. But that’s just what comedian Will Ferrell decided to do. Why not? It seems everything he does is funny, no matter what the language is. Maybe laughter is the true universal language.

Casa de mi Padre is Ferrell’s all-Spanish comedy. He plays the son of a cowboy who wants to gain his father’s approval, save the family ranch, and get the girl of his dreams. Whether or not he succeeds isn’t really as important as how goofy he looks speaking bad Spanish in this unusual, slapstick comedy. Hear Jason and Amy talk about Casa de mi Padre and the humor of trying to speak a new language.

自从好莱坞电影风靡全球后,来自其他国家和地区的演员如果想要在国际上出名,就不得不学习英语,使用英语拍电影。美国电影明星使用英语之外的语言拍电影则更是少见。但是那正是喜剧演员威尔·法瑞尔 (Will Ferrell) 决定要做的事。这又有何不可呢?不管使用什么语言,似乎他的一举一动都会令人捧腹。也许笑声才是真正的通用语言。
《我爸爸的房子》是法瑞尔出演的一部纯西班牙语喜剧片。他扮演一位牛仔的儿子,希望得到父亲的赏识,保全家族的农场,并得到他的梦中女孩。在这部不寻常的闹剧中,他能否成功并不那么重要,重要的反而是他讲蹩脚的西班牙语时那傻乎乎的样子。听詹森和艾米谈论《我爸爸的房子》和尝试说一门新语言的幽默。

Dialog

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Amy

Amy

Jason

Jason

Amy:  Will Ferrell did a movie entirely in Spanish. What’s that all about?

Jason:  It’s fantastic!

Amy:  Is it?

Jason:  Yeah. I mean, Will Ferrell is pretty funny no matter what he does.

Amy:  God, just his face is funny.

Jason:  Yeah. But so, of course Will Ferrell badly speaking another language is hilarious.

Amy:  Yeah. Is it funny for an hour and a half though, or however long the movie is?

Jason:  Yeah, absolutely. It is like 84 minutes, so I think they knew they had to get in and get out of there. I think that it’s a great movie for anyone who’s a fan of Will Ferrell or anyone who speaks a little Spanish, ‘cause a lot of the jokes involve him saying things you would’ve learned in a classroom. It really highlights his weak Spanish skills.

Amy:  Right.

Jason:  And it explains it in the movie. His character’s supposed to be a native speaker, but he’s just supposed to be really dumb. But there’s also gags if you don’t speak any Spanish at all. A lot of the props are really terrible, and it’s purposefully bad.

Amy:  Uh-huh.

Jason:  Yeah, I think it’s a really cool idea to make a movie that makes fun of the language learning process in a way.

Amy:  And anyone who’s learned a language themselves has had those moments of just feeling like you’re sounding ridiculous and making a fool of yourself, but you have to kind of be able to laugh about it, I think.

Jason:  Totally. And so many actors have to learn English and do a movie in English, that it’s kind of cool for an American actor to do that.

Amy:  Definitely.

 

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Discussion

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Amy asks Jason about Will Ferrell’s new movie Casa de mi Padre. Jason really liked it. He thinks Will Ferrell speaking bad Spanish is hilarious. But Amy wonders how long that same joke could be amusing. Jason agrees that it’s a good thing the movie is short. Jason and Amy also agree that the process of trying to learn another language can have a lot of funny moments.

Jason is impressed that Ferrell decided to make a movie entirely in Spanish. He points out that a lot of actors from different countries have to learn English and make movies in English. So he appreciates the fact that Will Ferrell, a native English speaker, decided to make a film in a language he isn’t comfortable in.

Have you ever had any funny experiences while learning English? Are you surprised that an American actor decided to make a movie in another language?

 

Comments

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ola33

ola33

Japan

Julito, I really believe  Ebaby will help me with my listening skills ;)

01:39 AM Apr 07 2012 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

OLA ,  you are reading my mind,   exactly, after  so many english courses and this is happening to me.???    hehehehe

01:38 AM Apr 07 2012 |

1 person likes this

ola33

ola33

Japan

Very funny, Julito. It always happens to me on the plane, even with some English, I don’t know whether my ears fail to hear or what, but i never understand fly attendants. Always ask them several times. So awkward when everyone undestand around you and you don’t, like a fool :))) And you know how many English classes were taken :))

01:34 AM Apr 07 2012 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

OLA, I remember an amusing  story of which I was   the  principal actor . As I  was going to the super market  my aunt told me she would like to come along with me to buy a lottery ticket  and as she didn´t speak English needed my help  to do it for her.The lottery ticket  or scratcher  cost one dollar  and  the name tag was “THE CAT” . When ordering to the cashier   for The Cat ,he couldn´t understand  what I was asking for, the cat, the cat, I repeated  ,sorry Sir ,I don´t understand, as a last recourse, to show him what we needed, my aunt  started meowing as a cat  .Ohh, the scratcher ,here it is.   Probably , I was  pronouncing ” the cut.” from that the confusion. Well, definetely , I needed to take up  more english classes.   hehehehe    


 

01:11 AM Apr 07 2012 |

ola33

ola33

Japan

Very nice lesson about Will Ferrel and his future endeavour to learn a foreign language. Well, Good Luck! But with him, even if he master Spanish, people would take it as a gag. He’s so hillarious. I just wonder if he ever become serious :))) So, the movie is going to be very very promissing in terms of humor and laughing out loud. Remember, the movie with Tom Hanks, Terminal. He didn’t risk to learn a new language there but starred as a foreigner and spoke with an accent. Lots funny moments there.  


In the beginning of my learning of English, I went to a store to buy a jacket and since the jacket was very “cool” to me -  the inner lining could come off and I thought to myself—What a universal thing. To me it was that I could either wear it in winter or in spring. So, I just repeated that magic word “Universal” until the salesman heard that. He was kind of puzzled – What the heck is that “universal” and after a 3 min. pause, like a professional salesman - amusedly exclamed ” I like YOUR word universal”. And here, in this lesson i read that it’s something to be shared with someone else. The salesman was really confused but kept a poker face ;)

12:11 AM Apr 07 2012 |

1 person likes this

Hazel_eyes

Hazel_eyes

Morocco

You are absolutely right candycandice.I am a beginner in Spanish too it is my favorite language after English, I really like the way it sounds Laughing


 

09:51 PM Apr 06 2012 |

Lorieta

Lorieta

United States

Baset : Tell us one of them !

07:13 PM Apr 06 2012 |

The Last Joke

Yemen

Friends :


Since my childhood I have always kept a sweet memory about my brother. To me, the image of my brother where he stood in front of me like an Englishman, speaking English fluently many years ago made a deep impression in my mind and from that time on I have dreamt of becoming a good student of a foreign language like my brother.


 How can I learn so fast  ?


 To attain this aim, I must be determined. Determination are vital factors leading me to my success. Therefore, I am always determined to my success and I devote all my time to my study. My knowledge is not good and sufficient enough, so I have to read more books on every aspect. ( to get more experiences ).


 


 “So Where there is a will there is a way”.


 After many years of hard study, I have been able to read some kinds of books without any difficulties.


I always have funny experiences while learning English ! There are lots of stories about it ,especially when i have been in India, Kenya and Malaysia !!!!

Radhwan

Radhwan

United Arab Emirates

Actually I don’t have much background in this type of subject but I well say the following one of my hoppy to learn as more as possible of languages arond the world i am not sure is that related to our subject in some how but it is so funny of you know much languages won’t be trouble if you face people from out side.

03:53 PM Apr 06 2012 |

fabsir

fabsir

Brazil

I had many funny moments while learning English and actually I still have since it´s a constant process I guess. One of them was when I told an English speaking friend I was against animals being tested on in laboratories. I said ‘I´m against animals being tested in labs’ which meant checking animals for defects. We both shared a good laugh about it.

03:48 PM Apr 06 2012 |

1 person likes this

Hazel_eyes

Hazel_eyes

Morocco

It is always good and interesting when it comes to learning or using another language then yours..I think Will Ferrel was having such great time in the making of this film that is daring and funny!

11:42 AM Apr 06 2012 |

bienemaja

bienemaja

Andorra

I think it is very good to be open for learning, especially a new language.it´s funny when people don´t know or don´t remember the correct pronunciation of english.they may know the grammar exactly but an english person won´t be able to recognize their words lol

09:01 AM Apr 06 2012 |

yolanda880130

Philippines

it’s just a matter of time the amercan actors make movies in another language if they wanna make more money.

07:38 AM Apr 06 2012 |

1 person likes this

FUN777

FUN777

Egypt

I like this actor, he always makes me laugh. I can’t wait to see this movieSmile

06:09 AM Apr 06 2012 |

1 person likes this

sibby724

sibby724

Taiwan

I just knew it! Every films which including him are absolutely comedy! He’s hilarious!!

05:17 AM Apr 06 2012 |

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