Talking Points for ESL Students – Fame www.roadtogrammar.com
Before the discussion Do you know the following words and phrases? entertainer loss of privacy box office idol
fame celebrity paparazzi fortune
We asked three students from around the world whether they would like to be famous. Here are their replies.
Understanding different viewpoints Sasha “Ever since I was a little girl, I have always wanted to be a famous actress. The Hollywood actresses have an amazing life. They are rich and beautiful and everyone wants to be like them. They wear expensive clothes and the actresses get to travel all round the world to make movies. Sometimes they even get paid a fortune for advertising a product. It is like money for nothing.”
Amanda “A lot of girls want to be famous like Paris Hilton or Britney Spears, but not me. I couldn’t stand people watching me all the time and following me around. If you are famous, you can’t do normal things like go to the supermarket or go to the park with your family. The paparazzi will follow you everywhere you go and take photos of you. If you have a problem with your husband or your boyfriend, it will be analyzed on television programs and in the newspapers everyday.”
Felix “I would love to be rich, but I’m not so sure about being famous. I don’t like the idea that I would lose my privacy. Maybe it would be better to be a famous writer or something. That way, only a few true fans would recognize you. For example, Stephen King is famous, but he can still live a normal life. Anyway, I’m very shy and I’m not good-looking enough to be an actor.”
Discussion: 1 Would you like to be rich and famous? Why or why not? 2 Do you have an idol or a favorite celebrity? 3 Do you like to hear gossip about celebrities? 4 What are the advantages and disadvantages to fame? 5 Why do so many celebrities behave in a strange way? 6 What happens to famous people when they are no longer famous?
In English, the idiom ‘15 minutes of fame’ is used to describe a situation where a person is famous but for only a short time. Google ’15 minutes of fame’ and see what comes up!
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