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Thank You for Smoking

Thank You for Smoking

Date: Jan 17 2007

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.

In the 90s, several lawsuits in the US revealed that the tobacco industry had been lying about the health effects of their products, namely cigarettes. As a result, the industry had to pay out millions of dollars.

Since then, more and more information has been coming out about the potential health risks associated with smoking cigarettes. Now, cities around the world are starting to ban smoking in certain areas.

As efforts succeed to keep young people from smoking, and more older people quit smoking to avoid health issues like heart problems and cancer, the tobacco industry is losing customers.

In the movie Thank You for Smoking, Aaron Eckhart plays the spokesperson for the “Academy of Tobacco Studies,” whose main goal is to keep people smoking so that the tobacco companies can continue to make money. The movie is takes a satirical look at how companies market harmful and even deadly products.

Listen to Kevin and Amanda talk about the movie.

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.

Kevin

Kevin

Amanda

Amanda

Kevin:  Are you a smoker?

Amanda:  Uh, we can talk about that when we talk about New Year’s resolutions.

Kevin:  Uh-huh. OK. I just saw the movie Thank You for Smoking. Have you seen it?

Amanda:  Me too.

Kevin:  Very well done.

Amanda:  I thought it was a very interesting concept for a movie.

Kevin:  Mm hmm.

Amanda:  You know, that position somebody has to have at some point and you really don’t think about what type of person it takes to actually do that for a living, right?

Kevin:  Yes. But at the same time… Now, I’m very anti-tobacco companies…

Amanda:  Yes.

Kevin:  But, like, now, if you choose to smoke today, like, you know the risks, you know, so…

Amanda:  Absolutely. Absolutely.

Kevin:  So, I think that there is something to be said for personal responsibility. I thought the movie wasn’t as funny as I thought it would… as I expected.

Amanda:  Yeah, actually I don’t think it was funny at all.

Kevin:  It was pretty serious.

Amanda:  It was very serious and very disturbing, the facts of it.

Kevin:  But well done. Entertaining.

Amanda:  Uh, the casting was great.

Kevin:  Yes.

Amanda:  What was his name? Beautiful man with the cleft in the chin?

Kevin:  Very sexy but I can’t remember his name. Shoot.

Amanda:  Aaron Eckhart.

Kevin:  That’s right.

Amanda:  Also in In the Company of Men. Dark, dark movie, but fantastic in that as well.

Kevin:  He’s good.

Amanda:  Yummy.

 

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Discussion

Around the US, in areas where smoking is prohibited, it is common to see signs that say, “Thank You for not Smoking.” The title of the movie is making a joke about that. No one really says, “Thank You for Smoking.” No one, that is, except the tobacco companies who need you to smoke so that they can make money.

Both Amanda and Kevin found this movie very interesting. Even though it is a satire, full of ironic humor, it is a dark film.

How are cigarettes marketed in your country?

Do people in your country know or care that smoking is bad for you?

 

Comments

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Amin8km

Amin8km

Azerbaijan

i have pushed smoking….! ))))

02:41 PM Feb 17 2010 |

Josh K

Josh K

Guatemala

smoking is bad for the health.

05:26 PM May 09 2007 |

nugroho

nugroho

Indonesia

I used to be a smoker, 3 – 7 packs each day, however, I gave up smoking 5 years ago.. Now I get more healthy

05:55 AM Jan 23 2007 |

1 person likes this

diazbarreiro

Mexico

Smoking kills you slowly… I don’t care, don’t want to die soon.
Just a dark joke.

04:57 AM Jan 22 2007 |

eadanlin

eadanlin

United States

actually,I see little help with vedio since it’s hard to control time bar and acting is boring and unnecessary.

05:17 PM Jan 18 2007 |

hermann

hermann

Latvia

What is the mater with video?

11:05 AM Jan 17 2007 |

Everwelwisher

Pakistan

Where is todays Video conversation????
Tahirlively@hotmail.com

05:41 AM Jan 17 2007 |

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