VOA Level 2 - Lesson 23 : Rock Star

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/lets-learn-english-level-2-lesson-23/4287922.html

Summary

Anna interviews musician Emma G on her show. But, her excitement starts to become a little....strange.

Conversation

Anna: Hello?

Ms. Weaver: Anna, this is Ms. Weaver.

Anna: Ms. Weaver!

Ms. Weaver: Tomorrow, you’ll be interviewing musician Emma G.

(Anna is very excited. She loves Emma G’s music.)

Anna: Emma G?! I will be talking to Emma G?!

Ms. Weaver: Anna? Anna, are you there?

Professor Bot: Anna and Ms. Weaver used the future continuous verb tense to talk about the interview.

Prof. Bot: We use future continuous to talk about actions that will be in progress at or around a time in the future.

Prof. Bot: For example, Ms. Weaver says, “Tomorrow, you’ll be interviewing musician Emma G.”

Prof. Bot: There are two options for future continuous. The first is: will be + the -ingform of the verb

Prof. Bot: And the second is: be + going to be + the -ing form of the verb. Keep watching for more!

Anna: Hello and welcome to The Music! Today, musician Emma G will be joining us here!

Anna: She is a wonderful songwriter and an amazing singer. And I love her! Let’s give a warm welcome to Emma G!

Anna: Hi. Thank you for coming on the show, Emma G.

Emma G: Of course. It’s great to be here.

Anna: Well, we can’t wait to hear you sing. I listen to your music a lot. So, I feel like I know you. Is that strange?

Emma G: Anna, listening to music can be a very personal experience. So, no, that’s not strange.

Anna: Good because I made something for you -- a video scrapbook of our friendship.

Anna: I took photos of you and added myself. I worked on it all weekend.

Emma G: Well, that -- that’s strange. Is that even -- is that even legal?

Anna: Now, Emma, let’s talk about your schedule. Tell me ... I mean, tell us exactly where you will be and when. Exactly.

Emma G: Sure. Well, in early June, I’ll be performing at several venues across Austin, Texas.

Anna: That’s my vacation week. I can meet you there! We can tour the city. We can have lunch.

Emma G: Um, yeah maybe. Then in mid-July, I’m going to be teaching at a music camp in Chicago.

Anna: I’ll be visiting my sister then. She only lives about six hours from Chicago! I could drive over. We could hang out.

Emma G: Yeah, uh maybe. You know, maybe now is a good time for some music.

Anna: That’s a great idea. Now, let's hear a song from Emma G.!

Emma G: I wrote this song a couple of years ago. It’s called “Wary.”

Emma G: Do you believe in happy endings?

Anna: Endings...

Emma G: Do you really believe that we could be…

Anna: Be...

Emma G: I think something is wrong. I hear a voice in the background.

Anna: Sorry. Sorry, Emma. That was me. I’m just so excited.

Emma G: No problem. I'm glad you like the song.

Anna: You go ahead. You go ahead.

Emma G: Okay. Do you believe in happy endings?

(She hears a tambourine playing and looks at Anna.)

Emma G: Anna, there’s no tambourine in this.

Anna: I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry, Emma. See, I’ve always wanted to sing with you.

Emma G: Well, come on over then and we can sing a song together first.

Anna: No, I couldn't.

Emma G: Come on. It’ll be fun.

Anna: Okay! Here. I brought my favorite song.

Emma G: Oh, uh okay. Actually, I like this song. Um, are you ready?

Anna: Yes! Yes!

Emma G: Okay.

Emma G / Anna together:

Every breath you take*
Every move you make
Every bond you break
Every step you take
I'll be watching you …
I’ll be watching you...
I’ll be watching you...

*From "Every Breath You Take" by The Police

New Words

add – v. to put something with another thing or group of things
amazing – adj. causing great surprise or wonder
background – n. a position that attracts little attention
break – v. to separate something into parts or pieces often in a sudden and forceful or violent way
breath – n. the air that you take into your lungs and send out from your lungs when you breathe 
bond – n. something (such as an experience, or feeling) that is shared between people or groups and forms a connection between them
form – n. a type of kind of something
future – n. the period of time that will come after the present time​
hang out – v. (phrasal verb) to spend time relaxing, talking, or doing something with someone ​
interruption – n. to say things while another person is speaking
legal – adj. of or relating to the law
mental – adj. of or relating to the mind​
personal – adj. relating to a person's private feelings, thoughts or problems
schedule – n. a plan of things that will be done and the times when they will be done
scrapbook – n. a book with blank pages to which you attach photographs, letters or newspaper stories to help you remember a person or time
songwriter – n. a person who writes the words or music to songs
step – n. one of a series of actions that are done to achieve something​
tambourine – n. a small musical instrument that is held in one hand and played by shaking or hitting it with the other hand
tour – n. a series of performances, appearances, or competitions that occur at different places over time
wary – adj. not having or showing complete trust in someone or something that could be dangerous or cause trouble
venue – n. the place where an event takes place

Practice

Now, you try it!

First, read about the future continuous verb tense below. Then, write two or three sentences in the Comments section about your future plans.

Be sure to use future continuous in each sentence!

Future Continuous

We use the future continuous verb tense for future actions that will continue for a period of time.

Future continuous is used only for action verbs. An action verb is a verb that expresses a physical or mental action. Examples are: write, read, sing, work, think and stop. Verbs like be, become, feel and look are not action verbs.

Future continuous:

• for action verbs only
• has two forms

Forms:

• will be + ing verb
• be + going to be + ing verb

Examples:

• Today, musician Emma G will be joining us here!
• In early June, I’ll be performing at several venues across Austin, Texas.
• Are you going to be teaching at the music camp in Chicago this July?
• She won't be returning to Washington, DC until the end of the summer.
• I will be becoming happy when you visit my show tomorrow. (wrong)

With the future continuous, we often shorten the part of verb that comes after the subject. Look at the examples (You'll, I'll, I'm).

subject	will be	-ing verb
You	'll be	interviewing
Emma G.	will be	joining
I	'll be	performing

In the second form of the future continuous verb tense, the verb to be is conjugated -- it changes to match the subject. See the examples below.

subject	to be (conjugated)	going to be	-ing verb
I	'm	going to be	teaching
They	are	going to be	singing

Test Yourself

How well do you know the grammar from Level 2? Test yourself!

In Lesson 23, you will see examples of grammar that you have learned in Level 2. Look for sentences in Lesson 23 with:

• Passive voice
• Prepositions
• Reflexive pronouns
• Present perfect
• Verbs talk, speak, tell and/or say

Then, write those sentences in the Comments section. For example, "I’ll be performing at several venues across Austin, Texas" uses the preposition at.