Success
1. Watch the video. What's the main message of the story? What do we learn from it?
2. Watch the video and answer the questions.
- What's the main message of the story? What do we learn from it?
- How can one succeed in a hostile environment?
- Why do you think such a beautiful voice couldn't reach fame before?
- Do you agree that our global culture mostly focuses on appearance rather than inner strength?
- Susan Boyle's dream was to be as successful as Elain Paige. What is YOUR idea of success?
Susan Boyle debut on Britain's Got Talent TV Show
3. Watch the video again and complete the gaps.
SC = Simon Cowell, AH = Amanda Holden. PM = Piers Morgan, SB = Susan Boyle.
SC: What's your name d___________ (1)?
SB: My name is Susan Boyle.
SC: Ok, err, Susan, err, w_________ (2) are you from?
SB: I'm from Blackburn near Bathgate in West Lothian.
SC: That's a big town…?
SB: It's a sort of, a sort of collection of … (she thinks) … v__________ (3). I had to think there!
SC: And how old are you Susan?
SB: I'm 47… and that's just one s______ (4) of me!!
SC: Ok, and what's the d________ (5)?
SB: I'm trying to be a professional singer.
SC: And why hasn't it worked out so far Susan?
SB: Well, I haven't been given a ch________ (6) before, but here's hoping it'll ch________ (7)…
SC: OK, and who would you like to be as successful as?SB: Elaine Paige…
SC: Elaine Paige
SB: …something like that.
PM: What are you gonna sing tonight?
SB: I'm going to sing "I Dream The D______ (8)" from Les Miserables.
She sings: (A presenter says: You didn't expect that! Did you?? Did you?? No!)
I dreamed a dream in t_____ (9) gone byWhen hope was high, and life worth livingI dreamed that love would never dieI dreamed that God would be forgiving.
Then I was y______ (10) and unafraidWhen dreams were made and used, And wastedThere was no ransom to be paidNo song unsung, No wine untasted.
But the t________ (11) come at nightWith their voices soft as thunderAs they tear your hopes apartAs they turn your dreams to shame.
And still I dream he'll come to meAnd we will live our lives t_________ (12)rBut there are dreams that cannot beAnd there are storms we cannot weather…
I had a dream my life would beSo d__________ (13) from this hell I'm livingSo different now from what it seemsNow life has killed the dream I dreamed.
She starts walking off the stage when she is finished…
PM: Come back here!!
SC: All right, and thank you very much, err, Susan. Piers?
PM: Without a doubt that was the biggest s___________ (14) I have had in 3 years of this show. When you stood there with that cheeky grin and said "I want to be like Elaine Page", everyone was l____________ (15) at you. No one is laughing now! That was stunning! An incredible p___________ (16). Amazing! I'm reeling from the shock. I dunno about you two, but…
AH: I am so thrilled because I know everybody was a_________ (17) you. I honestly think we were all being very cynical and I think that's the biggest wake up c______ (18) ever, and I just want to say that it was a complete privilege, listening to that.
SC: I knew the minute you walked out…
SB: Oh Simon! SC: …on that stage that we were gonna hear something e______________ (19) and I was right. Susan, you are a little tiger, aren't you.
SB: Oh, I don't know about that.
SC: You are. OK, the moment of truth. Piers – yes or no?
PM: The biggest yes I have ever given a____________ (20).
SC: Amanda? AH: Yes. Definitely. Brilliant.SB: Amanda?! You too?!!
SC: Susan Boyle. You can go back to the village with your h______ (21) held high, because it's three yesses! …
SC: What's your name d___________ (1)?
SB: My name is Susan Boyle.
SC: Ok, err, Susan, err, w_________ (2) are you from?
SB: I'm from Blackburn near Bathgate in West Lothian.
SC: That's a big town…?
SB: It's a sort of, a sort of collection of … (she thinks) … v__________ (3). I had to think there!
SC: And how old are you Susan?
SB: I'm 47… and that's just one s______ (4) of me!!
SC: Ok, and what's the d________ (5)?
SB: I'm trying to be a professional singer.
SC: And why hasn't it worked out so far Susan?
SB: Well, I haven't been given a ch________ (6) before, but here's hoping it'll ch________ (7)…
SC: OK, and who would you like to be as successful as?SB: Elaine Paige…
SC: Elaine Paige
SB: …something like that.
PM: What are you gonna sing tonight?
SB: I'm going to sing "I Dream The D______ (8)" from Les Miserables.
She sings: (A presenter says: You didn't expect that! Did you?? Did you?? No!)
I dreamed a dream in t_____ (9) gone byWhen hope was high, and life worth livingI dreamed that love would never dieI dreamed that God would be forgiving.
Then I was y______ (10) and unafraidWhen dreams were made and used, And wastedThere was no ransom to be paidNo song unsung, No wine untasted.
But the t________ (11) come at nightWith their voices soft as thunderAs they tear your hopes apartAs they turn your dreams to shame.
And still I dream he'll come to meAnd we will live our lives t_________ (12)rBut there are dreams that cannot beAnd there are storms we cannot weather…
I had a dream my life would beSo d__________ (13) from this hell I'm livingSo different now from what it seemsNow life has killed the dream I dreamed.
She starts walking off the stage when she is finished…
PM: Come back here!!
SC: All right, and thank you very much, err, Susan. Piers?
PM: Without a doubt that was the biggest s___________ (14) I have had in 3 years of this show. When you stood there with that cheeky grin and said "I want to be like Elaine Page", everyone was l____________ (15) at you. No one is laughing now! That was stunning! An incredible p___________ (16). Amazing! I'm reeling from the shock. I dunno about you two, but…
AH: I am so thrilled because I know everybody was a_________ (17) you. I honestly think we were all being very cynical and I think that's the biggest wake up c______ (18) ever, and I just want to say that it was a complete privilege, listening to that.
SC: I knew the minute you walked out…
SB: Oh Simon! SC: …on that stage that we were gonna hear something e______________ (19) and I was right. Susan, you are a little tiger, aren't you.
SB: Oh, I don't know about that.
SC: You are. OK, the moment of truth. Piers – yes or no?
PM: The biggest yes I have ever given a____________ (20).
SC: Amanda? AH: Yes. Definitely. Brilliant.SB: Amanda?! You too?!!
SC: Susan Boyle. You can go back to the village with your h______ (21) held high, because it's three yesses! …
4. Read the idioms about success in context. Match the idioms with their definitions.
1. count one's chickens before they hatch It's too soon to cry victory. Don't count your chicken before they hatch!
2. be alive and kicking (also be alive and well) Don't worry about your grandfather; he is alive and kicking.
3. come at a price (also come at a cost) You say that you want to be famous, but you have to know that fame comes at a price.
4. dog-eat-dog It's disheartening to know that we are living in a dog-eat-dog world.
5. every dog has its day. It's okay that you didn't succeed this time. Every dog has its day.
6. bear fruit I hope your new plans will bear fruit
7. come up roses I was worried a lot about the project, but eventually it's coming up roses.
8. give the devil his due. I don't like the man but give the devil his due – he works incredibly hard.
9. place in the sun He finally earned his place in the sun after winning the contest.
2. be alive and kicking (also be alive and well) Don't worry about your grandfather; he is alive and kicking.
3. come at a price (also come at a cost) You say that you want to be famous, but you have to know that fame comes at a price.
4. dog-eat-dog It's disheartening to know that we are living in a dog-eat-dog world.
5. every dog has its day. It's okay that you didn't succeed this time. Every dog has its day.
6. bear fruit I hope your new plans will bear fruit
7. come up roses I was worried a lot about the project, but eventually it's coming up roses.
8. give the devil his due. I don't like the man but give the devil his due – he works incredibly hard.
9. place in the sun He finally earned his place in the sun after winning the contest.
A. you achieve something you want but by giving up something.
B. You're in a position which provides you with everything you want.
С. to continue to be well, healthy or successful
D. It is said about a world where people do anything to be successful.
E. to assume success too early, before it is certain
F. to acknowledge the talent or the success of an opponent or unpleasant person
G. Everyone can be successful at something at some time in their life.
H. You do something and it produces a desired result or reward.
I. Something is happening very successfully.
B. You're in a position which provides you with everything you want.
С. to continue to be well, healthy or successful
D. It is said about a world where people do anything to be successful.
E. to assume success too early, before it is certain
F. to acknowledge the talent or the success of an opponent or unpleasant person
G. Everyone can be successful at something at some time in their life.
H. You do something and it produces a desired result or reward.
I. Something is happening very successfully.
1. count one's chickens before they hatch It's too soon to cry victory. Don't count your chicken before they hatch!
A. you achieve something you want but by giving up something.
2. be alive and kicking (also be alive and well) Don't worry about your grandfather; he is alive and kicking.
B. You're in a position which provides you with everything you want.
3. come at a price (also come at a cost) You say that you want to be famous, but you have to know that fame comes at a price.
С. to continue to be well, healthy or successful
4. dog-eat-dog It's disheartening to know that we are living in a dog-eat-dog world.
D. It is said about a world where people do anything to be successful.
5. every dog has its day. It's okay that you didn't succeed this time. Every dog has its day.
E. to assume success too early, before it is certain
6. bear fruit I hope your new plans will bear fruit
F. to acknowledge the talent or the success of an opponent or unpleasant person
7. come up roses I was worried a lot about the project, but eventually it's coming up roses.
G. Everyone can be successful at something at some time in their life.
8. give the devil his due. I don't like the man but give the devil his due – he works incredibly hard.
H. You do something and it produces a desired result or reward.
9. place in the sun He finally earned his place in the sun after winning the contest.
I. Something is happening very successfully.
1 - E, 2 - C, 3 - A, 4 - D, 5 - G, 6 - H, 7 - I, 8 - F, 9 - B.
Success
Vocabulary/ Expressions
5. Match the phrases with the pictures.
A. count one's chickens before they hatch, B. be alive and kicking (also be alive and well), C. come at a price (also come at a cost), D. dog-eat-dog, E. every dog has its day, F. place in the sun, G. come up roses, H. give the devil his due, I. bear fruit
A. count one's chickens before they hatch, B. be alive and kicking (also be alive and well), C. come at a price (also come at a cost), D. dog-eat-dog, E. every dog has its day, F. place in the sun, G. come up roses, H. give the devil his due, I. bear fruit
7. CONVERSATION questions.
- How do you define success? Please explain.
- Is there some sort of key to success? In other words, is there a quality or characteristic that guarantees success? Why/not?
- Why do so many people measure success with symbols of wealth, power, and fame?
- Assuming you could possess only one, would you prefer health, happiness, or money? Why?
- What characteristics does someone require for financial success? Why do you think so?
- Tell me about one of your goals in life. Is it difficult for you to focus on your goal all the time? Why or why not?
- Do people learn from their failures? Why or why not?
- What advice would you give someone who wants to be successful?
- In which aspects of your life do you hope for greater success? Is it possible to achieve your goals within 1 year? 5 years? 10 years? Why/not?
- There are many books which purportedly offer the key to success. Do you believe these guides really work? Why/not?
