“Concrete jungle where dreams are made of” is how the city of New York is described in the hit song by Alicia Keys. Its presence in countless movies, songs, shows and stories has made New York City a dream destination for people from all around the world.
Pre-listening activities
- Write down a list of all of the things you associate with New York City. Compare and contrast your list with one of your classmates.
- Listen to the the song "Empire State of Mind Part II" by Alicia Keys and pay close attention to the words of the chorus. How does this description of New York compare to what you associate with this city?
Even if it ain't all it seems, I got a pocketful of dreams
Baby I'm from New York!
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothing you can't do
Now you're in New York!
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Hear it for New York, New York, New Yooork!
Task
Listen to the following dialogue between Carlos and his friends Caleb and Sofia. You can choose between listening to it with or without the below transcript.
Two different approaches:
- Check your understanding: Listen to the dialogue and answer the questions provided.
- Practice for the first part of the oral exam: Listen to the dialogue several times and take notes in order to be able to give a detailed summary of what the text is about.
New York – A Colorful Metropolis
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Check your understanding:
- In the introduction, Carlos mentions a lot of things that are typical of New York. Which ones can you remember?
- Why was Sofia late?
- In what way can the city of New York be described as a ‘salad bowl’?
- What are the benefits of taking the Staten Island Ferry?
- What is a cronut?
CC BY-SASkrevet av Hege Annette Fredriksen og Sonja Nygaard-Joki.
Sist faglig oppdatert 06.03.2019