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The X-Files: I Want to Believe

The X-Files: I Want to Believe

Date: Nov 19 2008

Themes: Alternative, Pop Culture

Grammar: Gerunds vs. Infinitives

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.

According to a recent poll, 24% of Americans believe that aliens have visited Earth. Some of those people may have been influenced by The X Files, a hit science fiction TV show in which FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully investigate mysterious, unsolved cases. Through the 1990s, Mulder and Scully shined their flashlights on all things paranormal, from UFO sightings to bizarre monsters, and tried to uncover government conspiracies.

Now, after five years off the air, The X Files is back with a feature film called I Want to Believe. Fans of the TV show want to believe that the movie will be as good as the show. But will they be disappointed? Listen to what Marni and Mason think.

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.

Marni

Marni

Mason

Mason

Marni:  I was a huge X Files fan.

Mason:  Back in the day, right?

Marni:  Yeah, but like, you know, shockingly, they just came out with a new movie. But it was very under the radar. Like, nobody really knew it was coming out.

Mason:  What? Everybody knew it was coming out. It was like, “Oh man, The X Files are back.” But everyone was worried, myself included, and I think justifiably so.

Marni:  Well, my point is that in the information age we’re in, you know, nobody knew the plot or anything. The plot being, Mulder is actually wanted.

Mason:  Yeah, the thing is, The X Files kinda lost touch with me when they really…They didn’t really like hold on to that paranormal aspect. The spooky, like, “The Truth Is Out There.” Um, they started getting into the romance sort of thing…And like these really big conspiracies as opposed to just that simple, “Government’s hiding stuff, there’s aliens…”

Marni:  Right. But I think it’s interesting that Mulder, you know, was like a great FBI agent and now he’s like on the lam.

Mason:  Why did he…Why did he ever leave the show in the first place? I stopped watching before that happened.

Marni:  I agree…I kinda stopped watching too.

Mason:  Yeah. Yeah, it was like end of third season, they’re like, “Oh wow, there’s aliens now.” And it was like, man, that was the whole point of the show, maybe there’s aliens.

 

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Discussion

Marni used to love watching The X Files TV show and is surprised to hear a new X-Files movie just came out. In the new movie, Mulder, who used to be an FBI agent, is now a wanted man.

Mason used to like The X Files too, but he stopped watching the series after the stories started to get too complicated and the romance between Mulder and Scully became a bigger part of the show. He liked it better when the show was just about chasing extraterrestrials and monsters, and the government conspiracies were easier to understand.

Do you believe in aliens and other paranormal beings like ghosts or monsters? Do you think people in the government would try to keep it a secret if they knew that aliens were real?

 

Comments

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iron guy

iron guy

Hong Kong

in this tv show or movie, the topic of alien is the main course, try to let people know something important or something that gov try to cover up…as the matter of fact, Alien equal to God, they only have more advanced civilization or some technology we dont understand.. i know many people believe in some religion, no offense, someday we’ll have to face itLaughing

05:12 PM May 22 2012 |

kavintenison

United Kingdom

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Ohh Yeah!! I'm huge fan of X files series and I really enjoyed when I watched it. In my every weekends, I have enjoyed my favorite X Files episodes online.

12:41 PM Apr 09 2011 |

thomas121

thomas121

Germany

I love to watch The X Files tv show. This is really an amazing tv series. I have all the episodes of this tv show that i get online. 

12:03 PM Feb 28 2011 |

caandrade

caandradeSuper Member!

Ecuador

This is one of the best show I´ve ever seen, years ago i spent a whole day watching complete seasons; if there exists aliens somewhere, this is the last place they should visit..

05:09 AM Jun 17 2010 |

isef mert

isef mert

Turkey

the x-files is the best in my favourites,ı like it very much and ı have got many things about it like wallpapers:)

03:52 PM Oct 22 2009 |

zoebaby

zoebaby

China

i saw the X-FILE2,but i failed to catch anything,i don't think there has something associate with aliens…maybe i gotta see it again….but people take interest in this issue….that's cool!!

01:52 PM Nov 25 2008 |

MATEUSHS

MATEUSHS

Latvia

People which watch shows like x-files might start to be afarid of evil spirits, but we just must to find The God and He will set us free! It is not a game…

04:48 PM Nov 24 2008 |

1 person likes this

MATEUSHS

MATEUSHS

Latvia

... i think people should get it more seriously! It is not a game to play!

04:46 PM Nov 24 2008 |

MATEUSHS

MATEUSHS

Latvia

I do not like X-files, because people which use to watch it, starts to believe in unreal things, for example in alliens. And i am sure many things we can not explain are not our business! There is The God and just He Can do something to set us free from ghosts. If we try to understand something we can to get in big trouble with evil spirits. People can do nothing to win evil spirits, but The God Can!

04:46 PM Nov 24 2008 |

1 person likes this

kukuka

kukuka

Ukraine

Actually i don't care whether they exist or not…

12:49 PM Nov 24 2008 |

jinning

jinning

China

yes,it may be like that.

06:01 AM Nov 24 2008 |

rachaeita

rachaeita

Bangladesh

I used to watch ” The X Files”. I was a gr8 fan of it. I do beleive aliens are exist.

05:31 AM Nov 24 2008 |

Ruilong

Ruilong

China

I didnt see the movie X-Files,but i have seen several movies about the aliens,the most favourite movie for me is the thriller,its so exciting.im a atheist,i dont believe ghosts,god,but xometimes,maybe under the effection of the movie,i feel feared ,but that doesnt mean i believe there is ghosts,maybe what we feared of is that the ghost who settle down in our mind!

im sure there must be other creature in the other planet,maybe they are on the way to evolve,or they are cleverer then us humanbeings!

02:54 AM Nov 23 2008 |

Kas-ye

Kas-ye

Yemen

me too did not belive..

10:50 AM Nov 22 2008 |

guoshuai

guoshuai

China

I believe that it will be exist some life such as aliens .

09:45 AM Nov 22 2008 |

miffoo

miffoo

Slovakia

I'm was watching X- Files that's very interesting and funny, but I don't believe ghosts and paranormal things

08:55 PM Nov 21 2008 |

MarcosPT

Portugal

yes i may consider the fact that is life in the universe (note:i said life not develop people lke us). it is too bg and maybe other planets with appropriate conditions made possible the birth of life.

i have never seen the serie but i know it and it seems cool.

06:39 PM Nov 21 2008 |

samiabenarab

France

hi,

you cant' be mad just because you want to meet them, there are many cretaria to juge you as a mad!Laughing. I think that you actually belive on the alien's existance strongly which makes you want to meet them, you may feel it as an exiting thing!. In the other hand I think that it's a little childish to want to meet aliens!

12:43 PM Nov 21 2008 |

jinning

jinning

China

am i mad that i want to meet them?

11:30 AM Nov 21 2008 |

jinning

jinning

China

these day, my friends regard me mad because i always saying that i want to meet  alien and make friends with them. i really believe that they ane somewhere .

11:29 AM Nov 21 2008 |

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