Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.
Hi, I’m Sarah. Welcome to The Daily English Show.
The video I’m going to talk about today is the famous clip of Miss South Carolina.
This video clip is very funny. Well, I think it is, and millions of other people seem to find it entertaining too. But I think some English students might not understand why it’s funny – so I thought I’d explain it.
She was asked this question:
Recent polls have shown a fifth of Americans can’t locate the US on a world map. Why do you think this is?
Her Answer:
I personally believe ... that US Americans are unable to do so, because ah, some people out there in our nation don’t have maps. And I believe that our ed, education like such as in South Africa and the Iraq everywhere like, such as. And ... I believe that they should ... our education over here in the US should help the US or, or should help South Africa. And should help the Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future for our children.
The first funny thing she said was: US Americans. There is no such thing as US Americans – because all Americans come from the US. You can say things like Canadian-Americans – like Jim Carrey who has dual citizenship. Or African Americans, people who were born in America but whose ancestors come from Africa. But US Americans ... no, you can’t say that.
Then she says the reason why some people can’t locate the US on a world map is because they don’t have maps. Which is grammatically correct – but it’s a silly answer, so it’s funny too.
Then she says "our education like such as in South Africa ...", which doesn’t make sense because American education has nothing to do with South Africa.
Also, she says, like, such as ..., which mean the same thing, so you don’t need to use both of them together. But you can if you want, so it’s not such a huge mistake.
But she ends a sentence with such as, which is very strange. You should use such as before an example.
She also says the Iraq – which is strange. You don’t use the before Iraq. You shouldn’t use the in front of most countries actually. But you can in front of some. For example: the Netherlands, the Philippines, the Dominican Republic, the United States
She also says the Asian countries, which is odd in this context. She should say: America should help Iraq and Asian countries. But then that would still be funny because it doesn’t have anything to do with the question.
It’s also funny how she started randomly talking about Iraq and South Africa. Iraq is in the news a lot at the moment, so maybe that country just popped into her head, but South Africa – what has that got to do with anything?
And overall, I think the funniest part, is that: with her voice, and the way she is standing, and her big smile at the end - she looks like she’s really confident and she’s making perfect sense. But she isn’t.
I think she might have the potential to be the next Paris Hilton.
STICK NEWS
Kia Ora, in Stick News today, David Beckham has hurt his knee.
David Beckham is an English soccer player.
Since July this year, he’s been playing for an American team called Los Angeles Galaxy.
His team played a game yesterday and, in the 30th minute, Beckham hurt his knee.
CNN reported he suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee which will sideline him for six weeks.
And that was Stick News for Thursday the 30th of August.
Kia Ora.
conversations with sarah
#299 There are hundreds of countries in the world
Step 1: Repeat Brad’s lines.
Step 2: Read Brad’s lines and talk to Sarah.
Brad Speaking of maps, do you think you could name all the countries in the world on a map?
Sarah Hell, no. There are hundreds of countries in the world.
Brad How many are there?
Sarah I don’t know. Hang on, I’ll check. Mmm it says here there are 244 countries ... but it sounds confusing, depends on what you include in the list. Anyway a few hundred.
Brad How many do you think you could point out on a map?
Sarah Maybe twenty or thirty.
Brad That’s all?
Sarah Yeah. But who cares ... if I want to know where something is I’ll just look it up. I don’t need to have all that information in my head.
Brad Fair enough.
Sarah That’s what I learnt in school anyway. It’s more important to know how to look things up that to remember facts.
#299 There are hundreds of countries in the world
Step 1: Repeat Brad’s lines.
Step 2: Read Brad’s lines and talk to Sarah.
Brad Speaking of maps, do you think you could name all the countries in the world on a map?
Sarah Hell, no. There are hundreds of countries in the world.
Brad How many are there?
Sarah I don’t know. Hang on, I’ll check. Mmm it says here there are 244 countries ... but it sounds confusing, depends on what you include in the list. Anyway a few hundred.
Brad How many do you think you could point out on a map?
Sarah Maybe twenty or thirty.
Brad That’s all?
Sarah Yeah. But who cares ... if I want to know where something is I’ll just look it up. I don’t need to have all that information in my head.
Brad Fair enough.
Sarah That’s what I learnt in school anyway. It’s more important to know how to look things up that to remember facts.
links
music
show start, cws start, qa start
artist: Matthew Tyas
album: Music for the movies vol1
tracks: Superheros, Intellectuel, Three ways to run away
from: Oloron Sainte-Marie, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site
cws bgm
artist: San Sebastian
track: mellow
artist site
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