Brushing ‘Up’ your English | Bangkok Post: learning

Learning from movies

A fun English lesson based on a scene from Pixar’s animated movie ‘Up’.

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Brushing ‘Up’ your English

Lots of good English language learners have used movies and videos to improve their language. This can be difficult at first because the language is spoken so quickly, but with practice – a lot of practice – it gets easier and easier.

In this example, I have made it very easy for you because I have made a text of what was said. It comes from the animated movie “U” by Pixar. In this scene Russell has found what he believes is one of the Snipes Mr Fredrickson has told him about.

Notice that everything is in the simple present at the beginning, but it changes to the past for a brief moment when Russell gets back to Mr. Fredrickson. Why? The finding of the Snipe has already happened. Then it continues in the present.

I found a Snipe (from UP)

RUSSEL: Tracks? Snipe
Here, Snipe. Come on out Snipe. Snipe
Huh.
Hah, Got you.
Don't be afraid little Snipe. I'm a Wilderness explorer so I'm a friend to all nature. Want some more?
Hi boy. Don't eat it all. Come on out. Come on. Come on.
Don't be afraid little Snipe. Nice Snipe. Nice....

I found a Snipe
MR FREDRICKSON: Oh, did you?
RUSSEL: Are they all?
MR FREDRICKSON: Oh yes, they're very tall
RUSSEL: Do they have a lot of colours?
MR FREDRICKSON: They do indeed.
RUSSEL: Do they like chocolate?
MR FREDRICKSON: Oh yes....Chocolate?
Dah! What is that thing?
RUSSEL: It's a Snipe
MR FREDRICKSON: Not that thing is a Snipe.
RUSSEL: But you said Snipes...Whoa!
MR FREDRICKSON: Go on, get out of here. Go on. Go
RUSSEL: Whoa, whoooa
MR FREDRICKSON: Careful, Russell
RUSSEL: You know what Mr Fredrickson? It likes me. Whoa
Russell!
RUSSEL: No, stop. That tickles.
MR FREDRICKSON: Get out of here. Go on. Get.

tracks – marks or lines of marks showing the direction that something has moved ร่องรอย
wilderness – a large area of land that has never been developed or used for growing crops because it is difficult to live there; บริเวณรกร้างว่างเปล่า
explorer – a person who travels to unknown places in order to find out more about them ผู้สำรวจ,นักสำรวจ,ผู้สำรวจตรวจค้น
whoa – stop, especially for an animal you are riding หยุด (โดยเฉพาะใช้สั่งม้า)
tickle – to produce a slightly uncomfortable feeling in a sensitive part of the body; to have a feeling like this; to move your fingers on a sensitive part of somebody's body in a way that makes them laugh ทำให้จั๊กจี้

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