Talking Points for ESL Students – Fame

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Before the discussion

Do you know the following words and phrases?

fame entertainer
celebrity loss of privacy
paparazzi box office
fortune idol

We asked three students from around the world whether they would like to be famous. Here are
their replies.

Understanding different viewpoints

Sasha

“Ever since I was a little girl, I have always wanted to be a famous

actress. The Hollywood actresses have an amazing life. They are rich and
beautiful and everyone wants to be like them. They wear expensive clothes
and the actresses get to travel all round the world to make movies. Sometimes
they even get paid a fortune for advertising a product. It is like money for
nothing.”

Amanda

“A lot of girls want to be famous like Paris Hilton or Britney Spears, but not me.
I couldn’t stand people watching me all the time and following me
around. If you are famous, you can’t do normal things like go to the
supermarket or go to the park with your family. The paparazzi will follow you
everywhere you go and take photos of you. If you have a problem with your
husband or your boyfriend, it will be analyzed on television programs and in
the newspapers everyday.”

Felix

“I would love to be rich, but I’m not so sure about being famous. I don’t
like the idea that I would lose my privacy. Maybe it would be better to be a
famous writer or something. That way, only a few true fans would recognize
you. For example, Stephen King is famous, but he can still live a normal life.
Anyway, I’m very shy and I’m not good-looking enough to be an actor.”
Discussion:

1 Would you like to be rich and famous? Why or why not?

2 Do you have an idol or a favorite celebrity?

3 Do you like to hear gossip about celebrities?

4 What are the advantages and disadvantages to fame?

5 Why do so many celebrities behave in a strange way?

6 What happens to famous people when they are no longer famous?

In English, the idiom ‘15 minutes of fame’ is used to describe a situation where
a person is famous but for only a short time.

Google ’15 minutes of fame’ and see what comes up!

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