Culture | Lesson 07 Flamenco _LEVEL 8_
Culture Lesson 07: Flamenco (Spain)
Activity 1 | Vocabulary and Expressions
Directions: Listen and repeat.

imperious [ɪmˈpɪriəs]– imperative, pressing, urgent

first-hand [fɜːrst hænd]– directly; from the original source

quality [ˈkwɑːləti]– of superior quality

bear in mind [ber ɪn maɪnd]– keep in mind, don’t forget

you lost me [jə lɔːst mi]– I cannot understand anymore

stem from [stem frəm]– to originate from

vice versa [ˌvaɪs ˈvɜːrsə]– the other way around

essence [ˈesns]– the most important part; the core
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Culture | Lesson 07 Flamenco _LEVEL 8_
Activity 2 | Dialogue
Directions: Read the dialogue aloud with your teacher.
Mira wants to learn flamenco, so she is asking her Spanish friend Laura about it.
Mira:
I really want to start learning an exotic dance. I was pondering between flamenco and tango,
but I am opting for flamenco. It seems less difficult, and there’s no imperious need for a
partner. I wish I could go to Spain to learn it first-hand.
Laura:
You don’t have to go to Spain to get some quality lessons. There are actually more flamenco
dancing schools in Japan than in Spain!
Mira:
That’s surprising! By the way, why is the dance called flamenco?
Laura:
The word itself means flamingo, but it used to mean “flame-colored”. However, there are
many theories regarding the origin of the name. On a side note, you’re referring to flamenco
as a dance, but bear in mind that it is not just a dance.
Mira:
You lost me here a bit.
Laura:
Flamenco is a form of musical art, and it has 3 elements – guitar, voice, dance. The dance can
actually be omitted, but the guitar and the vocals are the foundation of the performance.
Mira:
I see. Can you tell me where its origin stems from? Was it Andalusia?
Laura:
Yes, that’s the region’s name. Some people argue that it was developed by ethnical
minorities like the gypsies, the Jewish and Moorish people, but there’s hardly any evidence to
support that.
Mira:
I suppose the dance doesn’t look much like how it used to look in the beginning.
Laura:
True. For example, it has been influenced by ballet, and vice versa. There is a new style now,
called Flamenco Nuevo.
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Culture | Lesson 07 Flamenco _LEVEL 8_
Mira:
I wonder how many years it takes one to become a professional!
Laura:
When it comes to traditional flamenco, it is believed that young people are not emotionally
mature enough to properly express flamenco’s essence and soul. Therefore, they usually
become pros in their 30s and continue with their career for some decades.
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Culture | Lesson 07 Flamenco _LEVEL 8_
Activity 3 | Filling the Blanks
Directions: Fill in the blanks below to complete the sentences.
1. This weekend I will spend some
time with my sister.
2. The appearance of the new product was very attractive, but in
3. You need to
that this will be your last chance to win.
4. We know about this already. We have received the news
5. He felt an
.
need to buy cigarettes, even though he promised to quit smoking.
6. Where do such theories
7.
, it was nothing spectacular.
?
! Can you explain one more time, please?
8. I don’t like my neighbors, and
!
imperious
first-hand
quality
bear in mind
you lost me
vice versa
essence
stem from
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Culture | Lesson 07 Flamenco _LEVEL 8_
Activity 4 | Understanding the Vocabulary
Directions: Make sentences with the following words as taught in the lesson: “first-hand”, “vice versa”,
“quality”.
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Culture | Lesson 07 Flamenco _LEVEL 8_
Activity 5 | Free Conversation
Directions: Take turns with your teacher in answering the questions
1. Have you watched a flamenco performance? (If not, would you like to? Why or why not?)
2. What is your favorite type of dance?
3. Do you like to dance? Is there any style that you would like to learn?
4. What kind of performances do you enjoy watching? (ballet, musical, etc)
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