Josh Duhamel: New Year’s Resolutions

Josh Duhamel
                                               Josh Duhamel



The party is over. We have said, ‘goodbye’ to the old year of 2011 and ‘hello’ to the new year of 2012.  Now, we reflect on the past year and decide what changes we want/need to make.  We create resolutions to ‘fix’ or achieve these changes.  Also, many people use this opportunity to set goals they want to reach in the up incoming year.  For the early weeks of January, people will be talking about their resolutions and how they achieve them.



Josh Duhamel, plays ‘Sam Ricker” in the newly released movie New Year’s Eve.
He is an American actor who has been in several movies and TV shows such as “Transformersand All my Children. Let’s check out Josh Duhamel’s New Year’s Resolutions.

Actual Video Interview 
(New Year's Eve Resolutions excerpt- Start from 2:40 – End)




New Year's Eve Resolutions-Transcript - (2:40 – End)

Interviewer:  Are you a resolutions kind of guy or not your thing?

Josh Duhamel:  Aah Yeah I am. I don’t know if I would call them resolutions but they are goals that I try to set every year.  I write specifically what I want to do professionally and personally.

Interviewer:  Wow! So you actually make a list.

Josh Duhamel:  Yeah and I put it up on the board. So I have to look at it. So that I am constantly working toward it whatever it is.

Interviewer:  Very cool! Any big ones this year?

Josh Duhamel:  Aaah Yes, I’m going to learn how to rodeo.

Interviewer:  Very fun.

Josh Duhamel:  Yeah I want to learn how to tie a steer. No.

Interviewer:  That would be a pretty cool one wouldn’t.

Josh Duhamel:  That would be but I am not that manly unfortunately.

New Year’s Resolutions  

Goal setting and motivational technique:Goal setting and Motivational Technique: Josh uses a common ‘goal setting’ technique.  He categorizes his goals under the titles ‘professional’ and ‘personal’.  Next, he makes a list and puts it up on a (cork) board as a daily reminder or daily motivator.  Josh follows up with more details as to ‘why’ he uses this technique (daily reminder/motivator).


Future Goal:  Naturally, the interviewer asks about Josh Duhamel’s goals for 2012.  Josh uses a common English pattern to express the future:
Aaah Yes, I’m going to learn how to rodeo.  (be + going to + infinitive)

Straightforward and natural English but then he puts in a twist.  The listener finds out that this isn’t true.  Josh creates another meaning by using the word ‘No”. This can turn his positive sentences into a negative or opposite idea in conversation:



Positive sentences:
Aaah Yes, I’m going to learn how to rodeo.
Yeah I want to learn how to tie a steer.

Negative/opposite idea:
Aaah Yes, I’m going to learn how to rodeo.
Yeah I want to learn how to tie a steer. No            
Same English
I was just joking. I don’t want to learn how to rodeo and I don’t want to learn how to  tie a steer. 

Josh uses a simple joke form to convey the idea that he doesn’t want to tell the interviewer/listener his true goals for 2012.  Too bad! However, we were able to see his method or technique for creating professional and personal achievement. 

 Conversational Speaking Style Practice

Note: Interview adapted for common conversation practice.

Interviewer:  Are you a resolutions kind of guy/girl or not your thing?

Answer:  Aah…yeah I am.  I don’t know if I would call them resolutions but they are goals that I try to set every year.  I write specifically what I want to do professionally and personally.

Interviewer:  Very cool! Any big ones this year?

Josh Duhamel:  Aaah Yes, I’m going to learn how to rodeo.

Interviewer:  Very fun.

Ex. 1
Interviewer:  Are you a resolutions kind of guy/girl or not your thing?

Answer:  Aah…yeah I am.  I don’t know if I would call them resolutions but they are goals that I try to set every year.  I write my goals down and tell my friends about them.

Interviewer:  Very cool! Any big ones this year?

Josh Duhamel:  Aaah Yes, I’m going to learn a new language.

Interviewer:  Very fun.

Ex. 2
Interviewer:  Are you a resolutions kind of guy/girl or not your thing?

Answer:  Aah…yeah I am.  I don’t know if I would call them resolutions but they are goals that I try to set every year.  I try to find a friend who has the same resolutions so that we can help each other.

Interviewer:  Very cool! Any big ones this year?

Josh Duhamel:  Aaah Yes, I’m going to lose weight by going to the gym 3 times a week.

Interviewer:  Very fun.

Movie Trailer with Josh Duhamel
Have a good week practicing! See you next week!

Celebrity English Language and Culture
Alex
Celebrity English





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