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Method to One's Madness
Method to One's Madness English, baby! Video Lesson

Learn English meaning of ‘method to one’s madness’

Date: Aug 15 2017

Themes: Soap Opera, Time

Grammar: Contractions and Abbreviations

Intro

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2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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People approach life in many different ways. There’s usually never just one answer to a problem. Sometimes, there are a ton of answers! Some people have some pretty crazy ideas about how to solve problems. For example, in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, Hamlet wants revenge on his father’s killer. In order to hide his goal, Hamlet decides to pretend that he’s crazy. Most of Hamlet’s friends admit to Hamlet that his plan doesn’t make any sense.

However, Hamlet’s friend Polonius says, “Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t.” Apparently, Polonius is admitting that there is a method to Hamlet’s madness. When there is a method to one’s madness, this means that someone has a good reason for doing something crazy. Method to one’s madness is an English phrase that started with Shakespeare, but there’s no getting stuck in the 17th century for this phrase. We still use it today.

Dominique has done a few things that Kelsey doesn’t understand. Listen as Dominique explains to Kelsey that there is a method to her madness.

3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Dominique

Dominique

Kelsey

Kelsey

Dominique:  Look, all I’m saying is that there’s a method to my madness.

Kelsey:  Which is?

Dominique:  Well, we are getting here super early, right?

Kelsey:  Apparently. I can understand that Andy wants a good view, but getting here this early is a little crazy.

Dominique:  It is, but…

Kelsey:  But?

Dominique:  But here we are, arriving this early. There’s going to be a ton of people here tonight, and I want to position the car in a place where we can leave quickly and easily. And the further away we park…

Kelsey:  The further we have to walk…

Dominique:  And the closer the car is to not getting stuck in the craziness of everyone trying to leave at the same time.

Kelsey:  Right, but couldn’t we just leave early?

Dominique:  Andy won’t want to leave early, and I promised him we’d give him a ride home.

Kelsey:  Yeah, you’re right. OK, fine.

Dominique:  See, this is perfect.

Kelsey:  I see that there is a method to your madness.

Dominique:  Thank you.

Kelsey:  One thing.

Dominique:  Yes?

Kelsey:  Who’s going to carry the heavy cooler?

Dominique:  Ugh. Well, you gotta admit, it was a good plan, except for that part.

 

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

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Dominique and Kelsey are meeting Andy at the park for a fireworks festival. Dominique and Kelsey get to the park very early, and position the car very, very far away. Dominique tells Kelsey that there is a method to her madness. She wants to park the car where they can leave quickly and easily when the festival is over.

Kelsey points out that now they have to walk for a long ways. Or they could just leave early. Dominique says that Andy won’t want to leave early. Kelsey admits there is a method to Dominique’s madness. But who’s going to carry the heavy cooler? Dominique hadn’t thought about that. It was a good plan other than that!

Have you done something that all your friends thought was crazy? What was the method to your madness?

 

Comments

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jennyair

United States

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07:56 AM Apr 23 2018 |

eduardosoutoSuper Member!

Brazil

Yes, all the time! I am a crazy teacher hahaha!


But I can always show the method to my madness!


I created a WhatsApp group with people all over the world for my students practice, but I don’t consider this a method to my madness!


Virtual Immersion Group on WhatsApp:
http://www.vocepodefalaringles.com.br/2017/07/grupo-de-imersao-virtual-em-ingles-vpfi.html

11:00 AM Aug 16 2017 |

hermitlady

China

  Let me see. Since I was married I have not done anything that my friends thought was crazy. I admit that if one don’t do any crazy thing in his own life , his life must be insipid. He must be a straight and narrow man.


   But when I was a young even a child, I had ever done something crazily.


   When I was a middle-school student, I ever rode on bicycle about more 20KM within one hour from my home to our county town. Yes ,if the time were now, that was no problem for many students.


   There were no blacktop about 30years ago. The best roads were only covered sands . as child there were seldom persons riding on bicycle for long distance at that time especially a girl.


   Even there were seldom children who wanted to go far away at that time ,not only cause of inconvenient traffic, but also there were no consciousness.


  When I first rode to the county town , I was so excited that I told my classmates who all felt surprised. They thought me crazy. But I never regret it . I only wanted to see the out world, I only wanted to know more about my world. And I can help myself only.


   I took part in the western aid for college students where were undeveloped when I was graduated from my university when all students wanted to the developed places to work and live… I knew there were many unknown things at anywhere. ..



  

06:58 AM Aug 15 2017 |

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