Notice: Did you know you can get an instant definition of any word on this page, just by double-clicking on it?

Try it now! Double-click any word on page to see the definition!

Views #784 | Low-Intermediate 4

The Musuem

Shona shares what she thinks about museums and what she finds odd.

Script
Vocab
Quiz


Jess	Todd

Todd: OK, Shona, you're an artist and you like art so you must have a special routine when you go to a gallery or a museum. Do you have any recommendations how to appreciate art when you go?

Shona: Yeah, sure. I think people tend to follow a specific ritual when they go into an art gallery, which I think is a bit odd in my opinion. I don't know, like, they might kind of, they'll be talking to their friends outside the gallery or museum but as soon as they go in they start speaking really quietly.

Todd: Right. Right.

Shona: And like hushed tones as if it's like, you know, what you do when you go into church or chapel or temple or whatever. You kind of speak a bit more quietly because you are in a sacred place. People treat the art gallery and the museum as a sacred place, so their voice will go down. They might start to kind of be a bit unsure of where they are standing, like, "Oh, am I in someone's way?" or I think in an art gallery or museum, to fully appreciate what you are like looking at, you've got to be a tiny bit selfish. You shouldn't worry to much about people around you, you know, because if you're a bit self-conscious or whatever, you're not going to be really appreciating what's around you.

Todd: Well, you know, that's really interesting but I thought you were supposed to be quiet. Like, I thought if you talk, then they'll ask you to leave, or you'll be breaking the rules.

Shona: No, not at all. Not at all. Maybe like in a library or something, like at university where people are studying and you're not allowed to speak but in an art gallery or museum it supposed to be quiet interactive. It doesn't matter which one you are in. You know, it doesn't matter how grumpy looking the attendants are, who are like there, or you know, what the clientele is. You should be able to openly speak about what you are seeing around you, and like, honestly, I feel so passionately about it. Like I think you should be able to talk, and it's not a rule. It's not a rule. Like, have you ever like saw someone talking loudly and they've been chucked out of an art gallery or museum for doing so.

Todd: You know what, I can't remember, but I can't even remember anybody talking.

Shona: Exactly. Well the next time you're in an art gallery or museum you should talk and be lively and see what happens.

Todd: OK, but if I get thrown out.

Shona: It's my fault.

Learn vocabulary from the lesson!!

a specific ritual

I think people tend to follow a specific ritual when they go into an art gallery.

A 'specific ritual' is something that one person or a group of people always does. It means that you do something a certain way each time.

Notice the following:

When I prepare for a run I have a specific ritual that I do when I warm up.
The religion has lots of specific rituals that are performed in the temple.

hushed tones

There are hushed tones as if it's like what you do when you go into church or chapel or temple.

'Hushed tones' are like whispers. It is when people talk with lowered voices, because they are trying not to make too much noise or they don't want other people to hear them.

Notice the following:

I could not hear what they were saying, as they were talking in hushed tones.
When you go into a library, it is polite to talk in hushed tones.

grumpy looking

It doesn't matter how grumpy looking the attendants are.

When somebody is 'grumpy looking,' it means that they do not look very happy.

Notice the following:

I do not think I am going to like my new teacher, as she looks very grumpy looking.
You are very grumpy looking today.

chucked out

Have you ever seen someone talking loudly and they've been chucked out of an art gallery or museum for doing so?

When you get 'chucked out' of somewhere, it means that you are asked to leave, because you are doing something wrong or disruptive.

Notice the following:

Please don't do that; you might get us chucked out.
He always gets chucked out for being too noisy.

thrown out

If I get thrown out, it's my fault.

When you are 'thrown out' of somewhere, it means that you are asked to leave due to bad behavior. This has the same meaning as 'chucked out.'

Notice the following:

The man was that drunk, so he got thrown out of the bar.
I was worried that we were going to get thrown out, as we were talking too loudly.

Vocabulary Quiz

ritual • hushed • grumpy
chucked • thrown out

This is a specific that she does before every basketball game.
She got out of the game for being too aggressive.
He got of class today, because he was being disruptive.
I think my friends are talking about me behind my back, because they are chatting in tones whenever I see them.
My second grade teacher was very looking, but she was nice.