The Ant and the Grasshopper | Learn English | Aesop's Fables

EXTRAS: http://linguaspectrum.com/lessons/language_lessons/The%20Ant%20and%20The%20Gr...

The Ant and the Grasshopper is a famous fable by Aesop. Here it has been given a slightly different message with the help of a few dozen ant actors. I made this video to test out the capabilities of my new HD video camera. I hope you find the story interesting and the hard-working ants fascinating.

This video is aimed at students with a very high level of English. It contains a lot of difficult vocabulary and many expressions that may be new to you.

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[Mangara99]

How come this is so different from the story I've heard my entire life? Is this some kind of parody?

Anyway, I love this version much better, it's more realistic and I completely agree people should enjoy their lives more, I mean, work is important but I dont think it's too funny to have children to leave them alone or with strangers all day... just to mention one thing...

[Linguaspectrum]

@Mangara99 Thanks for watching and for commenting. This is my version of the old story. I'm glad you like it.

[02sanja]

Hi Richard, Your new HD video camera seems to be a good one and you, the grasshopper and your little ant actors did a great job! :-) Yes, you are right. There are an awful lot of new words in this vid and they partly are even kind of poetic, I guess. Nice challenge, though. lol. I´ve one question: "...if they are lucky and the drudgery d o n ´t kill us off first..." Shouldn´t this read "doesn´t"? Or do we have to regard it as" the poetic licence"? lo. Have a nice day! Brig

[Linguaspectrum]

@02sanja Hi Brig. Thanks for watching and for your comments. The expression, "If it don't kill us off first," is typical colloquial speech, even though ungrammatical. It's easier to say than "If it doesn't kill us off first", and less formal, so I guess that's why its use is fairly widespread in spoken English, though you wouldn't use it in written English. As you can tell by the way the ant speaks, it's not very posh, being a poor little worker ant.

Best wishes,

Richard

[mrbealer]

man i never knew how important this was and that it would apply to me and every living thing. please pay attention and learn from this kids.

[kar2375]

@Mangara99 

[gooritza]

I like it !

[lowertaxes123]

What is the lesson here? Let others produce for you while you, the moocher, live off their production. Or, die because you do not prepare for "winter".... Very strange remake of a very good story.

[violajean]

thought provoking. thank you 

[anje33]

great story,great moral! still adoring watching your videos! thanks

[williamdouglasb]

Great job!