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🌟 B2 Vocabulary & Pronunciation • 20 mins

Fame & Celebrity Culture

Learn 10 words to talk about fame, news about stars and money.

📋

How to Use This Lesson

FOR TEACHERS

Teacher: Check answers together, then listen to a few recordings.

FOR LEARNERS

1. Read the word table first. 2. Do the 16 practice tasks, then record yourself in the Shadowing Lab and listen again.

CORE KNOWLEDGE

B2 Vocabulary Reference Tables

Review all 10 key words across their core themes, formal word forms, and natural collocations.

A glamorous movie star on a red carpet with camera flashes in the background.

✨ Group 1: Being Famous

4 words

Word	Meaning	Common Collocations	Word Forms	Example Sentence	Memory Tip
celebrity	A famous person, especially in entertainment or sport	celebrity status, minor celebrity, celebrity gossip	–	"The hotel lobby was crowded with fans waiting for the international celebrity."	Think of "celebrate": a person everyone celebrates.
reputation	The beliefs or opinions generally held about someone	damage a reputation, protect one's reputation, good reputation	reputable	"A single dishonest statement can permanently damage an artist's reputation."	Root: "repute". What people repeatedly say about you.
glamorous	Especially attractive, exciting, and stylish	glamorous lifestyle, glamorous career, look glamorous	glamour	"Television stars often present a glamorous lifestyle on social platforms."	glam = shiny and stylish, like a star under bright lights.
idol	A person greatly admired or loved by fans	teenage idol, pop idol, worship an idol	idolise	"The young guitarist became a national pop idol after winning the competition."	Picture a poster of your favourite singer on the wall.

📢 Group 2: Media Attention

3 words

Word	Meaning	Common Collocations	Word Forms	Example Sentence	Memory Tip
publicity	Attention given to someone or something by the media	bad publicity, publicity stunt, attract publicity	publicise	"The film studio staged an unusual event to attract maximum publicity."	Think "public eye": keeping a person directly in front of everyone.
rumour	A currently circulating story or report of uncertain truth	spread a rumour, deny a rumour, baseless rumour	–	"Journalists were quick to spread a rumour about the lead actor's departure."	Sounds like "murmur": whispers traveling fast without real proof.
gossip	Casual conversation or reports about other people's private lives	celebrity gossip, gossip column, idle gossip	–	"Online tabloids profit heavily by publishing unverified celebrity gossip."	Gossip: people talking about someone else behind their back.

💰 Group 3: Money and Fans

3 words

Word	Meaning	Common Collocations	Word Forms	Example Sentence	Memory Tip
endorse	To declare one's public approval of a product in advertising	endorse a product, publicly endorse, endorse an athletic brand	endorsement	"Top tennis champions earn substantial fees to endorse luxury footwear."	Sign your name on the back ("dorsum") to approve it.
sponsor	To provide financial funds or resources for an activity or person	sponsor an event, sponsor a tournament, corporate sponsor	sponsorship	"Several global tech companies sponsor the international esports championship."	Picture a company logo on a football shirt.
obsessed	Unable to stop thinking about someone or something	obsessed with fame, obsessed with image, completely obsessed	obsess, obsession	"Devoted followers are frequently obsessed with tracking every move of their idol."	Like a siege ("obsidere"): your mind is surrounded by that one thought.

PRACTICE LAB • 16 ITEMS

Active Practice Tasks

Test collocations, meanings and word forms.

A bedroom wall covered in posters of a pop star.

Part 1: Collocation Matching

Match Each Verb with Its Natural Noun Partner

Choose the noun that goes with each verb.

Verb

rumour

reputation

perfume

tournament

1. endorse

____ rumour ____ reputation ____ perfume ____ tournament

2. sponsor

____ rumour ____ reputation ____ perfume ____ tournament

3. spread

____ rumour ____ reputation ____ perfume ____ tournament

4. damage

____ rumour ____ reputation ____ perfume ____ tournament

Part 2: Sentence Completion

Fill in the Blanks Using the Word Bank

Type the exact word from the bank into each dialogue or sentence.

Word Bank: glamorous idol obsessed celebrity

Question 5 • Dialogue

Speaker A: "Did you see that huge crowd gathering outside the grand hotel?"
Speaker B: "Yes, apparently an A-list ____ is staying in the penthouse suite."

Question 6 • Sentence

Behind the ____ image portrayed on film festival red carpets lies relentless pressure and exhaustion.

Question 7 • Dialogue

Speaker A: "Mark spends six hours every evening cataloguing news articles about that film star."
Speaker B: "I know; he is completely ____ with her career."

Question 8 • Sentence

Ever since she was ten years old, the aspiring violinist viewed the concert master as her ultimate artistic ____.

Part 3: Natural Usage Choice

Select the Most Natural Word

Choose the word that sounds most natural.

Question 9

Elite sprinters often sign lucrative multi-year contracts to ___ commercial energy drinks on television.

____ endorse ____ damage ____ spread

Question 10

The manager quickly released an official press statement to dismiss the persistent ___ that the group was splitting up.

____ rumour ____ publicity ____ glamour

Question 11

Sensationalist magazines dedicate entire sections to unsubstantiated celebrity ___ about romantic breakups.

____ reputation ____ gossip ____ sponsor

Question 12

The public relations crisis team acted swiftly to protect the director's professional ___ after the controversial interview.

____ publicity ____ rumour ____ reputation

Part 4: Word Formation

Complete with the Correct Derived Form

Use the word forms from the table.

Question 13 • Adjective from reputation

The film production company partnered exclusively with ____ talent agencies to avoid exploitative contractual terms. (reputation)

Question 14 • Noun from glamorous

Despite the external ____ of high-fashion modeling, the daily working hours are grueling and unpredictable. (glamorous)

Question 15 • Verb from idol

Young admirers often ____ pop performers without recognizing their human flaws and vulnerabilities. (idol)

Question 16 • Noun from sponsor

The festival received generous ____ from a local bank. (sponsor)

ORAL FLUENCY • 12 SHADOWING CARDS

Shadowing & Pronunciation Lab

Listen to the native model, practice shadowing rhythm and intonation, then record yourself.

A person speaking into a professional microphone in a studio setting.

Essential Collocations

Collocation 1

glamorous lifestyle

Focus on smooth transition and linking between words.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

Collocation 2

protect one's reputation

Pay attention to the primary stress on the third syllable: rep-u-TA-tion.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

Collocation 3

bad publicity

Emphasize the second syllable: pub-LIC-i-ty.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

Collocation 4

sponsor an event

Link the final 'r' sound in sponsor smoothly into 'an event'.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

Target Sentences

Sentence 1

"Top players earn millions to endorse designer apparel."

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

Sentence 2

"Online commenters were eager to spread a baseless rumour about the singer."

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

Sentence 3

"Sensational gossip can circulate globally within a few minutes."

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

Sentence 4

"Some loyal supporters become completely obsessed with their chosen pop idol."

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

Long Sentences

Long Sentence A

"Artists must protect their public reputation."

Say it in one smooth breath and stress 'reputation'.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

Long Sentence B

"Sponsors expect celebrities to endorse their products."

Notice the stress peaks on 'Sponsors', 'celebrities', and 'endorse'.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

Challenging Multi-Syllable Words

Hard Word 1 /səˈleb.rə.ti/

celebrity

4 syllables. Stress falls strictly on the SECOND syllable: se-LEB-ri-ty.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

Hard Word 2 /ˌrep.jəˈteɪ.ʃən/

reputation

4 syllables. Primary stress falls on the THIRD syllable: rep-u-TA-tion.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

🎉 Great job! Review the words above to remember them better.

Fame & Celebrity Culture: Vocabulary & Pronunciation

Fame & Celebrity Culture

How to Use This Lesson

B2 Vocabulary Reference Tables

✨ Group 1: Being Famous

📢 Group 2: Media Attention

💰 Group 3: Money and Fans

Active Practice Tasks

Match Each Verb with Its Natural Noun Partner

Fill in the Blanks Using the Word Bank

Select the Most Natural Word

Complete with the Correct Derived Form

Shadowing & Pronunciation Lab

Essential Collocations

Target Sentences

Long Sentences

Challenging Multi-Syllable Words

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