The American dream

America (from West Side Story)

West side story is a musical released in 1960.

The story takes place in the West side of New York

It is a modern Romeo and Juliet love story between Maria and Tony. They fall in love but they belong to two rival gangs: Maria is a Shark (a Puerto Rican gang) and Tony is a Jet (a white American gang)

America is sung only by the Sharks.It is a conversation between Puerto Rican boys and girls who have different visions of America.

I. Listen to the song and complete the lyrics:

Puerto Rico, my heart's devotion
Let it sink back in the ______
Always the hurricanes ______
Always the ______growing
And the ______owing
And the sunlight streaming
And the natives steaming
I like the island ______

I know you do!
Smoke on your pipe
And put that in!

Chorus:

I like to be in America
Okay by me in America
Everything ______in America
For a small fee in America

Buying on credit is so ______

One look at us and they charge ______
I'll have my own ______
What will you have though to keep ______?

______bloom in America
Cadillacs zoom in America
Industry boom in America
Twelve in a ______in America

Lots of new housing with more ______
Lots of doors slamming in our ______
I'll get a terraced ______
Better get rid of your ______

Life can be bright in America
If you can ______in America
Life is all ______in America
If you're all ______in America

Here you are ______and you have pride
Long as you stay on your own side
Free to be anything you ______
Free to wait tables and shine shoes

Everywhere grime in America
Organized ______in America
Terrible ______in America
You ______I'm in America

I think I'll go back to San Juan
I know what boat you can get on
Everyone there will give big cheers
Everyone there will have ______here

II. Read the song again and complete the grid with the following words:

modernity / racism / interesting / low-paid / nice residence / danger / small apartment

Girls’ vision of America / Boys’ vision of America
America represents:
Justify by quoting the text:
Houses:
Justify by quoting the text:
Jobs:
Justifyby quoting the text:

III. Conclude:

1. The girls have a very:□ optimistic □ pessimistic vision of America

They would like to□ stay in America □ go back to their country

Justify:

2. The boys have a very:□ optimistic □ pessimistic vision of America

They would like to□ stay in America □ go back to their country

Justify: