NEW BLOG!

I have just started a new blog. It is called Movie Segments for Warm-ups and Follow-ups. There you will find movie segments to brainstorm, warm-up or follow-up several topics. There are lesson plans to practice vocabulary, conversation and listening comprehension based on movie segments. New activities are posted regularly. This blog is a test for I will see your reaction to the activities, and depending on the feedback I receive, I will go on with it. Check it out. I hope you like it.

Bedtime Stories: So x Such

This is one of the best scenes of this lovely movie. The translation scene is great and very funny. The acting is hilarious. The students will love it. I selected this scene to practice using so x such in a contextualized manner.

Watch the segment below. Then rewrite the sentences with both so... that... and such..... that....

Make all the necessary changes to make the sentences correct.




Skeeter








Kendall










1) The night was cold. The girl in the party needed a towel.
Ex: The night was so cold that the girl in the party needed a towel.
It was such a cold night that he girl needed a towel.


2) There was an unexpected accident with a bee. Skeeter screamed very loudly.

3) Kendall's presentation was corny. The audience was speechless.

4) Skeeter's tongue was swollen. He couldn't speak.

5) Skeeter's friend's translation was perfect. He was invited to go to the stage and help with the presentation.

6) Skeeter's presentation was moving. He won the competition.

Answer Key:

2. Such an unexpected accident / the accident was so unexpected.

3. such a corny presentation / the presentation was so corny

4. such a swollen tongue / tongue was so swollen

5. such a perfect translation / the translation was so perfect

6. such a moving presentation / presentation was so moving



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How to prepare your own video activity:

- Select a scene in which the characters perform certain activities that you can atribute adjectives (great, awkward, funny, intelligent, weird)

- Write two sentences with information that can be interconnected, including the adjectives above)

- Have students combine both sentences with so + adj and such + adj + noun.

The Money Pit: Causative Verbs

This is a classic comedy that was forgotten by the media and public. This couple of newly weds buy this beautiful house, which is a lemon. Nothing works; it's falling apart. It is excellent for practicing causative verbs - make, let, get, have. Pre-teach some occupation vocabulary (carpenter, plumber, etc) and the students will be able to practice this grammar point in a contextualized manner.

Watch the movie segment and choose the best verb to complete the sentence, according to the segment. Then decide how to complete the blanks, using the given words.

1. The garage is dusty.
They will have / make / get / let ………………… (someone/clean) it.

2. The mattress isn’t firm enough .
Anna will have / make / get / let ………………… (Walter / replace) it.

3. Old wires burned the doorbell.
They will have / make / get / let ………………… (an electrician / fix) it.

4. The front door fell off the house.
They will have / make / get / let ………………… (a carpenter / repair) it.

5. The plaster ceiling came down in the bedroom .
Anna had / made / got / let ………………… (Walter/ fix) it.

6. The plumbing system is not perfect
they will have / make / get / let ………………… (a plumber / unblock) it.

7. She was extremely upset about the house.
Walter had / made / got / let ………………… (Anna/ try) to enjoy it.

8. She was attacked by a wild animal.
The animal had / made / got / let ………………… (Anna/ run) madly around the house.

9. The roof was leaking.
They will have / make / get / let ………………… (someone/ replace) the tiles.

10. They couldn’t make the rain stop.
They have / make / get / let ………………… (the rain/ fall) on their heads.

The correct verb choices are in red.

Correct patterns:

get + someone + to verb

make, have, let + someone + verb

help + someone + verb or to verb

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Monsters, Inc.: Present Continuous x Present Simple

This is a great movie and activity. This activity was published on Sabrina de Vita's blog, a very inspiring and resourceful site. Sabrina kindly sent me this activity to share with my readers and I'm proud to publish it here. The activity is great and so is the movie segment. This great activity will certainly foster your visiting her site. Sabrina is a consciencious educator and she also likes sharing, just like I do. All the activities and text below were developed by her. Here is what she says about herself on her blog.

I’m from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I’m an English teacher. I have studied at the teacher training college Joaquin V Gonzalez-At the moment, I’m working in the primary and secondary school: Saint Exupery. With BE the Real Thing we specialised in teaching ESP (Legal and Medical English) and Business English. We also give online classes.

Thanks a lot, Sabrina. Can't wait for more!

I will share with you one lesson plan I have prepared to revise the use of Present Simple and Present Continuous. It is based on this scene from the movie Monsters Inc.

And here go the activities:

1) Complete the sentences with the appropriate tense ( Present Simple and Present Continuous)

a) Every day, Sulley _______________ (drive) to work. However, today they ____________ (walk)

b) Right now, Mike _______________ (talk) to Sulley’s mum on the phone.

c) Afterwards, they often ______________ (watch) tv, but today they __________ (also / star) on a tv commercial.

d) Sulley and Mike _____________ (not exercise) together. Sulley ______ (do) his routine and Mike __________ (guide) him.

e) Then, Sulley always ______________ (brush) his teeth.

f) Sulley usually ____________ (get up) at 6:00 but today he ____________ (still/ sleep) at 6:05.

2) Watch the film and put the sentences in the correct order.

3) Write 5 sentences about what the monsters Sulley and Mike encounter on their way to work are doing at the moment.

4) Did you like the scene? Why (not)?

Hope you like it and find it useful. If you have used it, please share your experience with us. If you have more ideas to work with this particular film or with movies in general, don’t hesitate to share your views.

Sabrina

Gran Torino: Modal Verb - Should (Advice)

A. Before viewing :


You and your partner will make a list of everything you know about China and its culture. Each piece of information scores 1 point. Your teacher will check which pair of students scored most points.

B. Write P (Polite) or I (Impolite) after the statements below. Make a guess! Which of the actions below are considered polite/impolite during a barbecue lunch according to the Hmong culture, an Asian ethnic group in the mountainous regions of southern China.

1- To eat cat meat (I)

2- To eat dog meat (I)

3 - To drink alcoholic beverages (P)

4 - To look at someone in the eyes (I)

5 - To touch the head of a person(I)

6 - To listen to the elderly (P)

7 - To eat very much (P)

C. Now watch the segment and decide whether your guesses were correct.

D. Imagine your partner is going to a barbecue in a Hmong family house. Rewrite the items above using should (NOT).

Ex: 1 – YOU SHOULDN'T EAT CAT MEAT.

WORKSHEET

How to develop your own video activity:

- Select a scene in which the characters talk about social behavior.

- Write down a few of the recommendations given.

- The students decide whether they are appropiate or inappropriate behaviors.

- Students give advice using - should.

Be Kind, Rewind: Simple Past x Present Perfect

A. Watch the movie segment. It is about a group of friends who decide to shoot a film about Fats Waller, a famous musician who had lived in their neighborhood, to raise money and stop the demolition of the building they work at.

Chech the tasks they did during the whole week. Then write the day of the week they performed them.

Ex 1. They interviewed the people around the neighborhood. (YES) (Monday)

2.They recorded the interviews about Fats Waller .

3.They chose the sequence of events of the movie .

4.They left the country to shoot the film .

5.Famous actors were invited to act on the film .

6.They designed the costumes and makeup.

7.They worked with art direction, imagining what the scene should look like .

8.They shot the film .

9.They finished shooting the film .

10. They had the film premiere .

11.They demolished the building.


B. Today is SUNDAY. Tell what the characters of the movie have (not) done during this very busy week. Decide which verb tense you should use.




EX: 1. They have interviewed the people around the neighborhood.
2……………………………………………………………………………………………………
3…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
4…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
5…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
6…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
7………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
8…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
9…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
10……………………………………………………………………………………………………
11……………………………………………………………………………………………………

C. Now write sentences saying when they performed the actions you have checked in exercise A. Decide which verb tense you should use.

EX 1: They interviewed the people around the neighborhood on Monday.
2…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
3………………………………………………………………………………………………….
4………………………………………………………………………………………………….
5………………………………………………………………………………………………….
6………………………………………………………………………………………………….
7………………………………………………………………………………………………….
8………………………………………………………………………………………………….

D. You and your partner have US$1.000.000.00 to shoot a film. Use your imagination and come up with a story with a beginning, a development and an unexpected ending. Your teacher and the class will choose the most original story.

E. Role play the best story.

Teacher’s Key

B.
1. They have interviewed…
2. They have recorded…
3. They have decided…
4. They haven’t left…
5. Famous actors haven’t been invited…
6. They have designed…
7. They have worked…
8. They have shot…
9. They have finished…
10. They have had…
11. They haven’t demolished…

C.
1. They interviewed… on Monday
2. They recorded… on Monday.
3. They decided… on Tuesday.
4. They designed… on Wednesday
5. They worked… on Thursday.
6. They shot … on Friday.
7. They finished… on Saturday.
8. They had… on Sunday.






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The Bucket List: Possessive Pronouns with Gerunds

This is a great movie with touching messages. Although the story seems to be sad, the film itself is uplifting. This scene in particular is funny and exciting. I took advantage of such a thrilling scene to have students practice the construction of possessive pronouns before gerunds.

A. Talk to a partner:



1. Have you ever gone skydiving? Would you like to do it? Why (not)?

2. What was the most exciting adventure you have ever had? Tell your friend about it?

3. Do you prefer to have vacation time in a place to practice extreme sports and/or enjoy nature, or would you rather travel to the city in order to enjoy its night life? Explain it.

4. Are you braver than you used to be when you were younger or are you less courageous nowadays? Why do you think so?


B. Watch the movie segment and choose the best way to complete the sentences below.












Carter and Edward

1. Their/ They/ Them getting ready to jump was extremely awkward.
2. One of Carter's concern was his/ he/ him/ missing the chance to see his wife again.

3. Edward disliked Kyle's / Kyle making comments about Edward's second wife.

4. Edward supported Carter's / Carter jumping off the plane.

5. Carter was really concerned about the parachute's/ parachute not opening.

6. Their/ Them/ They having a few months of life made them experiment new adventures efore dying.

7. Edward's instructor was desperate with his/ he/ him singing while they were skydiving.

8. Edward and Carter seemed to have enjoyed their/ their/ they diving.

C. Complete these sentences. Use pronouns / possessive ('s) before gerunds in your answers.

1. One interesting thing in the scene was ………………………………………………………….
2. The funniest moment of the segment was ………………………………………………………..
3 . ………………………………………………………………………………………….….. was amazing.


D. Individually, make a list of 10 things you would like to do before you die. Don't show it to anyone.


E. Work in groups of three students now. Share your list with a friend and come up with a final one with 10 things the three of you would like to do before you die. You have to negotiate and convince your partners because only 10 activities are possible.



F. Share your list with your classmates.

Answer Key:

Their / His / Kyle's / Carter's / Parachute's / Their / His / Their

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