Friday, 30 September 2011

Killers: Have You Ever... ? x Would You Ever...?

This movie did not meet my expectations, but this scene is perfect for contrasting the use of have you ever x would you ever.






I. Check the items with the activities that you have already done at least once in your life time.


1. swim in the ocean
2. buy a new dress (shirt) to go on a first date
3. go snorkling
4. sail on a yacht
5. fight with a stranger
6. give or receive flowers on a first date
7. lie on the first date
8. hide from your parents in a public place


II. Watch the segment and check who performs the activities above, the guy or the girl.






III. Ask a partner the following questions.


Follow the pattern:


Ex:
S1 - Have you ever … (swum in the ocean)?
S2 - Yes, I have.


OR


S1 - Have you ever swum in the ocean?
S2 - No, I haven't.
S3 - Would you ever swim in the ocean?
S2 - Yes, I would / Sure, I would / No, never.

Friday, 23 September 2011

Astro Boy: To be Supposed to x To be Able to

This animated movie is amusing. I had a lot of fun in the theater with my little niece. I used this scene to contrast the use of to be supposed to x to be able to.




A. This scene takes place in the future. Watch the scene and write down 5 things that robots will be supposed to do in the future, according to the segment:

1.......................................................
2......................................................
3......................................................
4......................................................
5.....................................................





B. Now watch the second segment from the same movie. Make a list of 5 things that robots will be able to do and that humans can't do nowadays.

1................................................
2................................................
3................................................
4................................................
5................................................








WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - ASTRO BOY - PART 1

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - ASTRO BOY - PART 2

Thursday, 15 September 2011

The Ghost Writer: Giving Directions - Imperative Forms

This movie is amazing. I love Roman Polanski's films and this one is no exception. This scene is great because of the clear instructions given by the car's GPS.









I. Read the instruction the driver received from his GPS while driving to his destination. Choose the right verbs from the given ones below before watching the video.

You may repeat them.


TURN - PROCEED - JOIN - MAKE - TAKE


1. __________ road when possible.


2. In 200 yards, ____________ left.


3. __________ around when possible.


4. _____________ to the indicated route.


5. In 200 yards, ____________ the next exit.


6. In half a mile, _________ a short right turn.


You have reached your destination!


II. Now watch the segment and check your answers.






Answers: 1. join, 2. turn, 3. turn, 4. proceed, 5. take, 6. make


II. Work with a partner. Choose 2 easy-to-reach destinations in your city and give each other instructions to get there driving.



Ex: From Park Shopping to Carrefour.



WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE GHOST WRITER

Thursday, 8 September 2011

The Green Zone: Scanning - Teaching Reading

Of course Scanning is not a grammar point, but it is a technique we teach students to read better. Since many readings are sources for grammar points, I used this segment to have students practice scanning for information in a written text.



Scanning is a technique to search for key words or ideas. In most cases, you know what you're looking for, so you're concentrating on finding a particular answer. Scanning involves moving your eyes quickly down the page seeking specific words and phrases. When scanning, look for the author's use of organizers such as numbers, letters, steps, or the words, first, second, or next. Look for words that are bold faced, italics, or in a different font size, style, or color.

I. You will watch a scene of an invetigator scanning for information. He googles Lawn Dayne / Wall Street Journal / WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction). Scan the information along with the main character in the movie and write down all key words and data you can see.
II. Watch the segment again and complete your data collection.

II. Work with a partner and come up with an article summarizing the information you put together. You may use your imagination to come up with an interesting article. Don't forget to add a title to your article.







WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE GREEN ZONE

Thursday, 1 September 2011

Radio Days: While x During

Woody Allen is one of my favorite directors. I don't usually find scenes for my purposes, but this movie is full of them. I think this scene is fantastic because burglars end up helping the family they are robbing. I used it to practice the difference between the use of while and during.









A. Watch the movie segment and decide if the best alternative is while or during.




1. The phone rang while / during they were robbing the Needleman's house.




2. The burglars answered he phone while / during the robbery.




3. The TV host called the Needlemans while / during the radio show.




4. They were supposed to guess that tune while / during the band was playing it.




5. The Needlemans received the winning prize while / during they were standing on the porch.




6. The Needlemans were so surprised that they didn't do anything while / during the delivery.













Answer key:




1. while 2. during 3. during 4. while 5. while 6. during












B. Now write down 3 things that you do:





While you are talking on the phone.



1 ........................................................

2 .......................................................

3 ......................................................





During a party:



1 ......................................................

2 .....................................................

3 .....................................................



WORKSHEET



MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - RADIO DAYS





Friday, 26 August 2011

Up in the Air: Ordinal Numbers











A. Watch the movie segment and decide which day of that month they are going to be in the places below. Don't forget to write down the ordinal number ( Ex: First, Tenth). Watch the scene twice.









1. Veronica - ................




2. Deston - ....................




3. Oklahoma - ..............




4. Albuquerque - ........




5. Florida - .................










B. Write ordinal numbers to answer the questions below.




1. What day is your birthday?




2. Which day of the month was last Sunday?




3. Which day of the month is today?




4. What day is your mother's birthday?




5. What is the last day of this month?






Answer key:






A.



Veronica - twelfth - 12th




Deston - thirteenth -13th




Oklahoma - fifteenth -15th




Albuquerque - sixteenth - 16th




Florida - twentieth - 20th




















Friday, 19 August 2011

1408: Reflexive Pronouns

This thriller is based on a Stephen King's short story. As you can tell, it is scary, but it is not a violent movie. This is an exciting scene that I used for practicing reflexive pronouns with my students, because the snippet shows objects moving by themselves inside a hotel room, which number is 1408. This activity makes the grammar point more meaninful, I guess.





I. Work in pairs:





1. Do you believe in supernatural activities? Explain it.





2. Have you ever seen or known someone who has experienced supernatural activities?



3. Would you stay in a hotel which is famous for having ghosts? What about a history of murders? Why (not)?



4. Would you like to make contact with people who have passed away? Why (not)?





II. Watch the segment and complete the blanks with a reflexive pronoun:



MYSELF - YOURSELF - HIMSELF - HERSELF - ITSELF - OURSELVES - YOURSELVES - THEMSELVES















1. The main character, Louis, served _________a drink.



2. The radio started playing a song by ________________.



3. The alarm clock reset ________________ to 60:00.



4. Louis recorded _____________ saying what was going on in the room.



5. The window closed by ______________ and hit Louis's fingers.



6. He started washing ____________ when the faucet started doing unexpected things by ______________.



7. The curtains were moving by _________________.



8. What about you? Would you spend the night in this room by ___________.



WORKSHEET



MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - 1408







Answer key:



1. himself

2. itself

3. itself

4. himself

5. itself

6. himself / itself

7. themselves

8. yourself