Jan 28, 2011

Did You Hear about the Morgans?: Imperative Forms

This movie is really funny and this scene is one of its best. I used it to practice imperative forms in a challenging way because the students have to practice listening comprehension as well.



A. Talk to a partner. What do you do if you see a bear near your house? Share your ideas with the rest of the class.

B. Match the beginning of the instruction with the complement:

1. Don't
2. Keep
3. Avoid
4. Speak
5. Don't shoot
6. Assume

a. run
b. calm
c. direct eye-contact
d. in a soft monotone
e. the bear
f. a cannonball position, covering your head and your neck with your hands and your arms.


B. Watch the movie segment and check your answers.

C. Prepare a poster warning about how to proceed in case of a bear attack. You have to write down 8 special pieces of advice, using imperative forms. Add 2 sentences of your own.



1. ........................................................................
2. .......................................................................
3. .......................................................................
4. .......................................................................
5. .......................................................................
6. .......................................................................

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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS


Answer Key:
1. Don't run.
2. Keep Calm
3. Avoid direct eye contact.
4. Speak in a soft monotone.
5. Don't shoot the bear.
6. Assume a cannonbal position covering your head and your neck with your hands and your arms.

Jan 21, 2011

The Rebound: Present Perfect

This romantic comedy is much better than I had expected it to be. It is a story about prejudice and dealing with adversities. I really enjoyed it. It is perfect to practice the present perfect tense.

I. Watch the movie segment and write down HE if the activity was performed by the male character. Write SHE if she did it. The main characters used to be lovers but they have spent the past 5 years apart, doing different things.






( ) 1 Visit Paris

( ) 2 Interview several people

( ) 3 See the kids play baseball

( ) 4 Travel to third world countries

( ) 5 Broadcast the news as a TV anchor

( ) 6 Travel to New York

( ) 7 Drive across the desert

( ) 8 Go on a safari

( ) 9 Go to fancy parties

( ) 10 Teach needy children in Africa






II. Now write down what both of the them have done while they have been away from each other.

Ex: She has interviewed several people



III. Work in pairs and discuss the following questions:



1. How different have their lives been?

2. Who had a happier life? Why?

3. What kind of life would you rather have? His or hers? Why?

4. Do you think that such different couple can be happy together? Explain it.

WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE REBOUND


Answer key:


HE - 1 - 4 - 7 - 8 - 10
SHE - 2 - 3 - 5 - 6 - 9



1 he has visited paris
2 she has interviewed several people
3 she has seen the kids play baseball
4 he has traveled to third world countries
5 she has broadcasted the news as a tv anchor
6 she has traveled to new york
7 he has driven across the desert
8 he has gone on a safari
9 she has gone to fancy parties
10 he has taught needy children in Africa

Jan 15, 2011

Hachiko - A Dog's Story: Passive Voice with Simple Past


This is a very touching, emotional movie, especially if you are a dog lover. I loved it.

A - Talk to a partner.


1. Do you have a pet? Talk about it.

2. Do you prefer dogs or cats? Why?

3. Is it important to have pets? Why?

4. When are pets helpful in a person's life? Explain it.

5. When are pets harmful to a person?

6. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having pets?



I. Watch the movie segment and check the alternatives with the actions that you managed to see during the scene.

1. ( ) A Japanese monk put the collar around Hachi's neck.

2. ( ) He put Hachi in a cage.

3. ( ) He took Hachi to a train station.

4. ( ) He fed Hachi.

5. ( ) A couple of guys picked Hachi up at the airport.

6. ( ) The baggage carrier accidentally dropped Hachi's cage on the station platform.

7. ( ) Someone found the broken cage.

8. ( ) Parker found and carried Hachi home.



II. Now rewrite the sentences above in the passive voice. Make sure you write affirmative or negative sentences according to the information presented in the segment.

Ex:

1. The collar was put around Hachi's neck (by a Chinese monk).





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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - HACHIKO


Answer key:

I.

All items are to be checked, except 4 and 7.

II.

2. Hachi was put in a cage.

3. Hachi was taken to a subway station.

4. Hachi wasn't fed.

5. Hachi was picked up at the airport.

6. Hachi's cage was accidentally dropped on the station platform.

7. The broken cage wasn't found.

8. Hachi was found and carried home by Parker. A peer of mine said that he had used a slides presentation with links to my passive voice activities. I was sent the link and came across this really cool and thorough class on passive voice. I'm glad Simon Friend used my blog for his video activities. His slides are effective, fun and constructive. Thanks Simon Friend for these really cool slides. Thanks for linking my site to it.


Jan 9, 2011

Alice in Wonderland: Comparatives

Tim Burton's version of Alice in Wonderland is awesome. Many people rejected the movie, but I think it is just brilliant. The Red Queen is the best character in the movie and I used one of her scenes to practice comparatives. The White Queen, though, is the weakest character of all, but the scene is perfect for this grammar goal.



I. Watch the movie segment, which shows two queens, White and Red. Place the adjectives below under the column that you think is more appropriate for each of the queens.


BEAUTIFUL - ARROGANT - TALL - OLD - YOUNG - THIN - FUNNY - POWERFUL - FRIENDLY - UGLY - AGGRESSIVE - CALM


THE WHITE QUEEN



















THE RED QUEEN








II. Now write down one comparative sentence for each of the adjectives in exercise I.


Ex:

1. The White Queen (The Red Queen) is more beautiful than The Red Queen (The White Queen).

  1. _____________________________________
  2. _____________________________________
  3. _____________________________________
  4. _____________________________________
  5. _____________________________________
  6. _____________________________________
  7. _____________________________________
  8. _____________________________________
  9. _____________________________________
  10. _____________________________________
  11. _____________________________________
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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - ALICE IN WONDERLAND