Jun 26, 2011

Blindness: Modal Verb for Ability - CAN

Saramago's book had a decent adaptation, which was filmed in São Paulo. This intriguing scene is great for beginners to practice the modal verb for ability CAN.








I Watch the movie segment and check the activities that the main character in the segment can do.


1. ( ) Drive home

2. ( ) Hear the car horns

3. ( ) Open the car window

4. ( ) Say what happened to him

5. ( ) Walk without any help

6. ( ) See the traffic light

7. ( ) Go home without any help

8. ( ) Call his wife for help








II. Now rewrite the sentences using CAN or CAN'T.


Ex:

1. He can't drive.



WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - BLINDNESS



Answers:

2. He can hear the car horns

3. He can open the car window

4. He can say what happened to him

5. He can't walk without any help

6. He can't see the traffic light

7. He can't go home without help

8. He can't call his wife for help

Jun 18, 2011

Old Dogs: Because of x Because

This is a really funny movie. There are several scenes you can use to contrast the use of because and because of, but this one is one of the best. My students loved it.








I. Watch the movie segment and then complete the blanks with because or because of.


1. They broke into an enclosure ________ they were not allowed to get in.
2. They got terrified ___________ the gorilla.
3. The gorilla threw a tire at him ______ he was intimidated by the invaders.
4. The penguins attacked them ___________ they were defending their space.
5. The gorilla held him in its arms _________ his small size.
6. He got angry at penguins __________ the attack in the enclosure.
7. A superhero was hired _____________ the birthday party.
8. He wore the superhero outfit ___________ it was the only way to get in the party.
9. He fell into a pond _____ there was a problem with the flying device.
10. Everything he did was ________ his children.

II. Talk to a partner:

1. Do you like zoos? When was the last time you went to one?

2. Is it fair to keep animals in a zoo, instead of in the wildlife? Explain it.

3. What's your favorite zoo animal?

4. What would you do if you were caught in the gorillas enclosure?

5. Have you ever been attacked by an animal? Talk about it.

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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - OLD DOGS
Answer key
1. because 2. because of 3. because 4. because 5. because of 6. because of 7. because of 8. because 9. because 10. because of

Jun 12, 2011

(500) Days of Summer: Wish/ If Only

This is a great movie and this scene is perfect to practice the use of wish and if only, because it shows at the same time what the main character expected to happen before his date and what actually happened . The contextualization is perfect for this grammar point.






I. Watch the movie segment. Tom wanted his expectations to align with reality. Read what his expectations are and then write sentences paraphrasing his expectations, using wish or if only. Finally, write another sentence explaining what actually happened.


HIS EXPECTATIONS BEFORE THE DATE:


1. She will hug him tenderly when she receives his gift.

Ex: He wished she would hug him tenderly when she received the gift, but she just thanked him.

2. He will spend the whole dinner romantically talking to her.

.............................................................

3. He will give her a passionate kiss.

.............................................................

4. She will fall in love with him.

.............................................................

5. He will leave the dinner party with her.

............................................................

6. They will make up and be together forever.

............................................................




Answer Key:


Possible answers

1. He wished she would hug him tenderly when she received the gift, but she just thanked him.

2. If only he would spend the whole dinner romantically talking to her, but he ended up talking to her boring friends.

3. He wished he would give her a passionate kiss during the dinner party, but she didn't give him a chance to do it.

4. If only she would fall in love with him, but she had gotten engaged with another guy.

5. He wished he would leave the party with her, but he went home alone.

6. He wished they would make up and be together forever, but that didn't happen.




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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - (500) DAYS OF SUMMER

Jun 4, 2011

Juno: 2nd Conditional (with Would and Should)

This is a great movie. Teenage pregnancy is dealt with in a creative, different manner. My students had a lot to say about it. I used it to practice the second conditional in a contextualized manner.





I. Watch the movie segment and answer the following questions in groups:



1. Describe what happened in the segment.

2. What was her mother's reaction?

3. What was her father's reaction?

4. What was her friend's reaction?

5. What did Juno say she was going to do? Do you like her idea? What do you think will happen next?

6. What would you do if...? Make sure you use the 2nd Conditional.


If you were Juno?
If I were Juno, I would ...........................

If you were Juno's best friend?

If you were Juno's parents?
If you were the father of the baby?

If you were the foster parents to whom Juno promised to give the baby away.

II. Now imagine the same situation Juno is facing, but consider the father's situation below. What should the father of the baby do if:


- he were under aged too

- If he were under aged too, he should ...

- he were over 18

- he were over 40

- he were married

- Juno denied to reveal the father's identity

WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - JUNO