Dec 22, 2012

Merry Xmas!

Dear Friends,

I'm having a vacation break now. I wish you all a merry Christmas and a Happy 2013. Brand new posts will come out in mid-January. Thanks for your constant support.


Claudio Azevedo




Dec 15, 2012

Water for Elephants: Possessives ('s), Vocabulary Practice - Circus & Colors



This is one of the best romantic films that I saw last year. I used this scene to talk about circus and possessives ('s)



I. Check the artists/activities you can see in the segment.


 Acrobats


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 Trapeze swinger


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 Contortionist


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 Stilts walker


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Juggler


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 Daredevil


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Clowns



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Human cannonball


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Fire eater



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 Magician


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 Animal acts


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Tightrope walker

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Lion tamer

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Ringmaster


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II. Look at the character's clothes and animals. Decide which color they are.





The acrobats:

The clown:

The dog:

The horses:

The Ringmaster:

The trapeze swingers


III. Write sentences saying the colors. Follow the example:

The ringmaster's clothes are red.


WORKSHEET


MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - WATER FOR ELEPHANTS

Dec 8, 2012

Burlesque: Simple Past x Present Perfect


I love Cher and this movie. Tho movie has great dancing and musicals. It is worth seeing, for sure. The opening scene is wonderful to contrast the use of the simple past and present perfect tenses.




I. Watch the movie segment and decide if the activities refer to to her past - finished actions - (PA) or if they are still in progress in her present days unfinished actions - (PR).


















1. ( ) Practice on the bar stage

2. ( ) Pack her bags

3. ( ) walk away from her hometown

4. ( ) buy a one-way ticket to Los Angeles

5. ( ) travel by bus to LA

6. ( ) look for auditions in LA

7. ( ) stay in a small hotel room

8. ( ) have a hard time with the auditions

9. ( ) be happier in LA than in her hometown


II. Rewrite the sentences below in either the simple past or present perfect tenses. Mind whether the actions are finished or unfinished to justify your choices.


WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - BURLESQUE

Answer key: ITEMS 1 - 5 - PAST
                  ITEMS  6 - 9  - PRESENT


II.

When she lived in her hometown,


1. She practiced in a bar stage
2. She packed her bags
3. She walked away from her hometown
4. She bought a one-way ticket to LA
5. She traveled to LA by bus

 Now that she is in Los Angeles,


6. She has looked (has been looking) for auditions in LA
7. She has stayed in a small hotel in LA
8. She has had (has been having) a hard time with the auditions
9. She has been happier in LA than in her hometown

Dec 1, 2012

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Modal Verbs for Advice - Should











This used to be one of my favorite childhood movies and the remake is absolutely fabulous. I used this scene to have students practice modals for advice in a contextualized manner.


I. Watch the movie segment and make a list of 4 inappropriate behaviors these children have. Observe both  Veruca and Augustus to come up with sentences.


VERUCA:

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

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

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

4. ...........................................................


AUGUSTUS:

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

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

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

4. ...........................................................


II. Rewrite your sentences above, using modals for advice.


III. Imagine you are supposed to give these children's parents advice. Pair up with a partner. One of you is Veruca's mother and the other one is Augustus' s mother. Role play a situation, giving each other advice for better behavior.




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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY