Before Sunset: 3rd Conditional

This excellent activity was provided by Vera Babat, from Uruguay. Here are a few words she provided us with about herself. Thanks for your contribution.

Our institute's web is www.infusionenglish.edu.uy

I'm a psychologist with 12 years experience teaching teenagers and young adults. I love preparing lessons using authentic materials.

Love films that make students think as it's a great chance to think critically on certain issues.

Before Sunset | starring Ethan Hawk /Julie Delpy

Just listen to the Waltz and write the lyrics down. Don’t freak, it’s not that difficult. What do you think the situation is?

Now complete the lyrics with your notes and listen again in case you’ve missed anything. Then, compare your version with the subtitles! Finally you can enjoy the image!

Let me sing you a waltz

________ _____ ____________ , ______ _____ ______ _____________

Let me sing you a waltz

About this _______-______ ____________

You were, for me, that night

Everything I _____________ ______ ______ ____ ___________

But now you're gone

You are _____________ gone

_________ _______ ________ to your island of rain

It was for you just a one night thing

But you were much more to me, ___________ _____ _____ __________

I don't care what they say

I know _________ ______ _______ _____ _______ that day

I just want another try, I just want another night

Even if it ____________ __________ _

_______ ___________

You meant for me __________ ___________ ____________ anyone I’ve met before.

One single night with you, little Jesse, is ___________ ____ __________ __________ __________________

I have no bitterness, my sweet

I'll never forget this one night thing

Even tomorrow ______ ___________ ___________,

my heart ________ __________ _______

_____ ___________ ____ ______

Let me sing you a waltz, Out of nowhere, out of my blues... Let me sing you a waltz ... About this lovely one night stand

Let’s see who they are. Discuss: what do you think would have happened if they had both gone to Vienna that December?

Watch this scene on a boat; write down the sentences in which they discuss how different their lives would have been.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Now, make at least four sentence

s on your own. Consider these points

her grandmother

not exchanging phone numbers

she not showing up in Vienna

his book

his wife getting pregnant

the way he thought about responsibilities

getting down of the car

to the deli on his wedding day

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Predict the ending. What do you think might happen? What would you do if you were them?

Watch the ending. Describe briefly the plot, its style and your personal opinion on the movie.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This is the sequel of “Before Sunrise”. Read this extract of the review on the movie “Before Sunset” written by Peter Travers for Rolling Stone Magazine

In 1995's Before Sunrise, Jesse (Ethan Hawke), an American traveling in Europe, had one night of sex and conversation in Vienna with Celine (Julie Delpy), the French beauty he met on a train. To some, the film was meandering and talky. To others (me included), the film was bliss, a rebel experiment by the two actors and director Richard Linklater (Slacker, School of Rock) to create life as it happens -- screw the Hollywood gloss.

Before Sunset picks up nine years later. Jesse, now a best-selling author, is giving a reading at a bookstore in Paris. Celine, now an environmental activist, walks in. The conversation continues for ninety minutes, in real time, before Jesse must catch a plane home to his wife and son. Linklater follows the lovers -- who had promised to reunite in Vienna in six months and never did -- from cafe to park to boat to Celine's apartment. Those who hungered to see more of these two will be mesmerized. There is something uniquely unforgettab

le in the way Linklater, Hawke and Delpy (equal collaborators on the script) find nuance, art and eroticism in words, spoken and unspoken. The actors shine. Hawke is funny and touching as Jesse describes the harsh truths of his seeming success. Delpy likewise shows the toll of diminished expectations on the still-luminous Celine. But in each other's presence, the two rediscover a frisky youthfulness. Delpy scores a tour de force as Celine re-creates a Nina Simone concert that leaves Jesse entranced. You will be, too. Before Sunset casts a spell only a fool would want to break.

(Posted: Jun 16, 2004)

Now, based on your short description and on the review, write for homework a review on the movie for a magazine. If you need further help, you can rent this movie as well as “Before Sunrise” and watch them with subtitles in English!

You can also visit this website for a good review on this movie and also to learn more on how it was shot. Visit: http://www.filmmakermagazine.com/spring2004/features/paris_day.php

Good luck!

WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - BEFORE SUNSET

TEACHER’S

Before Sunset (starring Ethan Hawk / Julie Delpy)

AIM: IF CLAUSES, MODALS AND MODALS PERFECT. + FILM REVIEWS AND LISTENING.

SHOW FROM 1:08:30 TILL 1:12:55

PUT THE SUBTITLES OFF!

DON’T GIVE THEM THE WORKSHEET YET.

Just listen to the Waltz and write the lyrics down. Don’t freak, it’s not that difficult.

Now complete the lyrics with your notes and listen again in case you missed anything.

Compare your version with the subtitles!

Let me sing you a waltz

Out of nowhere, out of my thoughts

Let me sing you a waltz

About this one night stand

You were, for me, that night

Everything I always dreamt of in life

But now you're gone

You are far gone

All the way to your island of rain

It was for you just a one night thing

But you were much more to me, just so you know

I don't care what they say

I know what you meant for me that day

I just want another try, I just want another night

Even if it doesn't seem quite right

You meant for me much more than anyone I've met before

One single night with you, little Jesse, is worth a thousand with anybody

I have no bitterness, my sweet

I'll never forget this one night thing

Even tomorrow in other arms, my heart will stay yours until I die

Let me sing you a waltz

Out of nowhere, out of my blues

Let me sing you a waltz

About this lovely one night stand

WHY DO YOU THINK SHE MIGHT HAVE WRITTEN THAT SONG FOR HIM?

Let’s see what the situation is. PLAY FROM 0:1:40 TILL 0:12:35

ELICIT ALL KINDS OF SENTENCES USING IF CLAUSES.

WOULD YOU HAVE GONE? DO YOU THINK SHE WOULD HAVE GONE TO VIENNA IF IT HADN’T BEEN FOR HER GRANDMA’S DEATH? WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED?

WRITE QUESTIONS AND THEIR SENTENCES ON BOARD.

Let’s see what they think about what their lives would have been like if they had met each other in Vienna that December. Take notes on what they say!

WATCH FROM 0:46:24 TILL 0:53:17

Now, make at least four sentences on your own. Consider these points

her grandmother

not exchanging phone numbers

she not showing up in Vienna

his book

his wife getting pregnant

the way he thought about responsibilities

getting down of the car to the deli on his wedding day

WRITE THEM ON BOARD. ANALYZE STRUCTURE AND DISCUSS IF CLAUSES.

Watch the ending. WATCH FROM 1:12:55 TILL 1:16:37. What do you think might happen? What would you do if you were them? Describe briefly the plot, its style and your personal opinion on the movie.

WHAT DO YOU CALL A PIECE OF WRITING ABOUT A MOVIE THAT IS PUBLISHED ON A MAGAZINE? DISCUSS MAIN CHARACTERISTICS, LAYOUT, REGISTER, ETC.

Read this extract of the review on the movie “Before Sunset” written by Peter Travers for Rolling Stone Magazine

In 1995's Before Sunrise, Jesse (Ethan Hawke), an American traveling in Europe, had one night of sex and conversation in Vienna with Celine (Julie Delpy), the French beauty he met on a train. To some, the film was meandering and talky. To others (me included), the film was bliss, a rebel experiment by the two actors and director Richard Linklater (Slacker, School of Rock) to create life as it happens -- screw the Hollywood gloss.

Before Sunset picks up nine years later. Jesse, now a best-selling author, is giving a reading at a bookstore in Paris. Celine, now an environmental activist, walks in. The conversation continues for ninety minutes, in real time, before Jesse must catch a plane home to his wife and son. Linklater follows the lovers -- who had promised to reunite in Vienna in six months and never did -- from cafe to park to boat to Celine's apartment. Those who hungered to see more of these two will be mesmerized. There is something uniquely unforgettable in the way Linklater, Hawke and Delpy (equal collaborators on the script) find nuance, art and eroticism in words, spoken and unspoken. The actors shine. Hawke is funny and touching as Jesse describes the harsh truths of his seeming success. Delpy likewise shows the toll of diminished expectations on the still-luminous Celine. But in each other's presence, the two rediscover a frisky youthfulness. Delpy scores a tour de force as Celine re-creates a Nina Simone concert that leaves Jesse entranced. You will be, too. Before Sunset casts a spell only a fool would want to break.

(Posted: Jun 16, 2004)

READ AND COMMENT.

Now, based on your short description and on the review, write for homework a review on the movie for a magazine. If you need further help, you can rent this movie as well as “Before Sunrise” and watch it with subtitles in English!

For advanced students: e-mail this link: http://www.filmmakermagazine.com/spring2004/features/paris_day.php for a more in-depth review and interview on this movie.

Four Christmases: 3rd Conditional with Mixed Tenses

This is a great and funny romantic comedy. I simply love this hilarious scene. I used it to practice the 3rd conditional with result clauses with present and past consequences - mixed tenses. It was great for the students to realize that the context is the only clue they have to do this exercise. I hope you enjoy it.






I. Read the pair of sentences below. Circle the correct alternative according the information presented in the movie. Then rewrite the sentences using the 3rd conditional with mixed tenses. Make sure you observe whether your result clauses have a present or past consequence.

1.


a. He saw / didn't see some pictures of his fiancee's childhood and adolescence.



b. He is / isn't surprised now.


If he ___________ some pictures of his fiancee's childhood and adolescence, he _____________ surprised now.



2.

a. She ran / didn't run a test for pregnancy.


b. She knows / doesn't know whether she is pregnant now.


If she __________ a test for pregnancy, she ___________ whether she is pregnant now.


3.


a. She was / wasn't careful enough with the test device.


b. Kasi took / didn't take it away from her.



4.

a. Katie had / didn't have a trauma with jump-jumps when she was a kid.

b. She is / isn't terrified by them nowadays.


If Katie ___________ a trauma with jump-jumps when she was a kid, she __________ terrified by them nowadays.

5.


a. The family heard / didn't hear Katie screaming in the jump-jumps.

b. They thought / didn't think Katie was having fun.


If the family ____________ Katie screaming in the jump-jumps, they ______________________ Katie was having fun.



6.


a. Kasi knew / didn't know that Katie had peed on the "marker",

b. Kasi put / didn't put the marker in her mouth.



If Kasi ____________ that Katie had peed on the "marker", she ____________ it in her mouth.

WORKSHEET








Answer key:





1. saw/is


hadn't seen - wouldn't be





2. ran/knows


hadn't run - wouldn't know





3. wasn't/took


had been - wouldn't have taken





4. had/is


hadn't had - wouldn't be





5. didn't hear/thought





had heard - wouldn't have thought





6. didn' know/put


had known - wouldn't have put

Meet the Robinsons: 3rd Conditional

This movie is wonderful. It is appealing to both children and adults. I love animated movies and this one is really special. I selected two scenes of the movie. The first one, when Lewis is abandoned by his Mom, and another one very close to the ending, when he travels back in time and has the chance to talk to his mom and change his past. The activity is also divided into two parts. It is perfect to practice the 3rd conditional in a creative and contextualized manner.



A. Watch the first part of the video segment. Because Lewis's mother left him at he door of a foster home, here are a few consequences of this act in his life. Check the ones YOU believe are possible:

1. He never met his biological mom.
2. He was raised in a foster home.
3. He was never adopted.
4. His life was lonely.
5. He did not have many friends.
6. He always wanted to meet his real mother.
7. He became a clever child anyway.
8. Many foster parents interviewed and refused to adopt him.






Part 1

B. Now watch the second part of the video segment. It took place 12 years later. Lewis traveled back in time and had the chance to change his past.

C. Now rewrite the statements in exercise A, saying how different Lewis’s life might/could/would have been if he had changed his past. Make sure you use the 3rd conditional.


If Lewis
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………....
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................

,

1. He would have met his biological mother.

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

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

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

5. ....................................................................

6. ....................................................................

7. ....................................................................

8. ...................................................................


Answer Key:

2 - He wouldn't have been raised in a foster home.
3 - He wouldn't have been adopted.
4 - His life might not have been lonely.
5 - He might have made friends.
6 - He wouldn't have wanted to meet his mother.
7 - He would have become a clever child anyway.
8 - He wouldn't have been interviewed by foster parents.





Part 2



D. Ask a partner the following questions:

1. If you could change something about your past, what would you change? Justify it.
2. If you could grant only one wish for the future, what would it be?
3) If you could change something that happened in the history of humanity, what would you change?


E. Switch roles.


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The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: 3rd Conditional

This is a great movie with a lot of food for thought. This scene is narrated by Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) and it makes the understanding of the message easier. I suggest you have the students write the sentences before they view the segment because they can check their answers when they actually see it. The narrator says all the correct answers in the end of the segment. This is best for younsters and adults.

Before viewing:


A. Discuss the following questions with a partner:


1 - Do you believe in fate? Are things pre-determined to happen? Or is it all just coincidence? Explain.

2 - Do you think we have a specific day to die? Justify it.

3 - Have you ever seen/been in an accident? Describe what happened. How could the accident have been prevented from happening?


"Had any of these things happened differently, the end of Daisy’s afternoon would have been another one"


1. Daisy’s shoelace broke

2. The delivery truck moved moments earlier

3. The package wasn’t wrapped

4. The girl broke up with her boyfriend

5. The man forgot to set the alarm

6. The taxi driver stopped for a cup of coffee

7. The woman didn’t remember her coat

B. Write the sentences above with past unreal conditionals.

Ex. 1. If her shoelaces hadn’t broken,
2. If the delivery truck hadn't moved moments earlier,

Daisy and her friend would have crossed (cross) the street
and the taxi would have driven (drive) by.

C. Watch the segment and check your answers.

WORKSHEET

Sex and the City - 3rd Conditional - Unreal Past Events

This is a great scene full of unfortunate happenings. The students will love the segment and have a great opportunity to practice the 3rd conditional, unreal past events, in a contextualized manner. Tell me if you like it by posting a comment, please.

Carrie and Big

Write True or False next to each of the statements below according to the information presented in the movie segment.

1) The little girl hid Carrie's cell phone. ( )
Carrie didn't receive any calls. ( )

2)Carrie didn't know where her phone was. ( )
Carrie didn’t receive Big’s messages and phone calls. ( )


3) Big wasn’t confident enough to walk into church all by himself. ( )
Big quit getting married. ( )


4) Big took too long to apologize. ( )
Carrie hit him with her wedding bouquet. ( )


5) Carrie’s friend didn’t let Big explain himself. ( )
Carrie went home in a state of shock. ( )

6) Carrie and Big didn't get married. ( )
They both had a horrible afternoon. ( )


Now fill in the blanks of the sentences saying how things would have been different if the characters had acted differently. Use the 3rd conditional.

Ex:
1) If the little girl hadn't hidden (hide) Carrie's cell phone, she would have received (receive) Big's calls.
2) If Carrie ____________(know) where her phone was, she ___________(receive) Big’s messages.

3) If Big ________________ (be) confident enough to walk into church all by himself, He ______________ (quit) getting married.

4) If Big ________________ (take) too long to apologize, Carrie ____________ (hit) him with the wedding bouquet.

5) If Carrie’s friend ______________ (let) Big explain himself, Carrie _______________ (go) home in a state of shock.
6) If Carrie and Big _______________ (get) married, they ___________________ (go) through a horrible afternoon.

Talk to a partner and discuss the following questions:

1) What would you have done if you were in Carrie’s shoes?

2) Who was right? Why?

3) How could the situation been prevented from happening?

How to prepare your own video activity:


- Select a scene in which the characters make wrong decisions with several undesired consequences.

- Prepare a set of sentences for students to write T or F, according to what they see in the segment.

- If all the sentences are true, it will be easier for the students to understand the context and write accurate sentences.

- The first sentence should be the cause and the second one the consequence.

- The students rewrite the sentences using the 3rd conditional.

- Remind the students that the sentences have to make perfect sense.

- Prepare some discussion questions about how they would react to the situations presented in the segment.

WORKSHEET


MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - SEX AND THE CITY