Duplicity: Simple Past

I love this segment because I used it to teach grammar kinesthetically. I hope you like this daring activity.

A. Watch the movie segment. Then work in small groups. Think about the story that took place before the scene. Write a short paragraph (or sentences) in the past tense saying what happened before their fight in the airport.

B. Now write down the dialog that you imagine they had at the airport, the scene of the movie segment. Use the simple past tense.


C. Role-play (or read) your dialog to the class.


D. Have a narrator say what happened after the scene. Use the simple past tense.


E. Vote for the best performance.

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - DUPLICITY

This activity does not require a worksheet.

Little Miss Sunshine: Tag Questions

This is a lovely scene from this wonderful film. I love the acting and the intelligent story. This scene is remarkable. I took advantage of the scene to practice asking tag questions. With this activity, the students can practice the grammar point based on contextualized evidence, which is great. I only used sentences in the past tense, though.



A. Talk to a partner

1. Have you ever participated in a pageant? Talk about it. What is your opinion about beauty pageants?

2. Is it OK for young children to participate in pageants?

3. What's your opinion about pageants like Miss Brazil, Miss Universe, Model of the Year, etc?


B. Watch the segment, fill in the blanks with affirmative and negative forms of the given verbs, and complete the sentences with a tag question. Make sure the sentences are according to the information presented in the segment.


1 - Olive .................................. (be) wearing a suit, a hat and a tie, .................. ?

2 – She ……….…………. (dedicate) her presentation to her grandfather, ....................?

3 – Olive …………………. (be) intimidated by the audience, ...............?

4 – The audience …………… (be) shocked with Olive’s sexy dancing, .................?

5 – Many spectators …………….. (leave) the hall during her presentation, ................?

6 – The dance ………………. (be) appropriate for the situation, .................. ?

7 – Her family ……………………. (support) Olive by dancing with her, ...................?

8 – The host …………………. (try) to remove her from the stage, ...................... ?

9 – Her father …………………… (dance) with her on the stage, ................ ?

10 – The DJ …………….. (be) the only person to clap the presentation, ................... ?

11 – Nobody …………………. (like) the presentation, .............?

12 – They ………………………… (be) ashamed of Olive, ..........?




B. Now ask a partner the questions above. Mind intonation.



WORKSHEET

Answer Key:

1. was - wasn't she?
2. dedicated - didn't she?
3. wasn't - was she?
4. was - wasn't it?
5. left - didn't they?
6. wasn't - was it?
7. supported - didn't they?
8. tried - didn't he?
9. danced - didn't he?
10. was - wasn't he?
11. liked - did they?
12. weren't - were they?

How to prepare your own video activity.

- Select a scene and write sentences for the students to complete with the main verb form of the provided verbs (choose the tenses you wish to assess)

- Students fill in the blanks with affirmative or negative forms of the verbs, according to the information in the segment.

- The students write the correct tag questions for the sentences.

- The students read their sentences to a partner, asking the tag questions.

- Make sure students use rising and falling intonation patterns.

Swingers: 2nd Conditional

This is a fantastic scene. It is funny and pathetic. The development of the scene is unpredictable and students will certainly laugh a lot.
Before Viewing:
Imagine the following situation:

You meet a very interesting girl (guy) and talk to her (him) very briefly. You are very interested in each other. She (He) is attractive and looks very friendly. She (He) is in a hurry and has to leave, but she (he) gives you her (his) phone number. You don’t have the chance to give her (him) yours, though.

A. Now choose the best alternative about you. How would you react in the following situations?

1. What would you do if the situation you have just read were real?

a. call her (him) as soon as possible
b. wait a few days and then call her (him)
c. wait for another opportunity to meet her (him) at the same place again
d. none of the above: justify it

2. Imagine you called her (him) and the answering machine answered the call. What would you do?

a. hang up the phone
b.identify yourself and call again later
c.identify yourself, leave your phone number and wait for her (him) to call
d. none of the above: justify it

3. What would you do if the answering machine disconnected before you finished saying what you had planned to say?

a. call back and complete the message
b. wait for her (him) to call back
c. wait a little and call back again
d. none of the above: justify it

4. How many times would you call her (him) again if she didn’t return the call?

a. once
b. twice
c. as many as necessary
d. none

B. watch the video segment and check if the main character would do the same as you.

C. rewrite the four items above using the 2nd conditional about yourself.

EX:

1 – If the situation …………………….., I ………………………………………........

2. ………………………………………………………………………………………….........

3 …………………………………………………………………………………………..........

4……………………………………………………………………………………………........

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Bedtime Stories: So x Such

This is one of the best scenes of this lovely movie. The translation scene is great and very funny. The acting is hilarious. The students will love it. I selected this scene to practice using so x such in a contextualized manner.

Watch the segment below. Then rewrite the sentences with both so... that... and such..... that....

Make all the necessary changes to make the sentences correct.




Skeeter








Kendall










1) The night was cold. The girl in the party needed a towel.
Ex: The night was so cold that the girl in the party needed a towel.
It was such a cold night that he girl needed a towel.


2) There was an unexpected accident with a bee. Skeeter screamed very loudly.

3) Kendall's presentation was corny. The audience was speechless.

4) Skeeter's tongue was swollen. He couldn't speak.

5) Skeeter's friend's translation was perfect. He was invited to go to the stage and help with the presentation.

6) Skeeter's presentation was moving. He won the competition.

Answer Key:

2. Such an unexpected accident / the accident was so unexpected.

3. such a corny presentation / the presentation was so corny

4. such a swollen tongue / tongue was so swollen

5. such a perfect translation / the translation was so perfect

6. such a moving presentation / presentation was so moving



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How to prepare your own video activity:

- Select a scene in which the characters perform certain activities that you can atribute adjectives (great, awkward, funny, intelligent, weird)

- Write two sentences with information that can be interconnected, including the adjectives above)

- Have students combine both sentences with so + adj and such + adj + noun.

Gran Torino: Modal Verb - Should (Advice)

A. Before viewing :


You and your partner will make a list of everything you know about China and its culture. Each piece of information scores 1 point. Your teacher will check which pair of students scored most points.

B. Write P (Polite) or I (Impolite) after the statements below. Make a guess! Which of the actions below are considered polite/impolite during a barbecue lunch according to the Hmong culture, an Asian ethnic group in the mountainous regions of southern China.

1- To eat cat meat (I)

2- To eat dog meat (I)

3 - To drink alcoholic beverages (P)

4 - To look at someone in the eyes (I)

5 - To touch the head of a person(I)

6 - To listen to the elderly (P)

7 - To eat very much (P)

C. Now watch the segment and decide whether your guesses were correct.

D. Imagine your partner is going to a barbecue in a Hmong family house. Rewrite the items above using should (NOT).

Ex: 1 – YOU SHOULDN'T EAT CAT MEAT.

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How to develop your own video activity:

- Select a scene in which the characters talk about social behavior.

- Write down a few of the recommendations given.

- The students decide whether they are appropiate or inappropriate behaviors.

- Students give advice using - should.

Be Kind, Rewind: Simple Past x Present Perfect

A. Watch the movie segment. It is about a group of friends who decide to shoot a film about Fats Waller, a famous musician who had lived in their neighborhood, to raise money and stop the demolition of the building they work at.

Chech the tasks they did during the whole week. Then write the day of the week they performed them.

Ex 1. They interviewed the people around the neighborhood. (YES) (Monday)

2.They recorded the interviews about Fats Waller .

3.They chose the sequence of events of the movie .

4.They left the country to shoot the film .

5.Famous actors were invited to act on the film .

6.They designed the costumes and makeup.

7.They worked with art direction, imagining what the scene should look like .

8.They shot the film .

9.They finished shooting the film .

10. They had the film premiere .

11.They demolished the building.


B. Today is SUNDAY. Tell what the characters of the movie have (not) done during this very busy week. Decide which verb tense you should use.




EX: 1. They have interviewed the people around the neighborhood.
2……………………………………………………………………………………………………
3…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
4…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
5…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
6…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
7………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
8…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
9…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
10……………………………………………………………………………………………………
11……………………………………………………………………………………………………

C. Now write sentences saying when they performed the actions you have checked in exercise A. Decide which verb tense you should use.

EX 1: They interviewed the people around the neighborhood on Monday.
2…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
3………………………………………………………………………………………………….
4………………………………………………………………………………………………….
5………………………………………………………………………………………………….
6………………………………………………………………………………………………….
7………………………………………………………………………………………………….
8………………………………………………………………………………………………….

D. You and your partner have US$1.000.000.00 to shoot a film. Use your imagination and come up with a story with a beginning, a development and an unexpected ending. Your teacher and the class will choose the most original story.

E. Role play the best story.

Teacher’s Key

B.
1. They have interviewed…
2. They have recorded…
3. They have decided…
4. They haven’t left…
5. Famous actors haven’t been invited…
6. They have designed…
7. They have worked…
8. They have shot…
9. They have finished…
10. They have had…
11. They haven’t demolished…

C.
1. They interviewed… on Monday
2. They recorded… on Monday.
3. They decided… on Tuesday.
4. They designed… on Wednesday
5. They worked… on Thursday.
6. They shot … on Friday.
7. They finished… on Saturday.
8. They had… on Sunday.






WORKSHEET

Stardust: Adverbs x Adjectives

This is a funny scene with Robert de Niro in great shape. The movie wasn't such a great blockbuster because it had been advertised as a new Harry Potter, which made people reject it. It is a good movie, though. It has nothing to do with Harry Potter. I used this scene to talk about stereotypes, activating the students' schemata, in order for them to practice when to use adjectives or adverbs in a sentence. The task is simple, but effective. The correct answers are in green. A. Talk to a partner about the following questions:

1 - Do you consider the first impression the most important one? Justify your answer.

2 - Do you think people have a correct idea of your personality just by looking at you, your physical appearance and clothes? Explain it.

3 - What are some personality traits a doctor must have? Name at least 5 adjectives.

4 - What about a teacher?

5 - Did you have a different opinion about your teacher's personality in the beginning of the term? Why (not)? What made you change your mind?


B. Write down six adjectives you would use to describe the captain of a ship. What are some important features he must have?

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

C. Watch the video segment and check which of the adjectives you chose in the previous exercise actually describe Captain Shakespeare?


D. Now choose the correct form of the words (adjectives or adverbs) in the sentences below.

1) Capitain Shakespeare has a fearsome/ fearsomely reputation.

2) While putting on some makeup, the Captain moved his head gentle / gently.

3) The fighters handled their swords elegant / elegantly.

4) While everyone was fighting violent / violently on the deck of the ship, Capitain Shakespeare was dancing graceful / gracefully in his cabin.

5) Capitain Shakespeare's dancing was awkward / awkwardly.

6) He looked unhappy / unhappily after his friends saw him with those ridiculous clothes.

How to prepare your own video activity:

- Choose an attractive scene with action.

- Write down sentences about the film with adjectives or adverbs for the students to select the correct one.

- Make sure you use action and stative verbs about the segment. Doing so, the students will have the choice for both adjectives and adverbs.






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Australia: Simple Past

Despite the fact this movie did not meet my expectations, the opening scene is good for basic learners studying the past simple tense for the first time. The characters speaks BROKEN ENGLISH, an aspect that is worth-mentioning to beginners.

For this blog, I wrote down the answers in blue to help you with the preparation.

A. Talk to a partner:

1- What do you know about Australia? Tell each other everything you know about it.
2- What is the Australian outback?
3- What do you know about the aboriginals?
4- How different do you think Australia is from your own country? Why?
5

B. Pay attention to Nullah narrating a few events that took place on that day. Because Nullah is an aboriginal who doesn't have much contact with white people, he doesn't speak English correctly. Watch the segment, underline the verbs that are incorrect in each of the sentences below and correct them.

This is Nullah

1 - My grandfather, King George, he take me to walkabouts.

2 - My grandfather teach me the most important lesson of all.

3 - That day, I see them, the white fellas, pushing bulls across the river.

4 - King George ________ angry at white fellas.

5 - The coppers come here to take me away.

6 - This story not begin that day.

7 - This story begin a little while ago in a land far, far away.

C. Talk to a different partner now. Decide what information about Australia presented in the movie segment was new to you and you didn't mention when you and your partner did exercise A.

D. Class discussion:

1. Summarize the story of the segment

2. Nullah is an aboriginal who does not have much contact with white people. How is that reflectd in the way he speaks?

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I, Robot: Future - Will

This segment provides you with an excellent opportunity to have students practice "will" to talk about the future. Here you can integrate listening, speaking and grammar in a contextualized manner. Besides, the segment is so gripping, full of food for thought and conversation!

Before watching the segment:

Discuss the following questions with a partner:

1) Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future?

2) How different will your city be in the year 2035?

3) How would you describe your city in 2035?

4) What will be better and what will be worse then?

5) Do you think robots will be common in 2035?

6) What tasks will robots have?

7) Will life be better if humans share their space with robots?

8) Would you like to have a personal robot to help/protect you?

Read the sentences below. Check the ones that you think will be true in Chicago, 2035.

( ) All electronic appliances are modern.

( ) People live in very comfortable homes.

( ) Mail is delivered by robots.

( ) People and robots share the streets.

( ) Robots walk dogs for their owners.

( ) Litter collecting is done by robots.

( ) People wear the same kinds of clothes we do today.

( ) Robots rob people.

( ) Robots protect people.

Now watch the movie segments and write the sentences above using will/won't, according to what you see in the segment.

Ex:1 -Not all electronic appliances will be modern.

2 - People won't live in comfortable homes.

3 - Mail will be delivered by robots.


Talk to a prtner:
1 - Do you think the film shows a possible reality of the future? Justify it.
2 - Would you like to live in a world like the one in the movie? Why (not)?
3 - What did you like best about the future presented in the segment?

How to develop your own video activity:

- Select a scene that takes place in the future.

- Have students work in pairs to predict what the future will be like in the future.

- Write some sentences with true and false information about the futur, according to the movie segment.

- The students check the ones they believe will be true by then.

- The students write affirmative or negative statements with the target grammar point about the items you have developed for the warm-up exercise.

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Definitely, Maybe: Restrictive Relative Clauses

This is the opening titles scene of this really nice romantic comedy. Ask your students to pay attention to what people are doing during the main character's (Will's) walk from his office to his daughter's school. Because there are several characters performing different activities, it is great for the students to practice the use of relative (restrictive) clauses.

Definitely Maybe: 3’28


I. Match the two activities the same character(s) is (are) performing.

(1) A man sells fruit for a living on the street.

(2) A man was wearing very big earphones.

(3) An elegant woman was walking her dog.

(4) Many children and parents were arguing.

(5) A girl was shouting madly at her mother.



(1) He was reading a magazine.

( ) He prevented Will from being run over by a truck.

( ) She was wearing a fur coat.

( ) They were talking about the sexual education class.

( ) She thought her mother had lied to her.

The sentences are in the order of the correct matching. Mind mixing up the sentences before you prepare the students' exercise sheets:

How to prepare your own video activity:

- Select a scene in which a lot of peole are performing different actions at the same time.

- Have students match 2 activities (or the character's physical characteristics or clothing, for example) the same character is performing.

- Have them write restrictive relative clauses combining both sentences.








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The Ultimate Gift: Conjunctions - Because / So / Since

This movie has a touching message and is a dramatic comedy. The main character has to go through several tasks in order to become a better person and receive an ultimate gift as inheritance. This scene is perfect to practice the use of conjunctions, in this case contrasting the use of so x because and since.

I. Discuss the following questions with a partner.

1. Should the man always pay the check when he takes his girlfriend to a restaurant? Why (not)?
2. What would you do if you invited someone for dinner in an expensive restaurant and you found out you didn’t have money to pay the check?

3. Would you ask for expensive dishes in a restaurant to impress your girlfriend (boyfriend) even if you couldn’t spend a lot?

4. What would you do if someone invited you to go to a very expensive restaurant and he asked you to pay the check?

5. What would you do if you found out you didn’t have money to pay for the dinner you have just finished eating?

II.Watch the video segment and combine both sentences with so, because or since.

The waiter was amazed.
The young couple had ordered pricey wine and lobster.
1. (Because) …………………………………………………………………………………..

Jason’s credit card was declined by the charge card company.
The waiter told Jason about it.
2.(So) ………………………………………………………………………………………….

Jason’s credit card was declined twice.
Jason gave the waiter another credit card.
3. (Since) ………………………………………………………………………………………

Jason wanted to move in to his girlfriend’s place.
Jason’s place was being remodeled.
4. (So) …………………………………………………………………………………………..

Jason was switching bank accounts at the moment.
Jason asked his girlfriend to pay the check.
5.(Because) …………………………………………………………………………………….

Jason didn’t have money to pay the check.
Jason’s girlfriend left him alone in the restaurant.
6. (Since) …………………………………………………………………………………….

How to prepare your own video activity:

- Select a scene in which the characters have to make decisions because of unexpected events.

- Write sentences with both the causes and their consequences.

- Ask students to combine both sentences with because/so/since.

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The Devil Wears Prada: Dangling Modifiers

This is the opening scene of this funny movie with excellent characters. I left the answers to the exercises on the blog post just to help you out, but of course you'll have to delete this information when you prepare the students' exercise sheets. This is the opening scene of the movie, with a great song. I prepared a lesson plan to practice dangling modifiers with visual input to contextualize the topic.





These ladies are the main characters:




















Andrea and Miranda

A. Discuss the following questions with a partner:


1. How should people behave in a job interview?
2. What should they wear?
3. What is the perfect boss like?
4. How would you deal with an extremely impolite boss if the job was very good pay and extremely important for your career? Justify your answer.




Watch the movie segment and decide whether the following sentences have dangling modifiers. Write (C) if the statement is correct and (W) if it is wrong.

1 - After getting dressed, Andrea kissed her boyfriend goodbye. (C)

2 - Going to her job interview, the waitress handed Andrea a bagel for breakfast. (W)


3 - While eating a sandwich, she took the subway to work. (C)


4 - Surprised by the message the taxi driver sent, a lot of things had to be done in a hurry. (W)


5 - After asking if someone had eaten an onion bagel, Andrea checked whether her breath was fine. (W)


6 - Before reaching her office, nobody but her assistant talked to Miranda. (W)


7 - While going to her office, the employees avoided walking or staying where Miranda was. (W)



8 - Sitting in the waiting room, Miranda called Andrea for the interview. (W)



Now revise the dangling modifiers and write a possible correction.



Possible answer key:

Ex:

1 - Correct

2 - Going to her job interview, Andrea bought a bagel for breakfast.

3 - Correct

4 – Surprised by the message the taxi driver sent, Emily had to do a lot of things in a hurry.

5 – After being asked if someone had eaten an onion bagel, andrea checked…

6 – Before reaching her office, miranda didn’t talk with anyone but her assistant.

7 – While going to her office, miranda made her employees avoid walking…

8 – Sitting in the waiting room, Andrea was called for the interview.

How to prepare your own video activity:

- Select a scene with a lot of actions

- Prepare sentences about the sentences with dangling modifiers

- Some of the sentences should be correct

- Students watch the segment and decide how to correct the wrong sentences

WORKSHEET

Hitch: Imperative Forms

This is a great, funny scene for the students to practice imperative forms. The lesson plan below provides them with plenty of opportunities for free communication, controlled oral practice and writing as well. Hitch, the character played by Will Smith, gives lots of advice using the grammar point and the topic is extremely familiar to everyone, especially teens. I hope you like it.

A. Talk to a partner about the following questions:

1. How do you feel when you go on a first date with someone?

2. What are the basic rules you follow on a first date?

3. What are the signs that your date is not interested in you?

4. What do you do when you observe that?


B. Give 3 (three) pieces of advice to someone who is going on a first date to the
following places. Don’t repeat them. Make sure you use imperative forms.


To a photograph exhibition

1. ……………………………………………………………….....

2. ………………………………………………………………….

3. ………………………………………………………………….


To a night club

1. ………………………………………………………………….

2. ………………………………………………………………….

3. …………………………………………………………………


To the movies

1. ………………………………………………………………….

2. ………………………………………………………………….

3. ………………………………………………………………….


C. Read the alternatives below and guess which ones are recommended on a
first date according to Hitch, the counseler.

1. When you go to a photograph exhibition on a first date…

a. Be the real you
b. Give her plenty of space
c. Stay next to your date when she lingers on a picture.
d. Maintain visual contact all the time.
e. Try to be as funny as possible.

2.When you go to a night club…

a. Dance all the time.
b. Walk a little when you leave the club.
c. Ask her/him what she thought about the show.
d. Look at her mouth when you are talking to each other
e. Listen to what she is saying and respond.




Answer Key:

C. Correct items:
1. a,b,d
2. b,c,e

WORKSHEET

I Am Legend: Future Perfect

This segment is excellent for the students to practice the future perfect tense. The segment is thought-provoking and chilling. The students have to use their imagination to predict the future.

Discuss the following questions with a partner:


1 - Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future? Justify your answer.

2 - Do you think mankind will ever discover a cure for cancer?

3 - Will human beings be free from diseases in the future? Why (not)?

4 - What would a city like New York look like if all of its inhabitants had to evacuate it in a hurry?

5 - What would you do if you and your best friend could be alone in New York for a week, without any other inhabitants around? Would you enjoy this experience? What would you do there?


Now imagine that NY City had to be completely evacuated because of a very destructive virus. Check what you believe would happen to NY if such situation did happen.

( ) The streets would become extremely filthy.

( ) People would abandon their cars everywhere.

( ) Wild animals would escape from the zoo to look for food around the city.

( ) Animals would take control of the city.

( ) Some people would hide in the buildings to steal stores and banks.

( ) Life in NY would become a complete chaos.

( ) Power would go off.

( ) People wouldn't drive their cars because of the lack of gas.

( ) Buildings would be destroyed by the angry population.


Now watch the movie segment and pretend you are the main character in the movie, the one played by Will Smith. Imagine that you could have warned Dr. Alice Krippin about the consequences of her unfortunate discovery. Tell her what will have happened to NY within three years from now (by the year 2012) if she tests her discovery on human beings.


Ex:

By the year 2011, NY streets will have become completely filthy.

People will have abandoned their cars everywhere.

Wild animals will have escaped from the zoo to look for food around the city.


How to develop your own video activity

- Select a scene that takes place in the future, preferably with a pessimistic view of the future.

- Ask the students to observe the changes that will have taken place on Earth.

- The students write sentences with will + have + past participle.





WORKSHEET

Kangaroo Jack: Wish / If Only

This is a funny scene that takes place in Australia. My students had a great time watching it and doing the grammar exercises.



A. Talk to a partner about the following questions:



1 - What would you do if you ran over an animal in the middle of the road? Justify your answer.

2 - What do you know about Australia? Share what you know with your partner.

3 - Are you an adventurous person? Tell your partner about one great adventure of yours.

4 - Have you ever been to a safari? Would you like to go on one? Why (not)?



B. Watch the movie segment and fill in the blanks with the simple past tense of the verbs in parentheses. Use either either affirmative or negative forms, according to the segment.

Charlie, the kangaroo and Louis

1. Charlie _________________ (drive) too fast on such a dangerous road.

2. They __________________ (pay) attention to the wild animals on the road.



3. Charlie _________________(run over) a kangaroo.



4. Louis ________________ (put) on his jacket on the kangaroo.



5. Louis __________________ (check) what was in the pockets.



6. They _________________ (kill) the kangaroo.



7. They _________________ (crash) their car into a rock.



8. Charlie _________________ (be) kicked by the kangaroo.



9. The kangaroo __________________(hop) away with their money.

C. Rewrite the sentences above using wish and if only to express regrets.

Ex: 1. Charlie wishes he hadn't driven too fast on such a dangerous road.

2. If only they had paid attention to the animals on the road.

How to prepare your own video activity.

- Select a scene in which the characters regret their actions.

- Prepare an exercise in which the students have to decide whether they use affirmative or negative sentences about their wrong choices.

- Ask students to rewrite the sentences using the grammar goal.

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