Jun 28, 2009

Into the Blue: Have You Ever...? - Present Perfect x Simple Past

This movie is full of action and adventure. Teens love it. The setting is the gorgeous Bahamas sea. The scene is exciting and full of activities that most people have never performed. It is great for the students to practice questions with Have you ever...? and contrast the use of the simple past and present perfect tenses. It is perfect for practicing Yet/Already, too.


A. Watch the video segment and check all the activities you can see .

( ) jet ski
( ) travel to the Bahamas
( ) swim in the sea
( ) dive among the sharks
( ) be inside a cave
( ) ride a speedboat
( ) kiss someone in the ocean
( ) go snorkeling
( ) see a live shark
( ) be inside a grotto
( ) lose something in the sea
( ) find something valuable on the beach

B. Ask a few partners the following questions. Use the activities on the left. Follow the pattern:

Ex:

S1 - Have you ever … (jet skied)?

S2 - No I haven’t. / Yes, I have.

S1 - Would you like to jet ski? / When did you jet ski?

S2 - Yes, I would. / I jet skied last summer.

B. Write 8 sentences about the information presented in exercise A , using the words in parentheses. You may use different sentences as well.

(never) …………………………………………………………………………………….
(never) …………………………………………………………………………………….
(already) ………………………………………………………………………………….
(already) ………………………………………………………………………………….
(yet) ……………………………………………………………………………………….
(yet) ……………………………………………………………………………………….
(last year)………………………………………………………………………………..
(when I was a child) ……………………………………………………………………..

C. Talk to a partner. Come up with a list of 5 things that both of you have never done but intend to do before you die.

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


D. Choose a different partner and ask him/her if he/she has ever done what you and your previous partner intend to do in the future. Use the patterns in exercise A.




WORKSHEET


MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - INTO THE BLUE





How to prepare your own video activity:
- Select a scene in which the characters perform unusual activities or tasks
- Prepare a list with these tasks
- Have students ask each other questions with Have you ever....?
- Have them rewrite the sentences with yet, never, already and with a definite time in the past so they can use either the present perfect tense or the simple past.
- Students prepare a list of things they have never done in their lives, but intend to do in the future.
- They interview a different partner, using the target language.

14 comments:

Antonio Carlos said...

Hi Claudio ! my name is Antonio Carlos and i'm here to congratz you for such a good job, man i'm a "newcomer" teacher and you don't know how this work that you do is important for people like me.]

Simply amazing, Thanks

Claudio Azevedo said...

Hello Antonio Carlos,
I'm so glad to hear that. Well, come around more often. Make good use of them. See you.

Rafael said...

Hi Claudio! I also think it's a fantastic idea! Thank you so much. it'll make our job much easier.

Let me ask you a question: How Can I possibly get the videos from your blog? Is there any software for that?

Thank you in advance.

Claudio Azevedo said...

Hi Rafael, thanks.
You can download the videos with real player. Download the free version at www.realplayer.com. After you install it, all you'll have to do is to scroll the mouse over the screen and you'll be automatically offered the choice to download it. That's how I download youtube videos, and you can do it here too. If the option of download does not show up, check the "preferencias" and allow downloads from the web option. It is really easy. Tell me if you managed, please. See you.

Rafael said...

Where can I find this section 'preferencias' on my pc?

Claudio Azevedo said...

Dear Rafael.
This is in the real player software that you must have installed in your pc. When you open realplayer, go to Ferramentas, then Preferencias, finally Download e gravação. There you'll have an option to click on activate downloads from the web and to show the button automatically. Just follow the steps and you should be able to do it. If you still have problems, let me know. See you.

Rafael said...

Ok!
Thank you so much!
I'll try at home so!

Flavia said...

You have been doing such an excellent job! Not only are you helping us (teachers) improve our classes, but also create our own material. Thanks a lot!

Claudio Azevedo said...

Thanks, Flavia.
I'm really glad to read that. See you.

Kristina said...

Hi Claudio! I love your site. I was trying to download a movie clip from your site, but RealPlayer says something like 'this clip is not downloadable'. Any ideas around this?

Claudio Azevedo said...

Dear Kristina,

It is probably your realplayer version since I've just tried it and it worked fine. Try a newer version of realplayer, OK? Let me know if you managed.

elfina said...

Dear Claudio,

Thank you ever so much for what you are doing! I absolutely agree with all the comments that you are doing a great job! I am absolutely amazed by your creativity and am definitely going to use some of your ideas in class (with your permission of course).

I would also like to share an idea of mine for Present Perfect activity. I used the episode from Breakfast at Tiffany's when Holly Golightly and Paul Varjak spend a romantic day out together doing their'never done before' things. Worked out really well with my Russian students.

Wishing you good luck and thank you for your inspiring work!

Best wishes
Elfina from Moscow

Claudio Azevedo said...

Dear Elfina,
Thank you for your so very kind words. Of course you have my permission to use the activities. In fact, this is the main point of the blog. Your suggestion sounds great. I don't know the scene you mentioned, but the context really sounds ideal for the present perfect. I wish I could see it. Do you the video? See you around. Hello to Moscow.

Gimena said...

Kristina, the same thing happened to me. All you need to do is click on "download" while the video IS playing.