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

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


 
 Trapeze swinger


 

 Contortionist


 

 Stilts walker


 

Juggler


 

 Daredevil








Clowns





Human cannonball


 



Fire eater



 

 Magician






 Animal acts




Tightrope walker

 

Lion tamer

 

Ringmaster





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

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

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.

WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

My Big Fat Greek Wedding: Order of Adjectives

This is one of the best romantic comedies of all times. The cultural conflict, good humor, and clever plot make it stand out the others. It is full of scenes you can use in your classroom.

A. Watch the movie segment and choose the best order for the given adjectives.

1. They are wearing (resistant / beige) stockings

2. The bridesmaids are polishing their nails with a (gorgeous /orange / nail) polisher.

3. They are putting on some (elegant / silver / high heels) shoes.

4. All the bridesmaid are wearing similar (blue / silk ) dresses.

5. The bride is wearing a (beautiful /white / wedding) dress.

6. The bridesmaids are (excited / young) gals.

Answer key:
Here the answers are in the correct order. Use the worksheet for mixed alternatives.




WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING

Silent Hill: Modals for Possibility - MIGHT COULD MUST

The first scene of the movie is intriguing. You have a lot to speculate about. Ask your students to use their imagination doing the exercises.

I. Watch the movie segment and write 3 sentences for the questions below.

Use MIGHT and COULD (slight possibility), MUST (great possibility) or CANT (impossibility).

1. What happened in Silent Hill?

a .............................................

b ............................................

c ............................................

2. What kind of city is Silent Hill?

a ...........................................

 b ..........................................

 c ..........................................

3. What will happen if they go to Silent Hill by themselves?

a ..........................................
 

b .........................................

c .........................................

4. How will the child's father react when he finds out his wife and child went to Silent Hill

without him?

a .........................................

b ........................................

c .........................................

II. Work with the class as a whole. First, read your sentences with MUST out loud and decide which is the most plausible explanation for each of the questions.

III. Now read your sentences with the other modals and decide which one is the most far fetched for each of the questions.

WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - SILENT HILL

Prometheus: Asking Questions

I am a great fan of Ridley Scott's movies. This one is no exception. The story is wonderful, and it makes us think about the importance of knowing about where the human race come from.




I. Before you watch the segment, try to put the questions below in the correct order.


1. man / what / happened / to / that

.............................................................................?


2. aren't / why / you/ them / helping

...............................................................................?

3. die / why /did / he


............................................................................... ?


4. where / they / go / do

................................................................................ ?


5. know/ do/ it's beautiful / you / how

................................................................................ ?


6. do/ what / believe / you

.................................................................................. ?



II. Write the number of the questions before the answers. One question does not have the answer listed below.


( ) That's what I choose to believe.

( ) He died.

( ) Heaven, paradise

( ) They don't want my help.

( ) Because sooner or later everyone dies.



III. Watch the movie segment and decide if the questions are written in the correct order. Then check if you matched both the question and the answer correctly.







WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - PROMETHEUS


Answer key:




I.

1. What happened to that man?

2. Why aren't you helping them?

3. Why did he die?

4. Where do they go?

5. How do you know it's beautiful?

6. What do you believe?



II.

5, 1, 4, 2, 3

The Ant Bully: Passive x Active Voice - Mixed Verb Tenses

I. Read the sentences below and write them in the passive voice.

1. We have brought you before this council to face judgment.
.........................................................................
2. The queen herself will be handing down the sentencing of the human.
.........................................................................

3. We should study this human.
........................................................................

II. Now read the sentences below. Then rewrite them in the active voice.

1. And then he will be eaten (by us) .
.......................................................

2. This human could be destroyed (by us).
......................................................

3. The nature of this human could be changed (by us).
......................................................

III. Now watch the segment and check if your answers to exercises I and II were correct.

WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE ANT BULLY

Answer Key:

I.

1. You have been brought before this council for judgment.

2. The sentencing of the human will be handed down by the queen herself.

3. This human should be studied.

II.

1.And then we will eat him.

2. We could destroy this human.

3. We could change the nature of this human.

A peer of mine said that he had used a slides presentation with links to my passive voice activities. I was sent the link and came across this really cool and thorough class on passive voice. I'm glad Simon Friend used my blog for his video activities. His slides are effective, fun and constructive. Thanks Simon Friend for these really cool slides. Thanks for linking my site to it.

Couples Retreat: Have Got (Noun) x Have Got To (Verb)

his movie has very good moments, but it could have been better. I used this scene to contrast the use of GET (followed by nouns or verbs).

The verb TO GET had different uses and meanings. In this exercise we will see the difference of the verb To Get, meaning To Have.

Ex: I('ve) got a bad feeling = I have a bad feeling.

I ('ve) got to study for the test = I have to study for the test.


I. Talk to a partner:

1- Would you like to go to a resort for couple skill building if your relationship were cold and distant? Why (not)?

2. What must a place like this have in order to make your vacation and relationship also pleasurable?

3. What wouldn't you like the resort to have?

4. Do you believe that you can save a bored relationship if the couple go to a couple skill building resort? Explain it.



II. Look at the list below and place the information under the correct column (GOT + Nouns or GOT + Verbs).

FUN - SUN - YOUR KAYAKING - YOUR WINDSURFING - YOUR CANOEING - YOUR JET SKIING - COUPLE SKILL BUILDING - SNORKELING - A JOB - STAY THIN - A GAMBLING PROBLEM - MAKE VIDEOS - OTHER OBLIGATIONS


GOT + NOUNS : Ex: FUN,
GOT + VERBS:




III. Watch the segment and decide if Eden - a playground for adults and married couples looking for couple skill building therapy - is a good place for vacations.





IV. Check your chart. Are the prompts placed under the correct column?


V. Now write sentences with the grammar point.
Ex: (Eden) It's got fun.


VI. Make list of 3 things the best hotel you have stayed in has got and what 3 things a tourist has got to do there.

WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - COUPLES RETREAT

Answer key:


II.



GOT + NOUNS = FUN - SUN - YOUR KAYAKING - YOUR WINDSURFING - YOUR CANOEING - YOUR JET SKIING - COUPLE SKILL BUILDING - SNORKELING - A JOB - A GAMBLING PROBLEM - OTHER OBLIGATIONS


GOT + VERBS = STAY THIN - MAKE VIDEOS


IV. It's got fun, It's got sun, They've got your kayaking, They've got your windsurfing, They've got your canoeing, They've got your jet skiing, It's got couples skill building and snorkeling, I got a job, He's got to stay thin, He's got a gambling problem, I got to make videos, I've got other obligations.

Hairspray: Used to

This musical is not shallow at all. There are many messages on racism, social discrimination, looks dictatorship, and segregation. Moreover, it is great, the music is fun, and it is a huge source for activities. John Travolta's role as the fat mother is unforgettable. I used this one to practice USED TO.


I. Watch the movie segment and make a list of 6 things that USED TO BE DIFFERENT in the 60s in the city of Baltimore, USA, according to the segment. Don't repeat the verbs you have already used. Observe these items:

CLOTHES - MUSIC - HAIRSTYLES - TV PROGRAMS - MAKEUP -
DAILY ACTIVITIES - CARS - CITY STREETS - STORES

Ex: Teens used to use hair spray before going to school.


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

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

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

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

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

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


II. Work in pairs:


1. How different did teens' lives use to be when compared to nowadays? Mention at least 5 things.

2. What are some things that teens used to do before going to school in the 60s that you also do nowadays?

3. Compare your typical morning to Tracy's.

4. Have you ever woken up as happy as Tracy did that morning? What do you do when that happens?



WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - HAIRSPRAY

X-Men First Class: Modal Verb for Ability - CAN

I love all the X-Men sequels and prequels. This one is one of my favorites. You can't miss it.

I. Watch the movie segment and match the mutant's number with what they can do. Mutants are people who have special gifts with which they can perform actions regular people usually can't. What can these mutants do?

1. Hank

2. Mystique

3. Darwin

4. Banshee

5. Angel

6. Alex



( ) Break objects with his/her voice

( ) Create and throw shiny circles at objects and destroy them

( ) Hold objects with his feet

( ) Fly

( ) Adapt his physical characteristics in order to survive in different environments

( ) Spit fire balls

( ) Change his/her physical characteristics to look like someone else




II. Which of the mutants above would you like to be? Which one has the most interesting power?


III. Work in small groups. Imagine that your group will create a mutant with special gifts. Write 5 things your mutant CAN do. Your teacher (or the class) will decide which mutant is the most interesting one.


WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - X-MEN FIRST CLASS

Answer key:

I.

4, 6, 1, 5, 3, 5, 2

Cars: Modal Verbs for Prohibition - CAN'T - TO BE NOT ALLOWED TO

Take a look at the rules for the race that will take place in the movie segment. Try to match the rule and its meaning.

1. No pushing

2. No shoving

3. No bumping

4. No cheating

5. No spitting

6. No biting

7. No maiming

8. No road rage

9. No lolly gagging

10. No road hogging

11. No back stabbing

12. No oil slicking

( ) no idly wasting time

( ) no useless slow driving

( ) no saying bad things behind their backs

( ) no letting oil on the road

( ) no using of physical force to remove the opponent

( ) no pushing rudely

( ) no hitting

( ) no behaving dishonestly

( ) no insulting

( ) no using of teeth to hurt the opponent

( ) no mutilating

( ) no aggressive behavior on the road

Watch the movie segment now and then rewrite the rules, using CAN'T and NOT ALLOWED TO.

Ex: 1. You can't push / You're not allowed to push

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

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

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

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - CARS


WORKSHEET


Answer key:

Ex I

9, 10, 11, 12, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

It's Complicated: While x During

This is a great romantic comedy with excellent actors. This is comedy about a couple who have been separated for 10 years, found new lovers, and who start dating again after their divorce. Jane (Meryl Streep) and Jake (Alec Baldwin) a planning a date, but Jake has to leave his new wife (Agnes) and son at home to meet Jane.






I. Watch the movie segment and decide whether you will complete the blanks with DURING or WHILE.


1. Jane cooked dinner and drank wine _________________ she was waiting for him.


2. ______________ Agnes was working on the computer, Jake decided to take his cell phone to the bathroom.

3. Jake took his son to his bedroom _________ his sleep.


4. Jane kept on waiting for Jake ___________ he was in his son1s bedroom.


5. Jane remained alone and lonely ______________ the whole night.


6. Jake stayed home and didn't go to the meeting. He felt anxious ____________ he was at home with his wife. However, he didn't want to be home __________ the time he was supposed to be having dinner with Jane.

II. Discuss the questions.

1. What should Jake have done?

2. What should Jane have done?

3. Was he planning to do the right thing? What would you do if you were in his shoes?

WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - IT'S COMPLICATED

Answer key:

1. while
2. while
3. during
4. while
5. during
6. while / during