Mar 24, 2012

Mary and Max: Present Perfect x Simple Past

This is a marvelous Australian animated movie for adults. A bit sad, though. It is about two very unlikely pen pals. There are several scenes for grammar practice. This one is perfect to contrast the use of the simple past and the present perfect tenses.



A. Read the sentences taken from a letter Max is writing Mary and try to guess whether you should complete the blanks with the simple past or the present perfect tenses of the given verbs.



1. I ____________ (choose) the same numbers for nine years. 3, 5, 6, 9, 11, 12.


2. I _____________ (have) many different jobs during my life.


3. My first job ______ (be) collecting subway tokens in the subway.


4. I __________ (work) at the frisbee printing machine in my third job.


5. In my fourth job, I _____________ (get - neg) paid much but ________ (get) free cookies and coffee.


6. _____________ (you - ever - be) hang gliding?


7. _____________ (you - ever - be) a communist?


8. _____________ (you - ever - be) attacked by a crow or a similar large bird. When I __________ (be) nine, a crow _________ (attack) me on my way to school.



9. I _________________ (teach) myself to read two pages at once.



10. I have to go now. I __________ (tell - neg) you about my 7th job, in a condom factory.



11. I _______________ (eat - never) sweetened condensed milk.



12. I ________________ ( use - never) a condom.



B. Watch the movie segment and check your answers.








C. Work in pairs.


1. Have you ever had a pen pal? Why (not)?


2. Is it a good idea to have pen pals? Explain it.


3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having pen pals?


4. Do pen pals have to like the same things? Why (not)?


5. Are pen pals real friends? Or it just a fantasy?



WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - MARY & MAX


Answer key:

A.

1. have chosen 2. have had 3. was 4. worked 5. didn't get / got 6. have you ever been 7. have you ever been 8. have you ever been / was / attacked 9. have taught 10. haven't told 11. have never eaten 12. have never used

Mar 17, 2012

Julie & Julia: Modal Verbs for Strong Advice or Obligation - MUST - Giving Instructions




A. Match the two parts of the sentences below.


1. You make sure

2. You hold

3. You protect

4. You cut



( ) only the onion

( ) the knife like this

( ) the other hand

( ) that the egg is fresh


B. Now connect both parts of the sentences and write sentences, using modals for strong advice or obligation.


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

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

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

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


C. Watch the movie segment and check your answers.





WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - JULIE & JULIA

Answer key:

A. 4,2,3,1


B.


1. You must make sure that the egg is fresh


2. You must hold the knife like this


3. You must protect the other hand.


4. You must cut only the onion.

Mar 10, 2012

Saturday Night Fever: Simple Present

This is a great classic, extremely tacky, that the students are not very familiar with. They usually love the scene and have fun with the song. It's a revival! I like sharing classics with the students, sometimes the only opportunity they have to watch them.










A. Make a list of 5 things you do before you go out dancing Saturday nights.


Ex:

I take a hot shower.

I wear a beautiful dress.

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

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

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

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

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


B. Share your list with a partner and ask him/her if he/she does what you have on your list.

Ex:


S1: Do you take a hot shower?

S2: Yes, I do


S1: Do you wear a beautiful dress?

S2: No, I don't. I wear pants.



C. Watch the movie segment and write down 5 activities Tony Manero does before he goes dancing Saturday night.




Ex:


1. Tony dries his hair.

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

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

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

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



D. Ask each other if you perform Tony's activities before you go dancing.


Ex:

1. Do you dry your hair?


WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER

Mar 3, 2012

Love Happens: Past Modals for Regrets



A. Watch the movie segment about a man describing how his son died. Check the alternatives that he mentioned.



1. ( ) They stopped by the construction site to pick up some blueprints.
2. ( ) He left his son in the car.
3. ( ) The boy stayed in the car until his dad came back.
4. ( ) The boy left the car and fell off the scaffold.
5. ( ) He lost his job.
6. ( ) His wife left him.
7. ( ) Nobody said anything to support him during the therapy.



B. Now rewrite the items above, using past modals for regrets. Decide if you will use affirmative sentences, according to the information presented in the segment.


1. ...........................................................
2. ..........................................................
3. ..........................................................
4. ..........................................................
5. .........................................................
6. .........................................................
7. ..........................................................



C. Talk to a partner:



1. What's your opinion about this kind of therapy? Does it actually help or worsen the problems?
2. Would you join one if you were facing the same kind of problem? Explain it.

3. What should he do to overcome this situation?


WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - LOVE HAPPENS
Answer key:

A.
Only #3 is not to be marked.


B.
1. They souldn't have stopped...
2. He shouldn't have left ...
3. The boy should have stayed...
4. The boy shouldn't have left
5. He shouldn't have lost ...
6. His wife shouldn't have left...
7. Somebody should have said something...