Jan 25, 2014

The Great Gatsby: Comparatives, Superlatives and Double Comparatives


I. Watch the segment from the movie The Great Gatsby.




II. Complete the lines of the opening scene from the movie "The Great Gatsby" with the correct form of the adjectives, nouns or expressions from the box. You may use comparative, superlative, or double comparative forms.

LOOSE - BROAD - HOPEFUL - IN TUNE - YOUNG - VULNERABLE - WE DRANK - BIG - HIGH - CHEAP

1) In my _________________ and _________________ years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since. ‘Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone,’ he told me, ‘just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had. 

2) The ________________  with the time  we were, the _________________.

3) He was the single _____________________  person I have ever met;

4) The parties were _________________________.

5) The shows were ____________________________.
6) The buildings were ________________________.

7) The morals were _____________________ and the ban on alcohol had backfired, making the liquor __________________.

III. Watch the movie segment again and check your answers.

IV. Discuss:

1. How do you imagine life was like in the 1920's? Does the movie segment surprise you?

2. Would you like to have lived during  those years? Why (not)?

3. Alcohol was prohibited, so the prices were very expensive. Do you think alcohol should be prohibited again, the way it used to be in the 20's? Why (not)? 

4. What about some drugs, like marijuana? Should they remain banned? Or do you think the legalization will be best?*

* In Brazil, selling and buying marijuana is prohibited by law. Check your country's policy and adapt the question if it is the case.






Answer Key:
“In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since. ‘Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone,’ he told me, ‘just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.’ The more in tune with the time  we were, the more we drank
Gatsby was the single most hopeful person I have ever met; The parties were biggerThe shows were broader.The buildings were higher.The morals were looser and the ban on alcohol had backfired, making the liquor cheaper.


Jan 15, 2014

Monsters University: Modal for Advice - Should (not), Ought (not) to


This is one of my favorite animated features. I love the characters and the plot. It is incredibly funny. This segment shows a stereotyped librarian and the way she acts when somebody disturbs her. I used this scene to have students use should (ought to) in a contextualized way. I think this scene is hilarious.

I. Talk to a partner:
What are the characteristics of a librarian? Make a list of the qualities one must/mustn't have in order to be a good librarian.
1 _________________________ 
2 _________________________
3 _________________________
4 _________________________
5 _________________________


II. What should a librarian do in these situations:

1. I f someone is walking quietly in the library, trying not to make any loud noise.

__________________________

2. If someone makes a little noise in the library.

__________________________

3. If someone is very noisy in the library.

__________________________

4. If someone steals a book from the library.

__________________________

5. If someone makes a mess in the library.

__________________________

6. If someone is talking to a group of people in the library.

__________________________


III. Watch the segment and write two sentences what the Monsters' University librarian library should do and two other sentences saying what she shouldn't do, according to the segment.




SHOULD/OUGHT TO DO (or BE)

1 __________________________

2 __________________________


SHOULD (NOT)/OUGHT (NOT) TO


1 __________________________

2 __________________________


MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - MONSTER'S UNIVERSITY

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