Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs: Restrictive Relative Clauses

This is one of my favorite animated movies ever. The original idea for the movie is fantastic and it carries a noble, enriching message. I used it to practice restrictive relative clauses.


I. Match the machines Flint Lockwood invented with what they can or can't do.


1. Spray-on shoes

2. Remote control television

3. Hair un-balder

4. Flying car

5. Monkey thought translator

6. Ratbirds

7. A machine



( ) It translate thoughts

( ) it turns water into food

( ) It can't fly

( ) they can fly

( ) it can walk

( ) they don't get off

( ) it grows too much hair


II. Now combine both parts, using restrictive relative clauses. Start the sentences with the given sentence:

He invented...

Ex: 1. He invented spray-on shoes that don't get off.

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

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

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

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

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

7 .....................................................



III. Work in small groups. Think about 3 perfect inventions. Then write a relative clause saying what it can do.

Ex: We are going to invent a machine that can do the homework for us.

Answer key:

5, 7, 4, 6, 2, 1, 3


WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD

Good News! Direct Links to the Movie Segments

I'm glad to say that the NEW posts will come with direct links to the movie segments. Now you won't depend on other softwares to download the videos. This will be a test, though. I hope to have some feedback whether it works better this way or if it really does not matter to you. Uploading the videos is extremely time consuming to me, so I will keep on doing it only if the outcomes are worth it. Unfortunately, this will be done from the next post on - Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs - Restrictive Relative Clauses. The posts before this date won't have the links. Sorry about that. This is a thank you gift for the half a million visitors of this blog!

Fame: Adverbs of Frequency

This new version of the classic Fame is not as charming as the original version, but it has great moments and I ended up enjoying it a lot. This scene has very few lines, so it is great for basic learners to practice the use of adverbs of frequency.
A. Watch the segment and check the activities you see in the segment:


1. ( ) Dance in the morning
2. ( ) Play a musical instrument
3. ( ) Take the subway to school (work)
4. ( ) Take a taxi to school (work)
5. ( ) Wear perfume (cologne) to go to school (work)
6. ( ) Read a book at school (work)
7. ( ) Go skating to school (work)
8. ( ) Wear makeup to go to school (work)


B. Now write sentences saying how often you perform the activities above. Use the adverbs below:

ALWAYS

USUALLY

OFTEN

SOMETIMES

SELDOM

RARELY

NEVER

Ex:


1. I never dance in the morning.

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

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

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

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

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

7 .................................................


8 ................................................



MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - FAME
WORKSHEET


Answer key:

A. All are to be checked, except 6 and 7.

Mr Bean's Holiday: Wh - Questions with Simple Past

Mr. Bean is always funny and great for grammar practice because there are always a lot of actions to be described. I used this scene to have students practice asking questions in the simple past tense. By the way, the scene is memorable. I love it!










I. Before you watch the movie segment make a guess and choose the answer that will best complete the sentences.






1. He placed a handkerchief on the sidewalk / on a car / under a tree.



2. A DJ / Mr Bean / A boy played the song Boombastic.


3. Mr. Bean put a hat / a lady's cardigan/ a woman's dress on his head.

4. A passer-by / a police officer / a taxi driver/ started filming Mr. Bean with the boy.


5. Mr. Bean carried the boy and placed him on his shoulder / on the ground / in the street.


6. Mr. Bean dubbed "O Mio Bambino Caro" well/ desperately / tragically.


7. The scene took place during the night / in the afternoon / at 5:50 am.




II. Now write wh-questions to the answers you chose in exercise I.


Ex:

1. (on the sidewalk) - Where did he place a handkerchief?

2. ___________________________

3. ___________________________

4. ___________________________

5. ___________________________

6. ___________________________

7. ___________________________


WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - MR BEAN'S HOLIDAY

Answer key:

I.

1. on the sidewalk

2. The DJ

3. a lady's cardigan

4. A passer-by

5. on the ground

6. all the alternatives are possible

7. in the afternoon

II.

2. Who played the song Boombastic?

3. What did he put on his head?

4. Who started filming Mr. Bean with the boy?

5. Where did he place the boy?

6. How did he dub "O Mio Bambino Caro"?

7. When did the scene take place?

The Box: 1st & 2nd Conditionals

I love the idea of the movie and its intriguing development. The situation is unsual, perfect for 1st and 2nd conditional practice.




A. Read the passage below and complete the blanks with the verbs in parentheses, using with the first conditional. You have just received the visit of a total stranger who gives you a mysterious box with a button and makes the following offer to you:



If you _________ (push) the button, two things ________ (happen). First, someone, somewhere in the world, whom you don't know, __________ (die). Second, you ____________ (receive) a payment of one million dollars. Tax free. The payment ___________ (be) delivered by me in cash to you.


There are three restrictions:

1. You are not permitted to know any information about who's making the offer.

2. You are not permitted to discuss the details of this offer to anyone except your husband (wife).

3. You have 24 hours to make your decision.

4. Otherwise, the box will be reprogrammed and the offer will be made to someone else.

B. Now watch the first part of the segment (until the visitor leaves her house) and check your answers.

C. Now discuss the following questions with a partner. Remember that you are talking about an unreal situation, so you must use the second conditional. Then write down your answers. Start them with If...

1. What would you do if you were in her shoes?

If ...

2. How would you feel if you pushed the button?

If ...

3. How would you feel if you didn't push the button?

If ...

4. Would you push the button if you needed that money to save your son/daughter's life? Explain it.

If ...

D. Watch the second part of the segment and answer the following questions:

1. What were some of the things they considered before deciding whether they would push the button?

2. What did they decide to do?

3. According to her, why did she do it?

WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE BOX - PART 1

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE BOX - PART 2

Answer key:

A. push / will happen / will die / will receive / will be

B. Answers will vary

Up in the Air: Simple Present x Simple Past

This movie is really nice and the scene is perfect to contrast the uses of the simple present and simple past tenses.


I. Work in small groups. Make a list of activities you do every time you travel by plane. Think about what you do during the day until the plane takes off. Make sure you mention the steps you take at home and at the airport too.

Ex:

I make my bags.
I shave.

II. Watch the movie segment and check which of the activities you listed in Exercise I George Clooney's character did that day.


III. Now write 5 sentences saying what he did in the segment that you did not list in exercise II.


Ex: He took off his shoes at the airport.


IV. Now write sentences saying 5 things from your list that he didn't do before traveling.

Ex: He didn't shave.

PLAY THE SEGMENT TWICE.







WORKSHEET


MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - UP IN THE AIR

TESOL 2011 - New Orleans

The TESOL Convention in New Orleans has just ended and I attended very interesting sessions. My presentation was Saturday and I everything worked out. If you attended the convention, please tell us what you thought about it and if you enjoyed it.

Despicable Me: Modal Verbs - Rules with Will and May

Despicable Me is a lovely animated movie about a kind-hearted villain you end up falling in love with. This scene is marvelous and perfect to talk about rules, using will and may.



I. You will watch a scene in which a father is setting the rules with his recently adopted children. First, read the rules below and decide which ones you think are forbidden and which ones are permitted.

1.___ touch something.
2.___ touch the floor.
3. ___ touch the air.
4. ___ bother him while he is working.
5. ___ cry.
6. ___ whine.
7. ___ laugh.
8. ___ giggle.
9. ___ sneeze
10. ___burp.
11. ___ fart.
12. ___ make annoying noises.
13. ___ eat.

II. Watch the segment and check your guesses. Now write the rules, using YOU WILL (NOT) if the activity is forbidden and YOU MAY if the activity is allowed.



WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - DESPICABLE ME

Answer key:

you may: 1, 2, 3, 13

you will not : the other items

What Dreams May Come: Simple Present

This movie has a great message about the afterlife. The special effects are overwhelming. This beautiful scene is great to have students practice the simple present tense.





I. Make a list of at least 10 activities you do in your spare time.

Ex:
1. I listen to music.
2. I go swimming.

II. Ask your partner if he/she does it in his/her spare time.

Ex:
1. Do you listen to music in your spare time?
Yes, I do / No, I don't


2. Do you go swimming?

Yes, I do / No, I don't

II. Watch the segment now. The scene takes place in heaven. Observe what people do in heaven and write at least 5 sentences saying what they do there to spend time.

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

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

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

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

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



III. Are there any similarities between your list and the activities in the segment?


IV. Talk to a friend.


1. What's your opinion about the heaven in the segment? Is it interesting or boring? Why?

2. What do you like and dislike in the heaven you saw in the segment?

3. Do you think heaven is like that? Do you believe in heaven?



WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - WHAT DREAMS MAY COME

G-Force: Adjectives x Adverbs

This is another fantastic movie. I love the animation. The animals look like humans! I had to use this scene to practice choosing adjective or adverbs forms within a sentence.



I. First watch the movie segment. Then circle the correct form of the words in parentheses.

1. A lot of guests were walking (calm/calmly) in the garden before the party.

2. Speckles, one of the guinea pigs, can speak English (fluent/fluently)

3. The guinea pigs used very (modern/modernly) gadgets.

4. The man who Darwin, the guinea pig, was observing was wearing (expensive/expensively) clothes.

5. They can swim under the ocean (confident/confidently).

6. They communicate by giving each other (special/specially) information to synchronize their mission.

7. Darwin was a little (nervous/nervously) during the mission.

8. Juarez looked (extreme/extremely) sexy to Darwin's eyes.


II. Write down 2 sentences about the segment using the words below.


1. Intelligent ____________________________

2. Intelligently __________________________

3. Efficient _____________________________

4. Efficiently ____________________________

I.

1 calmly

2 fluently

3 modern

4 expensive

5 confidently

6 special

7 nervous

8 extremely

II. Answers will vary

WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - G-FORCE

International Conference for Teachers of English and Administrators, Montevideo, Uruguay

I had a great time in Montevideo, Uruguay last week. The city is beautiful and the seminar was rewarding. I want to thank the messages, support and the audience, who cooperated to the successful accomplishment of the presentation's goals. I hope I will be back to Uruguay again soon. Let me know if you were there and how you liked it. Thanks!

Couples Retreat: Adverbs of Frequency

This movie has very funny scenes, but it could be better. This opening scene is very nice and I used it to practice the use of adverbs of frequency, making this grammar point more attractive to deal with.

A. Talk to a partner:

1. Are you married? Do you have a girlfriend (boyfriend)? Talk about him or her.

2. Which activities do you like to do together?

3. Which activities you don't like to do together?

B. Watch the movie segment and read the activities below. Which ones can you see in the segment? Then write sentences saying how often you and your beloved perform them together. Use the adverbs always, often, usually, sometimes, seldom, rarely and never in your sentences

Ex:

1. Ride a bike
We often ride a bike together

2. Vacuum the house

3. clean the house

4. Laugh

5. Go dancing

6. Go to birthday parties

7. Go jogging

8. Work out

9. Talk on the phone

10. Take pictures

C. Now rewrite the sentences above about yourself. How often do you perform them without your partner? Use the following expressions:

Once - Twice - Three, Four, or More Times

A

Day - Week - Month - Year - In a life time

Ex: 1. I ride a bike three times a week.

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

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

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

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


WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - COUPLES RETREAT

Answers will vary

2012: Future As Seen from the Past - Would (Was/Were Going to)

This movie is about the predictions of the end of the world in 2012, but it ended up being just an adventure movie with action and fight for survival. I'm sure this topic would be recurrent as we got closer to 2012, so this activity comes in good times. I used this scene for the practice of the future as seen from the past


A. Read the predictions below. Check the ones the characters in the segment previewed that will occur, according to the scientist.



( ) 1. The earth will expire on 2012.

( ) 2. The sun will emit an extreme amount of radiation that the core of the earth will melt.

( ) 3. Men will find ways to stop the destruction of the planet.

( ) 4. This incident will leave the crust of the earth free to shift.

( ) 5. There will be earth crust displacement.

( ) 6. The world will come to an end on December 21st, 2012.

( ) 7. Humankind will be terminated.



B. Now rewrite the sentences above using the future as seen from the past.


Ex:



1. Scientist predicted that the Earth would expire in 2012.

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






Talk to a partner:

1.What do you think about these predictions?.Did you ever  believe them? Why (not)?

2.Do you think the world will end one day? Why (not)?

3.What would you have done if you really knew the world would end in December 2012? Why would you have done it?

4.Why have men always foreseen the end of days throughout history?

WORKSHEET


MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - 2012

 
Answer Key:

A.

Incorrect items: 2 and 7.

B. By 12/21/2012,

2. The sun would emit  ... and the core of the earth would melt

3. Men would find...

4. This incident would leave...

5. There would be ...

6. The world would come ...

7. Humankind would be terminated.

Four Christmases: 3rd Conditional with Mixed Tenses

This is a great and funny romantic comedy. I simply love this hilarious scene. I used it to practice the 3rd conditional with result clauses with present and past consequences - mixed tenses. It was great for the students to realize that the context is the only clue they have to do this exercise. I hope you enjoy it.






I. Read the pair of sentences below. Circle the correct alternative according the information presented in the movie. Then rewrite the sentences using the 3rd conditional with mixed tenses. Make sure you observe whether your result clauses have a present or past consequence.

1.


a. He saw / didn't see some pictures of his fiancee's childhood and adolescence.



b. He is / isn't surprised now.


If he ___________ some pictures of his fiancee's childhood and adolescence, he _____________ surprised now.



2.

a. She ran / didn't run a test for pregnancy.


b. She knows / doesn't know whether she is pregnant now.


If she __________ a test for pregnancy, she ___________ whether she is pregnant now.


3.


a. She was / wasn't careful enough with the test device.


b. Kasi took / didn't take it away from her.



4.

a. Katie had / didn't have a trauma with jump-jumps when she was a kid.

b. She is / isn't terrified by them nowadays.


If Katie ___________ a trauma with jump-jumps when she was a kid, she __________ terrified by them nowadays.


5.


a. The family heard / didn't hear Katie screaming in the jump-jumps.

b. They thought / didn't think Katie was having fun.


If the family ____________ Katie screaming in the jump-jumps, they ______________________ Katie was having fun.



6.


a. Kasi knew / didn't know that Katie had peed on the "marker",

b. Kasi put / didn't put the marker in her mouth.



If Kasi ____________ that Katie had peed on the "marker", she ____________ it in her mouth.


WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - FOUR CHRISTMASES



Answer key:

1. saw/is

hadn't seen - wouldn't be


2. ran/knows

hadn't run - wouldn't know

3. wasn't/took

had been - wouldn't have taken

4. had/is

hadn't had - wouldn't be

5. didn't hear/thought

had heard - wouldn't have thought

6. didn' know/put

had known - wouldn't have put

Did You Hear about the Morgans?: Imperative Forms

This movie is really funny and this scene is one of its best. I used it to practice imperative forms in a challenging way because the students have to practice listening comprehension as well.

A. Talk to a partner. What do you do if you see a bear near your house? Share your ideas with the rest of the class.

B. Match the beginning of the instruction with the complement:

1. Don't
2. Keep
3. Avoid
4. Speak
5. Don't shoot
6. Assume

a. run
b. calm
c. direct eye-contact
d. in a soft monotone
e. the bear
f. a cannonball position, covering your head and your neck with your hands and your arms.

B. Watch the movie segment and check your answers.

C. Prepare a poster warning about how to proceed in case of a bear attack. You have to write down 8 special pieces of advice, using imperative forms. Add 2 sentences of your own.

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

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

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

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

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

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

WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS

Answer Key:

1. Don't run.

2. Keep Calm

3. Avoid direct eye contact.

4. Speak in a soft monotone.

5. Don't shoot the bear.

6. Assume a cannonbal position covering your head and your neck with your hands and your arms.

The Rebound: Present Perfect

This romantic comedy is much better than I had expected it to be. It is a story about prejudice and dealing with adversities. I really enjoyed it. It is perfect to practice the present perfect tense.

I. Watch the movie segment and write down HE if the activity was performed by the male character. Write SHE if she did it. The main characters used to be lovers but they have spent the past 5 years apart, doing different things.






( ) 1 Visit Paris

( ) 2 Interview several people

( ) 3 See the kids play baseball

( ) 4 Travel to third world countries

( ) 5 Broadcast the news as a TV anchor

( ) 6 Travel to New York

( ) 7 Drive across the desert

( ) 8 Go on a safari

( ) 9 Go to fancy parties

( ) 10 Teach needy children in Africa

II. Now write down what both of the them have done while they have been away from each other.

Ex: She has interviewed several people



III. Work in pairs and discuss the following questions:



1. How different have their lives been?

2. Who had a happier life? Why?

3. What kind of life would you rather have? His or hers? Why?

4. Do you think that such different couple can be happy together? Explain it.

WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE REBOUND


Answer key:


HE - 1 - 4 - 7 - 8 - 10
SHE - 2 - 3 - 5 - 6 - 9

1 he has visited paris

2 she has interviewed several people

3 she has seen the kids play baseball

4 he has traveled to third world countries

5 she has broadcasted the news as a tv anchor

6 she has traveled to new york

7 he has driven across the desert

8 he has gone on a safari

9 she has gone to fancy parties

10 he has taught needy children in Africa

Hachiko - A Dog's Story: Passive Voice with Simple Past

This is a very touching, emotional movie, especially if you are a dog lover. I loved it.

A - Talk to a partner.


1. Do you have a pet? Talk about it.

2. Do you prefer dogs or cats? Why?

3. Is it important to have pets? Why?

4. When are pets helpful in a person's life? Explain it.

5. When are pets harmful to a person?

6. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having pets?



I. Watch the movie segment and check the alternatives with the actions that you managed to see during the scene.

1. ( ) A Japanese monk put the collar around Hachi's neck.

2. ( ) He put Hachi in a cage.

3. ( ) He took Hachi to a train station.

4. ( ) He fed Hachi.

5. ( ) A couple of guys picked Hachi up at the airport.

6. ( ) The baggage carrier accidentally dropped Hachi's cage on the station platform.

7. ( ) Someone found the broken cage.

8. ( ) Parker found and carried Hachi home.



II. Now rewrite the sentences above in the passive voice. Make sure you write affirmative or negative sentences according to the information presented in the segment.

Ex:

1. The collar was put around Hachi's neck (by a Chinese monk).





WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - HACHIKO


Answer key:

I.

All items are to be checked, except 4 and 7.

II.

2. Hachi was put in a cage.

3. Hachi was taken to a subway station.

4. Hachi wasn't fed.

5. Hachi was picked up at the airport.

6. Hachi's cage was accidentally dropped on the station platform.

7. The broken cage wasn't found.

8. Hachi was found and carried home by Parker. 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.

Alice in Wonderland: Comparatives

Tim Burton's version of Alice in Wonderland is awesome. Many people rejected the movie, but I think it is just brilliant. The Red Queen is the best character in the movie and I used one of her scenes to practice comparatives. The White Queen, though, is the weakest character of all, but the scene is perfect for this grammar goal.

I. Watch the movie segment, which shows two queens, White and Red. Place the adjectives below under the column that you think is more appropriate for each of the queens.

BEAUTIFUL - ARROGANT - TALL - OLD - YOUNG - THIN - FUNNY - POWERFUL - FRIENDLY - UGLY - AGGRESSIVE - CALM

THE WHITE QUEEN

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

THE RED QUEEN

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

II. Now write down one comparative sentence for each of the adjectives in exercise I.


Ex:

1. The White Queen (The Red Queen) is more beautiful than The Red Queen (The White Queen).

1. _____________________________________
2. _____________________________________
3. _____________________________________
4. _____________________________________
5. _____________________________________
6. _____________________________________
7. _____________________________________
8. _____________________________________
9. _____________________________________
10. _____________________________________
11. _____________________________________

WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - ALICE IN WONDERLAND

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

My dear friends,

I'm finally going on vacation! I really hope to rest with my family for a while, recharging the batteries for 2011! Brand new activities starting on January 8th, 2011. I promise a lot of new grammar activities with attractive movie scenes. Meanwhile, don't hesitate to contact me, for I'll be replying all your comments and clearing your doubts . I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year.