Creation: So x So That

This movie is about Charles Darwin's life, so it was interesting enough despite the slow pace of the movie. This scene is the beginning of the movie and it is one of the best moments of the film. I used it to contrast the use of SO with SO THAT, which students often misuse.

A. Read the sentences about the segment and choose the best answer - SO or SO THAT. When both are possible, choose SO THAT.

1. The natives had never seen those shiny objects, so x so that they became fascinated.

2. Darwin gave them the objects, so x so that he asked for a few spare children in return.

3. Darwin took the children to Europe so x so that he could teach them civilized manners.

4. He needed to mix the children with the white people, so x so that Darwin took the children to London.

5. The children were taken away from their home, so / so that they got scared.

6. The children were not protected against the white men's diseases, so x so that one of the children died of smallpox.

7. The children were taught proper manners so x so that they could meet the King and the Queen.

8. Two years later, the children were taken back to their homeland so x so that Darwin could see the results of the experiment.

9. As soon as the children saw their people, they remembered their habits, so x so that they took off their clothes and joined their people.

B. Discuss the following questions.

1. What do you think of that experiment? Was it successful? Why (not)?

2. Was it a good idea to conduct such an experiment?

3. What did the scientist learn from that experiment?

4, What about the children?

5. This is a very good example of culture shock. Can you explain what culture shock is?

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - CREATION


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Answer key:

1. so 2. so 3. so that 4. so 5. so 6. so 7. so that 8. so that 9. so

Memoirs of a Geisha: Compound Adjectives

This is a marvelous movie that is full of cultural information and conflicts. I learned a lot about the fascinating Japanese culture, but the most important thing is the plot, which is gripping from the very first scene. I strongly recommend it. My students had a great time practicing this very hard-to-explore grammar point, which became attractive with the segment.







A. Watch the movie segment and rewrite the phrases below, using compound adjectives.






MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA







1. The geisha was a lady who has fair skin.

She was a fair-skinned lady.



2. She is a Japanese woman who has blue eyes.

...............................................................


3. She was a geisha that had been trained well.

...............................................................


4. The geisha had to flirt with a man who was on a bicycle that was moving fast.

..............................................................


5. It was difficult for the geisha to walk on those shoes that had very high heels.

..............................................................


6. The geisha has to learn how to dance with fans that had a beautiful design.

...............................................................



7. The geisha's training is based on ancient beliefs that are rooted deeply.

..............................................................


8. They have to wear kimonos that were tailored perfectly.

..............................................................


B. Now discuss these questions with a partner.


1. What are some of the tasks a geisha has to go through to become successful?

2. Who are geishas?

3. What's your opinion about this tradition?

4. This segment takes place in 1941. How different do you think this tradition is nowadays?



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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA

Answer key:

2. a blue-eyed woman

3. a well-trained geisha
4. fast-moving bicycle

5. high-heeled shoes

6. beautifully-designed fans.

7. deeply-rooted beliefs

8. perfectly-tailored kimonos

The Men that Stared at Goats: So x Too

This movie is amazingly interesting. Great actors in a a very unusual story, with great, funny moments. I used it to contrast the use of so and too before adjectives in a contextualized manner.

I. Watch the segment and choose the best alternative - SO or TOO







Lyn Cassady - George Clooney (right)




Bob Wilton - Ewan McGregor (left)






MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE MEN THAT STARED AT GOATS


1. The traffic signs were SO / TOO similar that the characters couldn't figure out which way to go.

2. Lyn was SO / TOO confident to drive without a map that he did not get one.

3. The car got SO / TOO damaged for them drive it.

4. They were SO / TOO unfortunate to choose the road they did.

5. The weather was SO / TOO hot that it was difficult for them to breathe.

6. Lyn was SO / TOO tired that he did not manage to acrry Bob across the desert.

7. Bob was SO / TOO thirsty to be okay in the desert.

8. Bob was SO / TOO angry that he screamed at Lyn several times.

9. They will probably have difficulties finding the right way because the desert is SO / TOO inhospitable.

10. If Lyn weren't SO / TOO confident to make the decisions they mightn't have had an accident.

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Answer Key:

1. so
2. so
3. too
4. too
5. so
6. so
7. too
8. so
9. too
10. so

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: Too x Either

This is one of the most touching movies about the Holocaust I've seen. The friendship between these two boys is moving. I used it to practice TOO and EITHER.

I. Watch the movie segment. Then write sentences about Shmuel using TOO or EITHER.

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS

Ex:


1. Bruno is eight years old.

Shmuel is eight years old, too.

2. Bruno doesn't have any food.

Shmuel ........................................

3. Bruno isn't playing.

Shmuel .........................................

4. Bruno doesn't have friends.

Shmuel .........................................


5. Bruno is German.

Shmuel .........................................

6. Bruno doesn't know anyone called Shmuel

Shmuel .........................................

7. Bruno is friendly.

Shmuel..........................................


II. Work with a partner and find 4 things that you have in common. 2 things have to be affirmative (ex: I like potato chips. My pal likes potato chips, too) and the other two things have to be negative (ex: I can't speak Japanese. My pal can't speak Japanese, either).

1. _____________

2. _____________

3. _____________

4. ____________

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Answer key:

2. doesn't have any food, either.

3. isn't playing, either.

4. doesn't have friends, either.

5. is German, too.

6. doesn't know anyone called Bruno, either.

7. is friendly, too.

The Lovely Bones: Simple Past x Past Continuous

You can't miss this film. A great story, great acting, and amazing ending. Although the movie is suitable for adults only, this scene can be used with students of all ages.



I. Work in groups. Read the activities below and guess which activities the character in the movie did NOT do while smoking cigarettes BEFORE VIEWING THE SEGMENT. You have to choose 4 activities. The winner is the group who guesses most activities.

1. ( ) Vacuum the house
2. ( ) Drink whiskey
3. ( ) Water the plants
4. ( ) Sweep the flo0r
5. ( ) Put a mask on someone's face
6. ( ) Break some eggs on someone's hair.
7. ( ) Do the laundry
8. ( ) Sleep
9. ( ) Kick the dog
10. ( ) Read a book
11. ( ) Dance
12. ( ) Talk on the phone
13. ( ) Kiss the children



II. Watch the segment now and check your guesses. Which group is the winner?


III. Now write affirmative and negative sentences about the activities in exercise I. What did she do while she was smoking?

Ex:

1. She vaccumed the house.
2 ................................................
3 ................................................

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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE LOVELY BONES 


Answer Key:

The incorrect items in exercise I are 9, 10, 12, 13

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


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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
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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. ___________________________


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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?

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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.







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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.



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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?



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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

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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. ..........................................


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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.


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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