Sep 29, 2012

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?


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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - IT'S COMPLICATED

Answer key:

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

Sep 22, 2012

Wanderlust: No Matter...



This is a funny movie that went unnoticed in movie theaters. I recommend it, though. This scene is really nice and my Thomas Prime 5 students loved it.


No matter often introduces clauses in statements that express frustration or encouragement. No matter is commonly combined with who, what, when, why, where, or the intensifier how +  adjective or adverb.


I. Complete the blanks with the correct "no matter" clause:


1. __________ the couple do, they will always argue.

2. They disagreed about several issues, ___________________ hard they tried to agree with each other.

3. _______________ tired they were, they kept on driving all day long.

4. They were very tired during the night. They decided they would sleep in a hotel, _________________ it was located.

5. They didn't want to stop during the trip, _____________ they would arrive to their destination.

6. _____________ much they sang and laughed, they would always fight during the trip.

7. No matter ____________ started the fight, they never reached an agreement.


II. Discuss these questions.

1. Why do you think they fight so much?

2. How natural is it for lovers to travel together and argue with each other? Have you ever experienced it?

3. Do you prefer to travel withou previous planning and sleep wherever there is a hotel or do you prefer to have everything reserved by the time you go traveling? Why?


III. SONG - Before you listen to the song try to complete the blanks with "no matter " clauses:



SONG DOWNLOAD - BOYZONE - NO MATTER WHAT

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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - WANDERLUST

_____________ they tell us  
______________they do  
______________ they teach us  
What we believe is true
______________ they call us  

However they attack  
_______________ they take us  
We'll find our own way back
I can't deny what I believe 

I can't be what I'm not I know our love's forever I know 
 no matter what
 
If only tears were laughter  

If only night was day  
If only prayers were answered  
Then we would hear God say
____________ they tell you 

_____________they do  
_____________ they teach you  
What you believe is true
And I will keep you safe and strong  

And sheltered from the storm  

_____________ it's barren  
A dream is being born
_____________ they follow  

_____________ They lead 
_____________ they judge us  
I'll be everyone you need  

No matter if the sun don't shine 
Or if the skies aren't blue  
______________ the ending 
My life began with you
I can't deny what I believe 

 I can't be what I'm not I know
 this love's forever  
That's all that matters now 
No matter what
 

No, no matter what  
No, no matter what
No, no matter  

That's all that matters to me 
 No, no matter 
That's all that matters to me
No, no matter  

That's all that matters to me  
No, no matter  
That's all that matters to me
No, no matter what  

That's all that matters to me 
 No, no matter what  
That's all that matters to me



 Answer key:

I. 
1. No matter what
2. No matter how
3. Nomateter how
4. No matter where
5. Nomatter when
6. No matter how
7. No matter who

III. SONG


No matter what they tell us  
No matter what they do  
No matter what they teach us  
What we believe is true
No matter whatthey call us  

However they attack  
No matter where they take us  
We'll find our own way back
I can't deny what I believe 

I can't be what I'm not I know our love's forever I know 
 no matter what
 
If only tears were laughter  

If only night was day  
If only prayers were answered  
Then we would hear God say
No matter what they tell you 

No matter what they do  
No matter what they teach you  
What you believe is true
And I will keep you safe and strong  

And sheltered from the storm  
No matter where it's barren  
A dream is being born
No matter who they follow  

No matter where they lead 
No matter how they judge us  
I'll be everyone you need  
No matter if the sun don't shine 
Or if the skies aren't blue  
No matter what the ending 
My life began with you
I can't deny what I believe 

 I can't be what I'm not I know
 this love's forever  
That's all that matters now 
No matter what
 

No, no matter what  
No, no matter what
No, no matter  

That's all that matters to me 
 No, no matter 
That's all that matters to me
No, no matter  

That's all that matters to me  
No, no matter  
That's all that matters to me
No, no matter what  

That's all that matters to me 
 No, no matter what  
That's all that matters to me

Sep 15, 2012

Patch Adams: Asking Questions



This is such a great movie that I believe everyone should see. The message is awesome and inspiring.



I. Put the cues below in the correct order to make questions:

1. are / why / we / meeting / in here?

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


2. heaven/ which / way / is?

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


3. how much / taller / Wilt Chamberlain / is / than you?

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

4. the / ceiling / where / is?

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


5. the / birds/ where / fly / do?

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


6. to Hitler / how / you / do / hello / say?

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


7. Hitler / does / how / say / hello?

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


8. how / you / do / check / an elephant / for a hernia?

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


9. would/ win / who / a staring contest?

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


II. This is a conversation involving a few people. Where do you think they are? Who are they? What are they talking about?

III. Now watch the movie segment and check your answers:







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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - PATCH ADAMS

Answer Key:





1. Why are we meeting in here?

2. Which was is heaven?

3. How much taller is Wilt Chamberlain tha you?

4. Where is the ceiling?

5. Where do the birds fly?

6. How do you say hello to Hitler?

7. How does Hitler say hello?

8. How do you check an elephant for a hernia?

9. Who would win a staring contest?


Sep 8, 2012

The Greatest & Did You Hear about the Morgans?: Numerals

You can do these activities separately or together if you want. The Greatest is more challenging for the numbers are long and you also have dates and times. The one from Did You Hear about the Morgans? is much easier, it is suitable for beginners, but you must tell the students that they don't have to understand everything, just the numbers. It is a great listening exercise and you can practice this point in a meaningful way.






A. Try to complete the blanks below with the given numbers.
18 - 216 - 164 - 25,920 - 311,040 - 08/18/2008 - 2:30 pm - 02/12/2009 - 119 - 2,136 - 128,160
1. How old is the girl?
She is _______ years old, _________ hours, ________ weeks, ______ days, ____ hours.
2. When did she arrive at his door?
She arrived home on ________, at __________.
3. When will she have the baby?
She will deliver the baby on ___________. She still has ______ days ,_______ hours, ______ minutes to go before she has the baby.
B. Now watch the movie segment from the movie "The Greatest" and check your answers.
C. Now write the numbers, dates and times in full.



D. Watch the movie segment from the movie "Did You Hear about the Morgans?" and complete the information below with four numbers said in the bingo. Write the number and then write it in full.
1. I _________ - _______________________
2. N _________ - _______________________
3. B _________ - _______________________
4. G _________ - _______________________


Answer Key:


A.
Correct order: 18 - 216 - 164 - 25,920 - 311,040 - 08/18/2008 - 2:30 pm - 02/12/2009 - 119 - 2,136 - 128,160

C. eighteen, two hundred sixteen, a hundred sixty-four, twenty-five thousand nine hundred twenty, three hundred eleven thousand and forty, August eighteenth two thousand and eight, two-thirty pm, February twelfth two thousand and nine. a hundred nineteen, two thousand a hundred thirty-six, a hundred twenty-eight thousand a hundred sixty.


D.
1. I 18 - eighteen
2. N 32 - thirty-two
3. B 4 - four
4. G 46 - forty-six

Sep 1, 2012

Angels & Demons: Passive Voice


I like both the movie and the book. The story is farfetched, but well told and interconnnected. The scene I selected is perfect for the students to practice the passive voice.





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



1. A cardenal must destroy the Ring of the Fisherman immediately following the Pope's death.

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

2. Someone seals the papal apartment for nine days of mourning.

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

3. People know this period as sede vacante.

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

4. The preferiti are offering prayers.

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

5. A modern world threatens the ancient traditions.

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


II. Now watch the segment and check your answers:





Answer key:

1. The Ring of the Fisherman must be destroyed immediately following the Pope's death.
2. The papal apartment is sealed for nine says of mourning.
3. The period (is) known as sede vacante.
4. Prayers are being offered by the preferiti.
5. The ancient traditions (are) threatened by a modern world


III. Game:

Work in small groups to see who makes more correct guesses about how a new Pope is chosen. Decide if the following sentences are True or False. They are requirements to become a Pope.

1. ( ) One must be a Cardinal to be elected Pope.

2. ( ) Cardinals are RARELY appointed before age 50. Cardinals 80 and over cannot vote for Pope, and no one over 79 has EVER been elected Pope.

3. ( ) The person who would be Pope must speak at least 3 languages: Latin, Italian, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and German are especially good for a potential Pope to know.

4. ( ) 120 cardinals must participate in the selection.

5. ( ) The basic requirements are that no pope over 80 can be elected, and a two-thirds plus one majority must select the new pope.

6. ( ) If this majority cannot be reached, voting must occur for several days with two votes taking place in the morning and in the evening. If four days of voting does not result in the 67% majority, then the candidate with the majority of votes becomes the new pope.

7. ( ) When the old pope passes away, no autopsy is performed as this is considered desecration.

8. ( ) Official voting for the new pope is done in a process called conclave, from the Latin cum clavis. This means “with key,” and essentially means that the voting is secret.

9. ( ) Cardinals are locked into a room, specifically the Sistine Chapel. If the electoral process takes more than a day, the cardinals have lodging at St. Martha’s house and have no contact with the outside world.

10. ( ) All ballots are burned and if the vote has elected a new pope, this burning causes white smoke to float above the Vatican, signifying the world has a new pope. If the vote is unsuccessful, chemical is added to the burning ballots to cause gray smoke to appear. This signifies a vote without an election.


IV. Underline all the passive voice structures in exercise III.


Answer Key:


III.
All are true, except number 1. It is an informal requirement, but not official.


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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - ANGELS & DEMONS



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.