Death Becomes Her: WILL x Simple Present to Talk about Future Events

This film is a classic that talks about beauty, being young forever, and what people can do to look perfect. I used this interesting scene to show students that we may use WILL or the SIMPLE PRESENT to talk about the future.

The  simple present can be used to talk about talk about scheduled future events (things that happen according to a scheduled sequence of events). We also use the simple present tense to talk about events happening in the near future. 

"Will" often suggests that a speaker will do something voluntarily.  We also use "will" when we request that someone helps us or volunteers to do something for us. Similarly, we use "will not" or "won't" when we refuse to voluntarily do something.

   I. Complete the following sentences with either the simple present tense or future (will). Sometimes you can use both to express an idea about the future. Then watch the segment and check your answers.

1. Tonight, while she is asleep, you _____________  (sneak) downstairs quietly and take one of each kind of wine glass from the shelter.

2. Then you __________________ (take)  this Narconol and lightly coat each glass.

3. Tomorrow I ___________________ (call) Madeline to say goodbye.

4. I_________________ (get) her to invite me for dinner.

5. You and I _______________ (work) together quickly. First, we _________________ (finish) dinner.

6. Then we _______________ (load)  her into the car and take her to the top of Mulholland Drive, call the police and report we have seen a drunk woman swerving close to the edge.

7. We ________________ (sit) her up in the driver's seat.

8. We ________________ (drop) the car into the gear, wedge her foot down on the accelerator, clamp her hand on the steering wheel, and send her on her way.


II. Talk to a partner:

1. What is your opinion about their plan? What are the chances of its working out?

2. What do you think might go wrong?

3. What would change to make their plan more effective.

4. What should happen to the couple if the police find out about their plan before it is put into practice?

5. What about if the police find out about their plan after the crime has been committed?


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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - DEATH BECOMES HER



Key:


1. Tonight, while she is asleep, you'll sneak downstairs quietly and take one of each kind of wine glass from the shelter.

2. Then you'll take this Narconol and lightly coat each glass.

3. Tomorrow I'll call Madeline to say goodbye.

4. I'll get her to invite me for dinner.

5. You and I work together quickly. First, we finish dinner.

6. Then we load her into the car and take her to the top of Mulholland Drive, call the police and report we have seen a drunk woman swerving close to the edge.

7. We'll sit her up in the driver's seat.

8. We drop the car into the gear, wedge her foot down on the accelerator, clamp her hand on the steering wheel, and send her on her way.

Tomorrowland: Future with WILL

I read great reviews of this movie, but I thought it was boring. However, there are great scenes that you can use in the classroom. This is one of them.

I. Work in groups. Watch the segment and make a list of all the things that you managed to see that the director believes are going to be common place in the future.

Ex; There will be flying cars.

II. Work with different students. Show each other your lists. Then decide which features you believe will come true in the future, why (not), and if they  will be better or worse for the population.

III. Work with a different partner. Design the ideal world for the future. Imagine that there are no limits to what you can do, Then share your "new world" with the class. Be creative!


MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - TOMORROWLAND

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Frozen: Future WILL x Simple Past

Frozen is an amazing animated movie. It is visually breath-taking and the story and music are fascinating. You have to see it.

Coronation Day

Coronation Day is the anniversary of the coronation of a monarch, the day a king or queen is formally crowned.

.

I. The future Queen's sister has lived a lonely life inside the castle, without contact with the outside world. Her sister's coronation will be the first time in forever that she will be able to do what she had always wanted to do. Fill in the blanks with affirmative or negative forms of the future tense (will or be + going to). Choose the correct verb too.

________________ light, __________________ music. I ________________ dancing through the night. I __________________ alone. __________________ magic, _________________ fun. I _____________ getting what I'm dreaming of because nothing is in my way.

II. Watch the movie segment and check your answers.

III. What were some of the things that she did for the first time in forever? Make a list of at least 5 things.

Ex: She saw the people who lived in the kingdom.

IV. Think about your plans for your next vacation. What are some things that you intend to do for the first time in forever?

V. Now think about your last vacation. What were some of the things that you did for the first time in forever?

Answer key:

There'll be light

There'll be music

I'll be dancing through the night 

I won't be alone

There'll be magic

There will be fun

I'm getting what I'm dreaming of because nothing is in my way

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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - FROZEN

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?

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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.

Year One: Future with Be Going To

This movie has funny moments, but I don't strongly recommend it. This scene is appropriate to contrast the uses of be going to in order to express the future.

Read the sentences that were taken from or made about the segment from the movie Year One. Decide the reason the structure to be going to is used and write it in the parentheses.

A. To refer to our plans and intentions: We're going to move to London next year. (= the plan is in our minds now.)

B. To make predictions based on present evidence: Look at those clouds - it's going to pour with rain! (= It's clear from what I can see now.)

1. I'm going to change my head. ( )

2. I'm going to eat the forbidden fruit. ( )

3. Eating a fruit is not going to change your entire life. ( )

4. He's going to ask some questions to test if his friend got more intelligent. ( )

5. The snake is going to constrict him. ( )

6. The snake is going to eat him. ( )

7. He's going to die a virgin. ( )

8. I'm going to go eat more fruit. ( )

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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - YEAR ONE

Answer key:
1.A

2.A

3.B

4.A

5.B

6.B

7.B

8.A

Surrogates: Passive Voice with Future Tenses

The original idea of the movie plot is amazing. I liked the movie from the very beginning, which is intriguing and perfect for this activity I planned in order to teach passive voice with future tenses, the grammar point I'm teaching my Thomas Prime 8 students this week.





A. Watch the movie segment. The segment takes place in the year 2024 and talks about what will happen from today until 2024. The movie starts 14 years ago, 2010. Take a look at the timeline of the scientific developments that took place in the next 14 years and rewrite the sentences you saw in the segment in the passive voice.

B. Rewrite the sentences from the movie in the passive voice.


2011



1. In 2011, monkeys will operate mechanical arms with nothing but their thoughts.

In 2011, _______________________ with nothing but their thoughts.


2. Physically disabled people are going to operate fully synthetic bodies.

__________________________________.


2014



3. We are going to see this more and more.

__________________________________ more and more.


4. We will witness an event of evolutionary significance.


___________________________________.


2018



5. Over 98% of the world population will use a surrogate in all facets of their daily lives.


___________________________________ in all facets of their daily lives.


6. We are going to see crime rates record lows.


__________________________________.



2021



7. By 2024, a minority will have opposed surrogates.


By 2024, ____________________________.


8. Many people will have seen this as the invasion of the inhuman.


____________________________ as the invasion of the inhuman.


9. They will have established surrogacy-free zones in major cities around the country.


__________________________________ in major cities around the country.



2024



10. People had predicted that surrogates would solve all their problems.


People had predicted that ______________________.


11. They had believed that one day the future was going to bring nothing but happiness.


They had believed that one day _______________________.


B. Discuss the following questions in pairs.

1. What's your opinion about the segment. Do you think it will actually happen in the future?

2. Do you think that surrogates are a good idea? Explain it.

3. Would you like to have a surrogate for you and your family? Why (not)?

4. If you would, what would you use it for?

5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having surrogates among us?

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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - SURROGATES

Anwer key:

1. mechanical arms will be operated by monkeys

2. fully synthetic bodies are going to be operated by physically disabled people.

3. this is going to be seen

4. an event of evolutionary significance will be witnessed

5. a surrogate will be used by 98% of the world population

6. crime rates record lows are going to be seen

7. surrogates will have been opposed by a minority

8. this will have been seen

9. surrogacy-free zones will have been established

10. all their problems would be solved by surrogates

11. nothing but happiness was going to be brought by the future 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.

City of Ember: Future Continuous

This movie is for children and teens but it has a great message for the whole family. I enjoyed watching it. The opening scenes are great for the students to practice the future continuous tense in a contextualized manner.



A. Imagine the following situation:



On the day the world ended, the fate of mankind was carried in a metal box. Scientists and engineers met and decided to build an underground city to protect people for the next generations. they will keep the people in the city for 200 years hoping the world will be inhabitable then. In the box, there are instructions about how to leave the underground city. The people in this city, Ember, do not know there is an outside world.



B. Check the alternatives with the information you think will be taking place in Ember when the box opens in 200 years.


( ) 1. People still live underground
( ) 2. Citizens experience several power blackouts during the day.
( ) 3. The world is falling apart
( ) 4. Children live for playing.
( ) 5. Teens work hard
( ) 6. The city mayor will determine the population’s occupations.
( ) 7. People live in comfortable houses
( ) 8. People face serious difficulties
( ) 9. People own modern cars.
( ) 10. People work as engineers, doctors and scientists.
( ) 11. People work as electricians, potato peelers and messengers.
( ) 12. Citizens work on computers.


C. Now watch the segment and check if you were right.


D. Now rewrite 8 of the sentences in exercise B using the future continuous tense.


Ex: People will still be living underground.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Answer Key:

The true sentences are:
1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10.


How to prepare your own video activity:

- Select a scene in that takes place in the future.

- The scene must contain a time marker so that the students can use the future continuous tense meaningfully.

- Write a few sentences with possible alternatives for what will be taking plave when something else happens (the time marker). Use the simple present tense.

- The students watch the scene and decide which ones are true.

- The students rewrite the sentences using the grammar goal.






MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - CITY OF AMBER



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I, Robot: Future - Will

This segment provides you with an excellent opportunity to have students practice "will" to talk about the future. Here you can integrate listening, speaking and grammar in a contextualized manner. Besides, the segment is so gripping, full of food for thought and conversation!

Before watching the segment:

Discuss the following questions with a partner:

1) Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future?

2) How different will your city be in the year 2035?

3) How would you describe your city in 2035?

4) What will be better and what will be worse then?

5) Do you think robots will be common in 2035?

6) What tasks will robots have?

7) Will life be better if humans share their space with robots?

8) Would you like to have a personal robot to help/protect you?

Read the sentences below. Check the ones that you think will be true in Chicago, 2035.

( ) All electronic appliances are modern.

( ) People live in very comfortable homes.

( ) Mail is delivered by robots.

( ) People and robots share the streets.

( ) Robots walk dogs for their owners.

( ) Litter collecting is done by robots.

( ) People wear the same kinds of clothes we do today.

( ) Robots rob people.

( ) Robots protect people.

Now watch the movie segments and write the sentences above using will/won't, according to what you see in the segment.

Ex:1 -Not all electronic appliances will be modern.


2 - People won't live in comfortable homes.

3 - Mail will be delivered by robots.


Talk to a partner:
1 - Do you think the film shows a possible reality of the future? Justify it.
2 - Would you like to live in a world like the one in the movie? Why (not)?
3 - What did you like best about the future presented in the segment?

How to develop your own video activity:

- Select a scene that takes place in the future.

- Have students work in pairs to predict what the future will be like in the future.

- Write some sentences with true and false information about the future, according to the movie segment.

- The students check the ones they believe will be true by then.

- The students write affirmative or negative statements with the target grammar point about the items you have developed for the warm-up exercise.

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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - I,ROBOT

I Am Legend: Future Perfect

This segment is excellent for the students to practice the future perfect tense. The segment is thought-provoking and chilling. The students have to use their imagination to predict the future.

Discuss the following questions with a partner:


1 - Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future? Justify your answer.

2 - Do you think mankind will ever discover a cure for cancer?

3 - Will human beings be free from diseases in the future? Why (not)?

4 - What would a city like New York look like if all of its inhabitants had to evacuate it in a hurry?

5 - What would you do if you and your best friend could be alone in New York for a week, without any other inhabitants around? Would you enjoy this experience? What would you do there?

Now imagine that NY City had to be completely evacuated because of a very destructive virus. Check what you believe would happen to NY if such situation did happen.

( ) The streets would become extremely filthy.

( ) People would abandon their cars everywhere.

( ) Wild animals would escape from the zoo to look for food around the city.

( ) Animals would take control of the city.

( ) Some people would hide in the buildings to steal stores and banks.

( ) Life in NY would become a complete chaos.

( ) Power would go off.

( ) People wouldn't drive their cars because of the lack of gas.

( ) Buildings would be destroyed by the angry population.


Now watch the movie segment and pretend you are the main character in the movie, the one played by Will Smith. Imagine that you could have warned Dr. Alice Krippin about the consequences of her unfortunate discovery. Tell her what will have happened to NY within three years from now (by the year 2012) if she tests her discovery on human beings.

Ex:

By the year 2011, NY streets will have become completely filthy.

People will have abandoned their cars everywhere.

Wild animals will have escaped from the zoo to look for food around the city.


How to develop your own video activity

- Select a scene that takes place in the future, preferably with a pessimistic view of the future.

- Ask the students to observe the changes that will have taken place on Earth.

- The students write sentences with will + have + past participle.


MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - I AM LEGEND


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WALL-E: Future Will

This movie is one of the best ever. It is creative and critical at the same time. This scene shows people in a future that is so automatized that the inhabitants of the colony don't have to make any effort to get what they need, so everyone is extremely fat! Both adults and kids will enjoy the segment.

Before watching the movie segment:

Discuss the following questions with a partner:


1) What's your opinion about living in a time in which all your activities were performed by robots and machines?

2) Would you like to to have machines do all of your physical activities for you?
3) What would the consequences be if people didn't have to exercise at all during the whole day?

4) Would life be better or worse if you had robots to do everything for you? Explain it.

5) Do you think life in 2642 will be better or worse? Justify your answer.

Now watch the movie segment and write down how different life will be in the future, according to the movie, WALL-E. Write at least 10 sentences describing what people and machines will do in the future and how people's lives will be like, according to the movie. Observe the items below and write sentences about them.

FLOATING ARMCHAIRS - COMMUNICATION - ROBOTS - SCHOOL - MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION - LUNCH TIME - BEAUTY PARLORS - CLOTHES - LEISURE TIME

Ex: People will move around in floating armchairs.

Follow-up questions:

1) Do you think people will be happier in the future, according to the movie?

2) Will the future like it was presented in the movie a possible reality? Why (not)?

3) How do you think life will be like in 2642?

Kinesthetic Game:

Group Work: Make a list of activities of things people will do in the year 2100, but that they don’t (can’t) do nowadays. Write at least 10 sentences. Be creative!

Now act out what you wrote down, whereas the other groups write down sentences, saying what the people you mimed will do in 2100.

Finally, the groups read what they came up with out loud, and you check who got closest to what had originally acted out.

How to develop your own video activity:


Assessing: Will

- Choose a segment in which the future is shown in a way that it is completely different from the present world.
- Prepare brainstorming discussion questions to activate schemata.
- Play the segment and have sts predict the future using "will".
- You may provide the students with key words to observe during the segment.







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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - WALL-E