Mr. Baseball: Modals for Advice and Regrets

One of my Methodology students showed me this segment to express regrets. I loved it. I adapted what she had in mind and came up with  this fun activity to express advice and regrets. .

I. Work in small groups.

Imagine you are receiving an American friend for a very informal "feijoada" in a friend's house. Prepare a list of advice you would give her so that she can feel comfortable in the event. Thing about the following things:

*You can adapt the activity with questions about a traditional luncheon or dinner party in your country (Thanksgiving, for example)

- What should she wear?

- What time should she arrive?

- Should she bring anything for the host?

- How much should she eat? 

- What shouldn't she do there?

- What time should she leave?

- Does she have to eat everything that is served?

- What if she doesn't want to eat such an exotic dish? What should she say or do?

- Can she bring someone with her?

II. Watch the movie segment and make a list of the American guest's inappropriate behavior.

III. Report to the class what he SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE, expressing regrets.

WORKSHEET 

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - MR BASEBALL

The Boxtrolls: Present and Past Modals for Advice and Regrets

This is a lovely movie with a moving story. It is a must. You can't miss this British animation.

I. Work in pairs:

1 - What would you recommend someone if you knew he/she were going to a formal party, but he/she didn't know anywhere there?

2 - What about an informal party? Would your recommendation change?

3 - Have you ever done something in a party that you regretted having done? Talk about it.

4 - What is something someone should NEVER do in  a party?



II. Watch the movie segment and complete the chart. Write 5 pieces of advice that were given to Egg.

ADVICE GIVEN:

1 -

2 -

3 -

4 -

5 -

III. Work in groups. Talk about the mistakes Egg made during the party. 

1 - What shouldn't Egg have done, but he did? Mention as many things you can remember.

2 - What should he have done, but he didn't? Mention as many things as you can remember.

IV. Imagine Egg is going to the following places. Make a list of social etiquette recommendations he should follow, according to your own culture.

1. A wedding

2. A funeral

3. Church

4. Christmas Dinner

5. Theater

6. Plane trip

ANSWERS WILL VARY

WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE BOXTROLLS

Grown-ups 2: Modals for Advice - Should & Past Modal for Regrets - Should (not) have Done

This movie is full of interesting scenes, but this one is special. I think it is funny and perfect for practicing modals for advice.


I. Work in small groups. Make a list with five things people should and should not do while shopping at a department store.

Ex: People should not shoplift.

1. ___________________________
2. ___________________________
3. ___________________________
4. ___________________________
5. ___________________________


II. Watch the movie segment. What did the character do that he shouldn't. Make a list with  your partner.

III. Role-Play.

Student A: You are the owner of the department store. Talk politely to the customer and tell him what he should or should not do while visiting his or any other department store.

Student B: You are the character in the movie. You are very sorry for the way the manager felt about your behavior, but you don't think you actually did anything wrong. Try to convince the manager that you are right and that nothing wrong happened there.

WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD

Warm Bodies: Modal Verbs for Advice

This is an awesome movie. It is funny, but not stupid. I loved the way the story is told - from the point of view of the zombie. I recommend it.

I. Make a list of 10 things you should do to make your life better:

1 _______________________________
2 _______________________________
3 _______________________________
4_______________________________
5 _______________________________
6 _______________________________
7 _______________________________
8 _______________________________
9 _______________________________
10 ______________________________


II. Read the statements below and check the ones that are true to you:



(      ) I should get out more.

(      ) I should eat better.

(      ) I should stand up straight.

(      ) I shouldn't be so hard on myself.


III. Watch the movie segment and decide what you and the movie's main character - R - have in common. Which of the statements in II are true to R.

IV. Write three pieces of advice to R, using Should/Ought to...


1 _______________________
2 _______________________
3 _______________________


V. Discuss the questions below:

1. Why are people so fascinated by zombies? Why are there so many movies about them?

2. Are zombies scary or funny? Why?

3. What's your opinion about horror movies. Do you like them? Why (not)?

4. Is this scene scary or funny?


WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - WARM BODIES

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

WORKSHEET

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Modal Verbs for Advice - Should

This used to be one of my favorite childhood movies and the remake is absolutely fabulous. I used this scene to have students practice modals for advice in a contextualized manner.


I. Watch the movie segment and make a list of 4 inappropriate behaviors these children have. Observe both  Veruca and Augustus to come up with sentences.


VERUCA:

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

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

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

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


AUGUSTUS:

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

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

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

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


II. Rewrite your sentences above, using modals for advice.


III. Imagine you are supposed to give these children's parents advice. Pair up with a partner. One of you is Veruca's mother and the other one is Augustus' s mother. Role play a situation, giving each other advice for better behavior.

WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist: Should (Advice) x Should Have (Past Regrets)

This is an enjoyable movie. This scene shows a beautiful girl doing humiliating things because of the excess of drinking that night. It is great to have students practice giving advice and expressing past regrets, contrasting the use of SHOULD to give advice and in the past to express regrets. Remember that this topic may be sensitive. If you think it is inappropriate for your group of students or your culture, don't use it.


A. Talk to a partner. Discuss the following questions:

1 - Are alcoholic beverages sold freely in your country? What are the regulations on the issue?

2 - What's your opinion about drinking and driving? What should the punishment be?

3 - When is it OK to drink alcoholic beverages?

B. Imagine the following situation.


Imagine that some foreign friends of yours are going out tonight in your city to celebrate a very special occasion. Unfortunately, you have an appointment and you can't go with them. They want do have fun, drink, eat something nice, and meet some interesting girls (guys). Which place would you choose and why?



C. Write down 6 pieces of advice to your friends to enjoy the night in your city safely. Use affirmative and negative statements with SHOULD (NOT).


(AFF)

1 - ............................................


2 - .............................................


3 - .............................................



(NEG)


4 - ..............................................


5 - ..............................................


6 - ..............................................



D. Watch the segment now. Imagine the main character, the drunk girl, was with your group of friends. She drank too much and is extremely inappropriate.





E. Make a list of 5 things she should not have done:

1 - .........................................


2 - .........................................


3 - .........................................


4 - .........................................


5 - .........................................

WORKSHEET

The Hitcher: Modal Verb SHOULD - Advice

This movie is a classic that has changed many people's opinions about giving rides to strangers on roads. I took advantage of the opening scene to have student practice modal verbs for advice - SHOULD - OUGHT TO.




Before watching the segment:


A. Talk to a partner. Make a list of what drivers should and should not do when they travel by car alone during the night.


What drivers should (ought to) do:
1 - ........................................................
2 - ........................................................
3 - ........................................................
4 - ........................................................


What drivers shouldn't (oughtn't to) do:
1 - .........................................................
2 - ........................................................
3 - ........................................................
4 - ........................................................


B. Watch the segment now. Check which of the pieces of advice you came up with in exercise A the main character of the movie did not follow.


C. Talk to a partner. For your information, the driver will manage to escape. Come up with the conclusion of the scene knowing that the hitcher won't achieve his goal, which was to kill the driver. Be creative; use your imagination.


D. Share your stories with the whole class and choose the most creative one.


WORKSHEET




How to develop your own video activity.

- Select a scene in which the characters disobey the law or do things they will regret.
- Ask students to give pieces of advice for one to follow in such situations.
- Play the scene you had selected.
- Have students check which pieces of advice were not followed by the characters.

Gran Torino: Modal Verb - Should (Advice)

A. Before viewing :


You and your partner will make a list of everything you know about China and its culture. Each piece of information scores 1 point. Your teacher will check which pair of students scored most points.

B. Write P (Polite) or I (Impolite) after the statements below. Make a guess! Which of the actions below are considered polite/impolite during a barbecue lunch according to the Hmong* culture,

*Hmong people are from Laos. The reason there are large Hmong communities in the US is because the US provided visas for Hmong people in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Optional: Ask students what they know about southeast Asian culture. (Thanks Nat Olson for the cultural feedback).

1- To eat cat meat (I)

2- To eat dog meat (I)

3 - To drink alcoholic beverages (P)

4 - To look at someone in the eyes (I)

5 - To touch the head of a person (I)

6 - To listen to the elderly (P)

7 - To eat very much (P)

C. Now watch the segment and decide whether your guesses were correct.

D. Imagine your partner is going to a barbecue in a Hmong family house. Rewrite the items above using should (NOT).

Ex: 1 – YOU SHOULDN'T EAT CAT MEAT.

WORKSHEET

How to develop your own video activity:

- Select a scene in which the characters talk about social behavior.

- Write down a few of the recommendations given.

- The students decide whether they are appropriate or inappropriate behaviors.

- Students give advice using - should.