Showing posts with label past modal verb. Show all posts
Showing posts with label past modal verb. Show all posts

Apr 15, 2015

The Leftovers: Past Modals for Speculation

This is the second post based on a TV series. The Leftovers is an intriguing HBO dramatic series and its first scene is perfect for modals for speculation.




I. Watch the movie segment and work in small groups of three students. Number the students (1, 2 and 3).



II. Imagine you are  police officers talking about the happening to a reporter. Describe what happened and present two different possibilities for what happened during the scene. What happened to the baby? What happened to the kid's father? And what about the car accident? Then prepare a speech about your conclusions and imagine you are going to give an interview to explain the community what went on that day. Make sure you include the modal verbs you have been studying.
III. Have the students who have the same numbers sit together and share their theories to their new group.

IV. The students choose the most plausible (or creative) explanation to share with the class.


Mar 25, 2015

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

Jan 5, 2015

Jack and the Giant Slayer: Modal Verb for Drawing Conclusions - Must

This is a great movie, but the legend became scarier that I had thought it would be. I would avoid showing it to young teens.



I. Discuss  these questions:

1. Are tales important or lies that make children believe the impossible can happen?
 

2. Why are tales so popular until today?
 

3. Do you know other tales? Talk about the ones you know.
 

4. What is your favorite one? Why?
 

5. Do you think fairy tales can be harmful? Why (not)? 

6. Is Jack and the Beanstalk a popular tale in your country? What do you know about it?


 


II. Watch the movie segment. What is the most plausible answer for the questions below? Then write sentences drawing conclusions, using MUST.




1. What do you think about Jack and his dad's relationship?

a. It is a bad relationship;
b. They are very distant from each other.
c. They love each other.

They must love each other.

2. What time of the day does the scene take place?

a) bedtime, late at night
b) early evening
c) right before sunrise

__________________________________________ .

3. Jack

a) believes giants exist
b) thinks giants are stupid
c) believes giants are pure imagination

_________________________________________ .

4. The legend of the giants

a) are funny
b) are real
c) are scary

_________________________________________ .

5. Jack's father believes

a) Jack has noble blood in his veins.
b) Jack has ordinary blood in his veins.
c) Jack is prepared to fight against the giants.

_________________________________________ .

6. According to the first scene of the movie:

a) the movie is a comedy
b) the movie is romantic
c) the movie has spectacular visual effects

__________________________________ .

7. How do you think life was like in the times giants ruled the world.

a) it was terrifying
b) people lived peacefully
c) people lived in harmony.

__________________________________ .

 8. Before the king expelled the giants.

a) he waited for the giants to leave his kingdom
b) the population suffered a lot
c) the giants tried to be friends with humans


________________________________________ .


Answer key - POSSIBLE answers

2. It must be late at night.
3. Jack must believe giants exist.
4. The legend of the giants must be scary.
5. Jack's dad believes his son must have ordinary blood in his veins
6. The movie must have spectacular visual effects
7. It must have been terrifying
8. The population must have suffered a lot.




Nov 25, 2014

Flight Plan: Present and Past Modals for Speculation



I. Watch the movie segment. Then write down three different explanations for what happened in the segment on a piece of paper. Use your imagination.





Ex: The girl is sleeping somewhere on the plane.

1 ___________________________________
2 ___________________________________
3 ___________________________________


II. Teacher collects the sheets and redistributes them among the students. 

III. Students analyze their peers' explanations and write sentences with modal verbs for speculation. Remember that you should vary the modal verb according to what you believe really happened to the boy.

Observe if the sentences refer to the present or to the past. You will have to choose the correct verb form.

(PRESENT IDEA: MIGHT + BARE INFINITIVE)
(PAST IDEA - MIGHT + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE)


Ex: 

The girl might be sleeping somewhere on the plane. (It is possible, but you don't think that is what really happened)

The girl must be sleeping somewhere on the plane. (It is very possible. You probably agree with the idea)

The girl can't be sleeping anywhere on the plane (It is not a plausible explanation. You don't believe it happened at all)


IV. Read the sentences out loud. Explain why you chose those modal verbs. Agree and disagree with your friends' ideas.


V. What is the most plausible explanation decided by the class?


Jun 5, 2014

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

Jul 13, 2013

Dark Skies: Past Modals for Speculation


Dark Skies is a great thriller, but the ending is a bit disappointing. The movie gave me chills, which I love while watching thrillers. I recommend it. This is an intriguing scene, perfect for modals for speculation.


I. Watch the segment, discuss the questions below, and then check the items that you believe are possible explanations for the  phenomenon in the segment.





1. Describe the phenomenon.

2. What was so peculiar about it?

3. Have you ever heard of anything similar to it? Talk about it.

4. How would you react if you lived in that house?


Which items below are possible explanations for the phenomenon? Write I if you believe it is possible, according to your own opinion. Write C if at least one of the characters believe it is possible. Write B if both characters and yourself believe they are possible explanations.

( ) The birds were contaminated.

( ) It was the start of an outbreak - a sudden beginning of a disease or something else dangerous or unpleasant.

( ) The birds were sick.

( ) It was avian flu.

( ) It happened because of environmental causes, such as hail storms or lightning.

( ) It was caused by fireworks.

II. Rewrite the sentences above, using past modals for speculation.

Ex: The birds might have been contaminated.


III. What MUST have happened, in your opinion? What is the most plausible explanation?Justify your answer.

IV. Rewrite the sentences in II, using past modals for speculation.
 

Ex: The birds might have been contaminated.

2 _______________________________________________
3 _______________________________________________
4 _______________________________________________
5 _______________________________________________
6 _______________________________________________

WORKSHEET
MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - DARK SKIES

Answer Key:

Answers will vary, but all of the items in I are possible explanations, according the movie characters.



2. It might have been the start of an outbreak.
3. The birds might have been sick.
4. It might have been avian flu.
5. It might have happened because of environmental causes.
6. It might have been caused by fireworks.

 

Apr 6, 2013

A Walk to Remember: Past Modals for Regrets - Should (Not) Have ...

This is a teens classic. In a survey I conducted with my advanced level teenagers, this movie was their favorite one, according to the majority of students in my class. So I decided to see it and I agree with them. It is a very good film, indeed. This scene is perfect to talk about regrets, using past modals.



I. Watch the movie segments and check the sentences that you believe were the characters'  wrong decisions.






















1. The teenagers trespassed a private property.

2. Landon dared a friend to jump from a trampoline to belong to the group.

3. He accepted the challenge

4. He didn't know how deep the dam was

5. They ran away and left their friend hurt and unattended.

6. Landon didn't stop his car when warned by the police and had an accident.

7. Nobody was taking care of the abandoned dam during that night.


II. Now rewrite the sentences above, expressing regrets.


EX:

1. The teenagers shouldn't have trespassed a private property.



II. Discuss these questions:


1. What were the major wrong decisions taken by the group? Explain it.

2. What should happen to those teenagers?

3. Whose fault was that? Landon's, the other teens', or the boy was the one responsible for his own jumping?

4. What would you do if you were in the boy's shoes? What if you were one of the other teens?

5. What should the police do? Arrest Landon, arrest everybody, or have them pay with community services? Explain your answer.

6. What should happen to the property owner?


Answer Key:
2. Landon shouldn't have dared his friend to jump from the trampoline.
3. He shouldn't have accepted the challenge.
4. He should have known how deep the dam was.
5. They shouldn't have run away and left the boy unattended.
6. Landon should have stopped his car when warned by the police.
7. Someone should have been taking care of the abandoned dam.

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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - A WALK TO REMEMBER

Jul 14, 2012

Lilo & Stitch: Past Modals for Regrets

This animated movie reminds us the way old cartoons were made, but it is a very nice, funny one. The idea and plot are very appealing as well. I liked it very much. I used this scene to reinforce past modals for regrets in a contextualized manner.






A. Lilo is a little girl that is raised by her older sister, Nani. For Lilo not to be taken away to a social institution, her sister has to convince the social worker, Mr. Bubbles, that she has been doing a good job nurturing Lilo. Watch the movie segment and check the items you believe did NOT help Lilo and her sister live together.








1. ( ) Lilo didn't open the door for Nani or the social worker.

2. ( ) Nani left Lilo home alone.

3. ( ) Nani left the stove on when she was out.

4. ( ) Lilo said she got disciplined.

5. ( ) Lilo was reading a book about voodoo.

6. ( ) Lilo said her friends needed to be punished.

7. ( ) Lilo didn't wait for Nani at school.

B. Now rewrite the sentences you have checked in the previous exercise, using past modals for regrets Should (not) have + past participle or Ought (not) to have + past participle.


1. Ex: Lilo ought to (should) have opened the door for Nani and Mr. Bubbles.


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


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


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


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


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


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


B. Discuss the following questions:




1. Should under aged people raise a young child all by herself? Explain it.



2. What should happen to Lilo?



3. What should happen to Nani?



4. What is best for Lilo? To stay with Nani or go to a social institution? Explain it.


WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - LILO & STITCH

Answer Key:


A.


2. Nani shouldn't have left Lilo home alone.
3. Nani shouldn't have left the stove on when she was out.
4. Lilo oughtn't to have said she got disciplined.
5. Lilo shouldn't have been reading a book about voodoo.
6. Lilo shouldn't have said her friends needed to be punished.
7. Lilo ought to have waited for Nani at school.

Jun 9, 2012

Crazy Heart: Past Modal for Speculation and Regrets

This movie has great music and touching acting. The scene the little boy disappears is perfect for modals for speculation and regrets. I used it for a production, not controlled exercise.






A. Watch the movie segment and write sentences using past modal verbs.






I. Write down 3 sentences saying what might have happened while the boy was lost.



Ex: The boy must have hidden himself somewhere.



1. _____________________
2. _____________________
3. _____________________


II. Write down 3 sentences saying what the main character should not have done.


Ex: He shouldn't have left the boy unattended.



1. ______________________
2. _____________________
3. _____________________


III. Write down 3 sentences saying what he should have done.

Ex: He should have kept an eye on the boy all the time.



1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________

Mar 3, 2012

Love Happens: Past Modals for Regrets



A. Watch the movie segment about a man describing how his son died. Check the alternatives that he mentioned.



1. ( ) They stopped by the construction site to pick up some blueprints.
2. ( ) He left his son in the car.
3. ( ) The boy stayed in the car until his dad came back.
4. ( ) The boy left the car and fell off the scaffold.
5. ( ) He lost his job.
6. ( ) His wife left him.
7. ( ) Nobody said anything to support him during the therapy.



B. Now rewrite the items above, using past modals for regrets. Decide if you will use affirmative sentences, according to the information presented in the segment.


1. ...........................................................
2. ..........................................................
3. ..........................................................
4. ..........................................................
5. .........................................................
6. .........................................................
7. ..........................................................



C. Talk to a partner:



1. What's your opinion about this kind of therapy? Does it actually help or worsen the problems?
2. Would you join one if you were facing the same kind of problem? Explain it.

3. What should he do to overcome this situation?


WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - LOVE HAPPENS
Answer key:

A.
Only #3 is not to be marked.


B.
1. They souldn't have stopped...
2. He shouldn't have left ...
3. The boy should have stayed...
4. The boy shouldn't have left
5. He shouldn't have lost ...
6. His wife shouldn't have left...
7. Somebody should have said something...

Jul 25, 2010

The Third Miracle:Past Modals for Speculation

If you have never seen this movie, run to the next dvd store and don't hesitate renting it. I love the unexpected ending. This scene is great to practice past modals, but this time answering questions with the target grammar goal.








A. Watch the movie segment and answer the questions using past modals for speculation.





1. The little girl prayed in front of a church. What must/might she have asked for in her prayers?

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


2. What might have happened after her prayers that made her smile?

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



3. What might the soldiers have seen in the sky?

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


4. What might have happened after that scene?

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


B. Now watch the second segment, which explains what actually happened.
Check whether your guesses were right. Then discuss the questions that follow.











1. What actually happened?


2. Do you believe in miracles? Why (not)?


3. What could have been a possible explanation for the happening?


4. Do you believe this is a true story? Why (not)?


5. Have you ever heard of a miracle you believed actually happened? Tell us about it.

WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE THIRD MIRACLE - PARTS 1 AND 2

Feb 28, 2010

Reservation Road: Past Modal - Should - Expressing Regrets

This is a shocking scene that pictures a common current event in our society. Hit and run. I chose it to practice expressing regrets using past modal verbs. The movie is really interesting and the ending is great. I recommend it.





A. Talk to a partner:



1. Have you ever witnessed a car accident? What happened?

2. Is traffic a problem where you live? Explain it.

3. Are traffic laws too strict, too lenient or just fair? Justify your answer.

4. What can be done to improve the traffic flow and prevent accidents?

5. What is hit and run? What should the punishment be in that kind of accident?

6. What about drinking and driving?





B. Watch the video segment and read the items below. Check the characters' wrong decisions.


( ) 1. The boy didn't fasten his seatbelt.


( ) 2. The family stopped at a gas station.


( ) 3. The driver answered his cell phone while he was driving.


( ) 4. Josh's parents left him by himself too close to the main road.


( ) 5. The driver didn't stop to rescue the victim.


( ) 6. The driver lied to his son about the accident.


C. Rewrite the sentences you checked expressing regrets. Use should + have + past participle in your sentences.


WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - RESERVATION ROAD



Answer key:

B.

1. The boy should have fastened his seatbelt.
2. The family shouldn't have stopped...
3. The driver shouldn't have answered...
4. Josh's parents shouldn't have left him...
5. The driver should have stopped...
6. The driver shouldn't have lied...



How to prepare your own video activity:
- Select a scene in which the characters perform actions they regret.
- Select a few of their wrong decisions.
- Have students check the ones that the characters might regret
- Ask the students to write down sentences expressing regrets using the past modal should

Dec 12, 2009

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

Jul 5, 2009

The Butterfly Effect: Past Modals for Speculation - Might/ Must/ Could + Have + Past Part.

This is a very popular movie with a creative story. The main character, Evan, has occasional blackouts that prevent him from knowing exactly what happened at certain moments of his life. This is a scene of vandalism. Because Evan had a blackout, he doesn't know what took place during the elapsed 10 minutes of that day. We, spectators, dont know either. This is perfect for the students to practice past modals for speculation in order to guess what really happened.



A. Talk to a partner:


1. Should underaged individuals be legally responsible for their acts? Justify your answer.

2. Should teeangers go to jail like adults do when they are held responsible for a serious crime? Explain it.

3. What should the legal age be for an individual to be criminally responsible for their acts?

4. Does your city suffer with the acts of vandals? What are the most common ones?

5. What should be done about these cases?




B. Watch the segment and check the alternatives that you believe are possible explanations for the 10 minutes Evan blacked out, based on the evidence you have of their reactions and dialogs:

( ) 1. The bomb did not explode.

( ) 2. The owners of the house got seriously hurt.

( ) 3. A few people died because of the explosion.

( ) 4. A police officer saw what thet were trying to do and prevented a serious accident.

( ) 5. The bomb burned the house down.

( ) 6. Evan forgot what had happened to protect himself and his friends.




C. Now rewrite the sentences above using past modals (might/could/must/can't + have + past participle).



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

Answer Key:
All the items can be checked.


1. The bomb might not have exploded.
2. The owners might have got...
3. A few people might have died.
4. A police officer might have seen...
5. The bomb might have burned...
6. Evan might have forgotten...


WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT

How to prepare your own video segment:

• Select a segment in which the viewer cannot predict what happened before the scene actually takes place.
• Prepare an exercise with several possible (or impossible) explanations for the puzzle.
• Ask students to rewrite the same sentences, using the grammar point – Might/ Could/ Can’t/ Must + have + past participle.

Sep 1, 2008

Urban Legend: Past Modal Verbs – Should have + Past Participle

This is an average movie with several sequels that did not meet my expectations. Because this scene is full of wrong choices and regrets, I used it to practice the use of past modals expressing regrets. Check out your audience first. Too sensitive students may not like it.






Urban Legend: (Total 4’28)
Check only the items in which the main character's decisions were wrong.

1) The girl traveled alone by car on a stormy day. ( )

2) She filled up the gas tank at a desolate gas station. ( )

3) She used a credit card to pay for the gas. ( )

4) She left the car to go to the gas station store. ( )

5) She didn’t listen to what the gas station worker had to say. ( )

6) She used pepper spray to get rid of the gas station worker. ( )

7) She left the gas station in a hurry. ( )

8) She didn’t check the backseat. ( )

Now rewrite the sentences expressing regrets.

Ex:
1 -The girl shouldn’t have traveled alone by car on such a rainy day.

2 - She shouldn’t have filled up the gas tank at a desolate gas station.
.
How to prepare your own video activity:


.
• Choose a movie segment in which the characters do not act properly or regret their actions

• Prepare a checklist of the things he/she did or did not do

• Students check the characters' wrong choices or decisions

• Students write sentences expressing regret - should (not) have done
.


Watch the movie segment here:



MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD
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Premonition: Past Modals – Speculation/ Impossibility Speculation – Might/Could + Have + Past Participle

I just love this movie, which was not such a great blockbuster. The story is clever and I was intrigued by the plot throughout the movie. Although a bit shocking, the scene is perfect to speculate about what happened to the characters. So I used it to practice the use of past modals for speculation.




Watch the video segment and guess what might have happened
to the characters. Check the options you believe are possible
explanations for the characters’ current situation.

 


( ) Jen took too many tranquilizers in the previous night.

( ) Her daughter had a domestic accident.

( ) Jen hurt her daughter.

( ) Jen’s daughter hurt herself.

( ) Jen’s husband, Jim, didn’t die.

( ) Jim died in a car accident.

( ) Jen hit her head on the floor and can’t remember anything.

( ) One of the children was attacked by a mad dog.

Now rewrite these sentences using past modal verbs to express
probability/ possibility/ impossibility.

Ex:
1 - Jen might have taken too many tranquilizers in the previous night.

2 - Her daughter might have had a domestic accident.
.
How to prepare your own video activity:
Grammar Goal: Past Modals – Speculation/ Impossibility

• Select a segment in which the viewer cannot predict what happened before the scene actually takes place.
• Prepare an exercise with several possible (or impossible) explanations for the puzzle.
• Ask students to rewrite the same sentences, using the grammar point – Might/ Could/ Can’t/ Must + have + past participle.


Saw: Past Modals Speculation – Might/Could/Can't + Have + Past Participle

This is one the scariest movies I have ever seen, but the scene isn't. It is, in fact, great to practice past modals for speculations for the main characters have no idea of how they got to that place.



Watch the video segment and guess what might have happened to the characters.


Check the options you believe are possible explanations for the characters to be in such a place.


( ) They were drugged before taken to that room.

( ) Adam was kidnapped while he was sleeping.

( ) Adam had his kidney removed.

( ) A stranger took Lawrence, the doctor, to that place.

( ) A serial killer planned a horrible death for the characters.

( ) Adam and Lawrence went there because they wanted to.

Now rewrite them, using past modal verbs to express probability/ possibility/ impossibility.

Ex:

They might have been drugged before taken to that room.

Adam can’t have had his kidney removed.

A serial killer must have planned a horrible death for the characters.

How to develop your own video acyivity:


• Select a segment in which the viewer cannot predict what happened before the scene actually takes place

• Prepare an exercise with several possible (or impossible) explanations for the puzzle

• Ask students to rewrite the same sentences, using with the grammar goal





WORKSHEET

The Joy Luck Club: Past Modal Verb - Should: Expressing Regrets

This a great drama full of cultural references. I love this scene because of the American guy who is having dinner with his fiance's family for the first time and everything he does is culturally inappropriate. It is perfect to express regrets using modals in the past.



Check what happened in the segment.

















( ) The Chinese American woman introduced her fiance to her mother.

( ) She forgot to warn her fiance about a few important rules on Chinese manners.

( ) He had a second glass when everybody had had only just a little.

( ) He didn’t take a small spoon of the main dish.

( ) He bragged he was a fast learner.

( ) He criticized her mother’s cooking.

( ) He didn’t say it was the best dish he had ever tasted.

I. Rewrite the sentences using should to express regret:

Ex:
The Chinese American woman shouldn’t have introduced her fiance to her mother.

She shouldn’t have forgotten to warn him a few important rules on Chinese manners.


II. Now, write two sentences saying should do after this unfortunate dinner.


Ex:
They should stop trying to please her family.


How to prepare your own video activity:

• Choose a movie segment in which the characters do not act properly or regret their actions

• Prepare a checklist of the things he/she did or did not do

• Students work on the content of the segment

• Students write sentences expressing regret - should (not) have done.







WORKSHEET


MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE JOY LUCK CLUB