The 33: Wish x Would Like

In 2010, the eyes of the world turned to Chile, where 33 miners had been buried alive by the catastrophic explosion and collapse of a 100-year-old gold and copper mine. Over the next 69 days, an international team worked night and day in a desperate attempt to rescue the trapped men as their families and friends, as well as millions of people globally, waited and watched anxiously for any sign of hope. But 200 stories beneath the surface, in the suffocating heat and with tensions rising, provisions—and time—were quickly running out. It was a struggle for survival.

Work in groups:

Imagine you were locked inside a cave for 69 days, eating very poorly. Make a list of the first things you would like to do.

Watch the movie segment. The 33 miners are having their last meal and provision - one can of tuna fish  for 33 people. Write down 5 things they wish they could do, but they can't.

1. _____________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________
3 _____________________________________________
4 _____________________________________________
5 _____________________________________________


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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE 33

The Secret Life of Water Mitty: Wish

This is such a strong character that his name became a dictionary entry. The definition is below and the plot revolves around the character's personality. The movie, though, did not meet my expectations.

Walter Mitty

noun, plural Walter Mittys.

an ordinary, timid person who is given to adventurous and 
self-aggrandizing daydreams or secret plans as away of 
glamorizing a humdrum life. 
In his heroic daydreams, Mitty does not triumph, several fantasies being interrupted before they actually happen.

I. Watch the movie segment about Walter Mitty.  Mitty wishes he could have done a few things in order to win Cheryl's attention over. Write at least three different things.

II. Now rewrite the sentences below and the ones you came up with, expressing wishes.

1. He did not manage to leave a wink to Cheryl. 

2. HE did not jump through Cheryl's apartment window.

3. He did not save her three-legged dog, Chips.


III. Discuss:

Have you ever felt like Walter Mitty? Have you ever thought that you could have done something to prevent a situation from happening, but you failed to do it? Talk about it.


Answer key:

1. He wishes he could have left a wink to Cheryl.

2. He wishes he had jumped through Cheryl's apartment window.

3. He wishes he had saved her three-legged dog, Chips.

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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY

(500) Days of Summer: Wish/ If Only

This is a great movie and this scene is perfect to practice the use of wish and if only, because it shows at the same time what the main character expected to happen before his date and what actually happened . The contextualization is perfect for this grammar point.






I. Watch the movie segment. Tom wanted his expectations to align with reality. Read what his expectations are and then write sentences paraphrasing his expectations, using wish or if only. Finally, write another sentence explaining what actually happened.


HIS EXPECTATIONS BEFORE THE DATE:


1. She will hug him tenderly when she receives his gift.

Ex: He wished she would hug him tenderly when she received the gift, but she just thanked him.

2. He will spend the whole dinner romantically talking to her.

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

3. He will give her a passionate kiss.

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

4. She will fall in love with him.

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

5. He will leave the dinner party with her.

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

6. They will make up and be together forever.

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




Answer Key:


Possible answers

1. He wished she would hug him tenderly when she received the gift, but she just thanked him.

2. If only he would spend the whole dinner romantically talking to her, but he ended up talking to her boring friends.

3. He wished he would give her a passionate kiss during the dinner party, but she didn't give him a chance to do it.

4. If only she would fall in love with him, but she had gotten engaged with another guy.

5. He wished he would leave the party with her, but he went home alone.

6. He wished they would make up and be together forever, but that didn't happen.




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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - (500) DAYS OF SUMMER

Kangaroo Jack: Wish / If Only

This is a funny scene that takes place in Australia. My students had a great time watching it and doing the grammar exercises.

A. Talk to a partner about the following questions:

1 - What would you do if you ran over an animal in the middle of the road? Justify your answer.
2 - What do you know about Australia? Share what you know with your partner.
3 - Are you an adventurous person? Tell your partner about one great adventure of yours.
4 - Have you ever been to a safari? Would you like to go on one? Why (not)?

B. Watch the movie segment and fill in the blanks with the simple past tense of the verbs in parentheses. Use either either affirmative or negative forms, according to the segment.

Charlie, the kangaroo and Louis

1. Charlie _________________ (drive) too fast on such a dangerous road.

2. They __________________ (pay) attention to the wild animals on the road.

3. Charlie _________________(run over) a kangaroo.

4. Louis ________________ (put) on his jacket on the kangaroo.

5. Louis __________________ (check) what was in the pockets.

6. They _________________ (kill) the kangaroo.

7. They _________________ (crash) their car into a rock.

8. Charlie _________________ (be) kicked by the kangaroo.

9. The kangaroo __________________(hop) away with their money.



C. Rewrite the sentences above using wish and if only to express regrets.


Ex: 1. Charlie wishes he hadn't driven too fast on such a dangerous road.
2. If only they had paid attention to the animals on the road.

How to prepare your own video activity.
- Select a scene in which the characters regret their actions.
- Prepare an exercise in which the students have to decide whether they use affirmative or negative sentences about their wrong choices.
- Ask students to rewrite the sentences using the grammar goal.


MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - KANGAROO JACK
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