Saturday, December 22, 2012

Merry Xmas

Dear Friends,



I'm having a vacation break now. I wish you all a merry Christmas and a Happy 2013. Brand new posts will come out in mid-January. Thanks for your constant support.





Claudio Azevedo







Thursday, December 20, 2012

The Emperor's Club: Teachers

This is an amazing movie and this touching scene is perfect to warm-up a discussion about teachers.




Discuss these questions with a friend.

 1. Who is/was your favorite teacher? Justify your answer.

 2. What makes a good teacher? What qualities must he have?


3. Have you ever had a teacher you had a disagreement with? What happened exactly?

 4. Are teachers' salaries fair enough? Do you think it may influence in their performance in class? Explain it.

 5. Have you ever given a teacher of yours a gift? Why did you do it?

 6. Would you like to be a teacher? Why (not)?

 7. Will teachers ever be replaced by technology in the classroom? Explain it.

 8. Are teachers nowadays better or worse than the ones in the past? Justify it.


 II. Watch the movie segments from the movie The Emperor's Club and discuss the questions:

PART 1



PART 2




 1. Describe the scenes.

 2. How do you compare both scenes?

 3. What's your opinion about this kind of attitude demonstrated by the students. Is it sincere or do you consider it tacky? Why?

 4. Have you ever done it with one of your teachers?

 5. Would you like to honor any teacher of yours the way these students did? Why (not)?

 6. What sort of difference will this behavior make in the teacher's life? Explain it.

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE EMPEROR'S CLUB PART 1

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE EMPEROR'S CLUB PART 2

Monday, December 10, 2012

Rio 2, New Year's Eve & When Harry Met Sally: New Year's Eve

 





This is a nice class for the end of the year's holidays. I have posted one for Christmas and now I am providing you with one for New Year's Eve. I hope you like it! Happy New Year!



I.          Talk to a partner in pairs:

      1.   How important is New Year’s Eve for you?      
    
      2.   Can you remember (one of ) you favorite New Year’s Eve? 

            3. What about a frustrating one?

      4.     How do you prefer to celebrate this event? In a very busy city , with the person you love and maybe a few friends in a quiet place, or would you rather stay home and sleep early?

      5.      Do you like to watch New Year’s Eve special TV programs? Why (not)?

      6.    What are some famous spots people go on New Year’s Eve? 

      7.      Where do the people in your city gather to celebrate New Year’s Eve?

      8.       Do you have any superstition for that moment? Do you know any superstition people have for New Year’s Eve?



II.  Check what you usually do when in New Year’s Eve?


( ) Travel


( ) Go to very crowded places

( ) Watch the fireworks

( ) Go dancing

( ) Go to church

( ) Exchange gifts

( ) Watch TV

( ) Go to restaurants

( ) Go to a friend's house

( ) Stay with your family

( ) Cook and eat special meals

( ) Drink a lot

( ) Party all night long

( ) Take pictures

( ) Sleep early

( )  Go to a quiet, romantic place


III. Watch the first segment from the movie New Year's Eve and discuss the questions:


 











 

1. Where does the scene take place?

2. What are some of the things in exercise II that you can see in the segment


3. Have you ever spent New Year's Eve in New York? Talk about your experience. If you have not, would you like to do it one day? Why (not)


4. What was the  unexpected event that happened in that specific year?


5. What's your opinion about her speech? Is is tacky or touching? Explain it.






IV. Watch the scene from the movie When Harry Met Sally and discuss the questions:





















1. Describe the scene.

2. Where does it take place?


3. What do both segments have in common and how different are they?


4. What was so special for the characters about this special event?


5. Is New Year's Eve a good moment to find a new lover? Or to make up a broken relationship? Why ?



 V. Watch the segment from the movie Rio 2 and answer the questions:



1. How do Brazilians celebrate New Year's Eve in Rio?

2. How different is this celebration in Rio from the way it is celebrated in your city?

3. Have you ever spent New Years Eve in Rio? How was it?

4. Should we celebrate New Year's Eve? Why is (not) it special?




MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - RIO 2


MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - NEW YEAR'S EVE


MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - WHEN HARRY MET SALLY