Up in the Air: New Beginnings

 

This is a wonderful movie. Great acting and description of new trends at work. This scene is great to talk about new beginnings, because it shows people being fired and needing to start their lives over.

I. Read the following quotes taken from the awesome site http://www.buzzle.com/articles/new-beginning-quotes.html . Then decide what they actually mean and if you agree with them. Work in small groups.

-  One can begin so many things with a new person - even begin to be a better man. - George Eliot

-  The secret to a rich life is to have more beginnings than endings. - David Weinbaum

-  A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. - Lao Tzu

-  There will come a time when you believe everything is finished; that will be the beginning. - Louis L'Amour

-  When one door closes another door opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us. - Alexander Graham Bell

-  When you feel that you have reached the end and that you cannot go one step further, when life seems to be drained of all purpose: What a wonderful opportunity to start all over again, to turn over a new page. - Eileen Caddy

-  Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently. - Henry Ford

-  If your ship doesn't come in, swim out to meet it. - Jonathan Winters

Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/new-beginning-quotes.html

II. Work with a partner:

1. Do you like to start things over in your life or are you resistant to changes? Explain it. 

2. Can you share moments in your life when you had to face a new beginning?

3. Check the items below that you think would make you have a new beginning. Decide how hard it would be for you - NOT HARD AT ALL - HARD - EXTREMELY HARD

- Losing a job

- Getting married

- Getting divorced

-  Moving to another country

- Moving to another city

- Changing careers

- Failing a course

III. Watch the segment and discuss the questions:

1. What's your opinion of the way employees are treated in this company? Would you like to work there?

2. How did those people react to their new reality?

3. Is a new beginning equally difficult for the characters in the segment. Why (not)?

4. What should these employees do?

5. Do you think their lives will change radically? What should they do to face this new reality?

6. What about the employers? Are they acting ethically? Explain it.


MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - UP IN THE AIR