Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

My dear friends, I'm finally going on vacation! I really hope to rest with my family for a while, recharging the batteries for 2011! Brand new activities starting on January 14th, 2011. I promise a lot of new hot topics activities with attractive movie scenes. Meanwhile, don't hesitate to contact me, for I'll be replying all your comments and clearing your doubts . I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year.

Eurotrip: Hooligans

Social issues are often discussed in conversation classes. Hooligans are approached here in a light, fun manner. This movie is great, don't miss it.


A. Read the definition of Hooliganism:

Football hooliganism is unruly and destructive behaviour —such as brawls, vandalism and intimidation—by club fans. Fights between supporters of rival teams may take place before or after football matches at pre-arranged locations away from stadiums, in order to avoid arrests by the police, or they can erupt spontaneously at the stadium or in the surrounding streets. Football hooliganism ranges from shouts and fistfights to riots in which fans clash with bats, bottles, rocks, knives or guns. 

A. Discuss these questions with a partner:

1. Does your country face violence in sports?

2. In which sports can you see more violence outside the sports arenas.

3. Are football fans particularly more violent? Explain it?

4. What can be done to reduce violence rates among hooligans?

5. What should happen to a hooligan who is caught fighting in another country? What about when it happens in his own country?

6. How do athletes contribute to violence inside and outside the stadiums? Explain it.

7. Why do hooligans behave the way they do? Justify your answer.

8. Are certain club fans more violent than others or are they pretty much the same? Why?

9. Do you still go stadiums and arenas despite the potential violence you may face? Justify it.

10. Which countries do you believe face more problems concerning violence in sports?

11. Is hooliganism a sport or social problem? Explain it B.

Watch the funny movie segment from the movie Eurotrip and discuss the questions that follow:

1. Describe the scene.

2. Why did the Americans end up in a pub full of hooligans?

3. How did they feel? How did the hooligans feel?

4. What did the Americans do to prevent violence from taking place?

5. What could the possible consequences for their entering that bar be?

6. Is the situation in the movie a possible one? Explain it.

7. Is it fair that English people have been seen as hooligans? Why (not)?

8. What are the stereotypes of a hooligan that you could identify in the segment?

9. How different are these hooligans from the ones your city (country)?

10. Are football (soccer) hooligans different from the fans who support other sports?

11. What would you do if you were in the Americans' shoes?

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - EUROTRIP

The New Daughter: Neglicence x Carelessness x Accident

This movie was not very popular, but it has good moments. This scene is great for discussing NEGLIGENCE, CARELESSNESS and ACCIDENTS.


 



A. Read the definitions of Negligence (N) , Carelessness (C) and Accident (A). Now decide what the following cases are. Justify your answers:


Carelessness (C) is lack of concern about the consequences of an action, and by extension, the behavior that results from that lack of concern. 

Negligence (N) refers to a failure to exercise the proper care and skill that a reasonable person would have exercised. Negligence is the fault of a person.



Accident (A) refers to an event that occurred despite the use of proper care and skill. Accidents are not anyone’s fault.




1. ( ) In 2003, Annette Ritzmannt stopped to get gas and a paper at the corner store. As she walked into the Miller Mart, she slipped on a small puddle created by a leaky awning, fell forward onto her chest and chin, and lost consciousness. A witness said the impact sent her head snapping back. Miller Mart's owners, Miller Oil Co., admitted they had known the outside curb was dangerous. She was awarded more than $12.2 million in damages.

2. ( ) An 8 year old girl in Grain Valley, MO was killed. This tragedy occurred in the 1200 block of NW Phelps Drive. The news agency reported it as an “accidental” shooting. It appears that one or more adults didn't store their gun, or educated their children about the importance of gun safety.

3. ( ) Jonathan Kalus, the local hospital nurse, forgot to give Jerry Lewans his medication, so he end up having a seizure.

4. ( ) Dr. Gary Garson prescribed his patient, Ana Miller, the wrong dose of medication who was accidentally overdosed.

5. ( ) Jane Collor took Mary Dawson's respirator out and forgot to put it back, causing her death.

6. ( ) Sarah Parker slipped on a an entryway that was particularly slippery, even though it had been completely cleaned 20 minutes before.

7. ( ) Electrical wires are exposed and during a rainy night damaged a car parked in front of the light pole.

8. ( ) Jennifer Lois saw her child with unusual symptoms, such as bleeding and eyes rolling back, but did not take action. Nothing happened to the child, but the father wants custody of the child.

9. ( ) Carl Carlton allowed an unlicensed driver to drive his car and was caught by the police.

10. ( ) The owner of a car allowed a drunk driver drive his car. There was an accident and the car owner was killed.

11. ( ) The bar in front of a college serves alcohol to minors. One teenager was hit by a car that was passing by.

12. ( ) Justin Stones was driving on a icy road and fell off a cliff.

B. Watch the movie segment and answer the following questions:






1. Describe the scene.

2. How would you describe the father's, the boy's and the girl's behavior?

3. Was it negligence, carelessness, or an accident.

4. Why did the boy get hold of the gun?

5. Who's responsible for the happening?

6. What should the consequence in the following situations be? What penalties should be applied?


- if the boy gets hurt

- if the girl gets hurt

- if the boy gets killed

- if the girl gets killed

- if the father gets hurt

- if the father gets killed


C. Read the statements below about gun control found on the polemic site Guncontrol.com. Decide if the statements are fact or myths. Justify your answers


#1: Gun control stops criminals from having guns.


#2: Guns are ineffective for self defense.


#3: Gun ownership is not an constitutional right in the USA.


#4: Guns are not needed since the police can be called.


#5: Only violent and uneducated people want to own guns.


#6: A home owner is 43 times more likely to be killed by their own gun than to kill an intruder.



D. According to the site, all of the items are myths. Below are the facts for each of the myths above. Do you agree with them? Why (not)? 

Fact #1: Gun control laws do not keep guns out of criminals’ hands.


Fact #2: Guns are the most effective means of self defense yet devised by human kind.

Fact #3: The Supreme Court of the United States has conclusively declared gun ownership for self defense to be an individual right.

Fact #4: The police simply cannot get there quickly enough, or at all in some situations.

Fact #5: Gun ownership is a right that between one third and one half of all Americans exercise.

Fact #6: 65 lives are protected for every 2 lives lost.


MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE NEW DAUGHTER

Clockwork Orange: Punishment

This activity was shared by one of this blog's reader, Rodrigo Tiago Mendonça. Check out his biodata and views in the end of the post. Thanks, Rodrigo. Here is a space for sharing, so if you have activities to share, email them to me at claudioazv@gmail.com

Video Activity – Clockwork Orange - The segment has been edited in order to make it suitable to an EFL/ESL class.

1) What kind of punishment would you give to the following heinous crimes?

a) A drunkard who dragged and killed an innocent child while trying to steal a car and failing to notice the parents were trying to take him out of the backseat.

b) A man who viciously killed a couple of homosexuals because they were holding hands in a public place

c) A seventeen-year-old boy who attacked and killed his stepmother out of jealousy for his father’s attention. His stepmother was six-month pregnant at the time.

d) A psychopath who killed and mutilated over 18 women and afterwards kept their hands in a trunk. The media nicknamed him the “maniac collector”.

2) Is capital punishment acceptable in any of these cases?

3) Watch the following movie segment and mark True (T) or False (F):

( ) Alex will be given something to sleep.

( ) Alex couldn’t shut his eyes or look away.

( ) The patient would feel a death-like paralysis together with feelings of deep terror and helplessness.

( ) According to the nurse, Alex’s body was learning that violence was a very horrible thing.

( ) Alex hated classical music.

( ) According to the minister, Alex would learn real values and honesty in prison.

( ) Alex didn’t change because of the treatment.

( ) Alex would get nauseated whenever he was submitted to violence.

4) What would you do if you wanted to help someone close to you but the person refused to accept it? Would you consider helping the person against his or her own will?

Answer Key:

3.

False

True

True

True

False

False

False

True

My name is Rodrigo Tiago Mendonça, I'm 28 years old and I live in São Paulo, SP. I've been a teacher for 8 years now, 4 of those for Yazigi (morumbi branch), the school I'm currently at. As a teacher I'm an ideologist, I believe that teaching gives me the opportunity to make a remarkable change in the future, so I try to provide open, meaningful dialog whenever possible. And that's how I came to the present activity, I wanted to make my students ponder on the rights and responsibilities we have living in a society and how easy it is to lose track of those. I'd like to thank Claudio for the great initiative in sharing his ideas with us.

The Fifth Element, WALL-E & The Road: Future Trends

A. Read these two quotations from the past. Then discuss why these specialists in their fields were unable to foresee the future.

1. "Everything that can be invented has been invented." (Charles H. Duel, Commissioner of the US Patent Office, 1899)



2. There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in his home." (Kenneth Olson, President of Digital Equipment, 1977)


B. Discuss these questions in pairs:

1. What important inventions have been made since 1899?



2. What reasons are there for people to have computers at home?


 
3. In your opinion, when might the following future events? How will they happen?


- Space tourism:



- The widespread use of non-petroleum-dependent technology:



- The elimination of cancer as a health threat:



- The widespread use of flying automobiles:



- The widespread use of robots as household chores equipment:



- The use of cryonics for immortality - people with fatal illnesses could have their bodies frozen before death to wait for its cure.





4. Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future? Explain it.



C. Watch the first segment from the film The Fifth Element and discuss the questions that follow:






1. Describe the scene.





2. Is this an optimistic or pessimistic view of the future? Explain it.





3. How different is this future from the one you imagine it will be like?





4. How do you think the future will be similar to the one shown in the segment. Think about everything you have seen (living in a big city, cars, police, weapons, traffic, criminals, buildings, etc).





5. Would you like the future to be like the one depicted in the segment? Why (not)?


D. Now watch the second segment from the same movie, The Fifth Element, and discuss the questions that follow.








1. Describe the segment.




2. Do you think space tourism will ever be possible? Why (not)?




3. How similar and different is this kind of tourism from the way tourism is nowadays?




4. Would you like to join this group of tourist? Why (not)?




5. How do you think tourism will be in the future, 20 years from today, for example?



E. Watch the third segment from the wonderful movie WALL-E.




1. How does the director describe the future? Is it an optimistic or pessimistic view? Why?




2. Why is everyone so fat?




3. Most of the inventions nowadays are to make our lives more effortless. Do you agree with this statement? Why (not)? What are the possible consequences of such inventions.




4. What were some of the novelties promised by the movie? Will they ever happen? Which ones will and which ones won't be possible?




5. How do you compare the future shown in WALL-E with the one shown in The Fifth Element.



F. Discuss future trends in pairs. Write R if you believe the following rates or trends will rise, and F if you believe they will fall. Justify your answers:

1. ( ) crime rate



2. ( ) birthrate



3. ( ) literacy rates



4. ( ) fertility rate



5. ( ) divorce rate



6. ( ) population growth



7. ( ) life expectancy



8. ( ) marriage trends



9. ( ) unemployment rates



10. ( ) wars



G. Now watch the fourth segment from the movie The Road and discuss the questions that follow.





1. Describe the scene.




2. Is it an optimistic or pessimistic view of the future? Explain it.




3. Do you think this is a possible reality? Why (not)?




4. What could lead us to a future like this one?




5. What is mentioned in the segment concerning:




- what possibly happened



- daylight



- weather



- animals



- crops



- trees



- food



- shoes



- cannibalism


H. Class discussion:


1. How do you compare the future shown in The Fifth Element, WALL-E and The Road?



2. Which one of them is more feasible to happen? Why?



3. How do you think our future will actually be like?


MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE ROAD 

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - WALLE

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE FIFTH ELEMENT

The Omen, Orphan, Despicable Me & Reclaim: Adoption

A. Work in pairs. Take turns asking each other questions. Student 1 asks the questions in red and Student 2 asks the questions in orange.

1. What's your opinion about adoption?

2. What happens to those children who are never adopted?

3. What are the problems that there might be when adopting a child?

4. How different is the love of a biological parent from that one who is a parent of an adopted child?

5. Is it better to adopt a baby or an older child?

6. Should parents adopt people from the same race? Why (not)?

7. What should happen when the biological parent shows up ten years after his child's adoption by another couple, asking for his/her child back?


8. When should the adopted child learn about the adoption? How should it be done?

9. Should all adopted children know they are adopted? Why (not)?

10. What if the child decides to meet his/her biological parents? Should they always be allowed to do it?

11. Should same-sex couples be allowed to adopt children? Why (not)?

12. Should single people be allowed to adopt children? Why (not)?

13. Is it better to adopt a child from your own country or from a very poor country? Why (not)?


14. Should siblings be separated from each other for adoption or is it better for them to stay together without the adoption? Explain it.

15. What happens if the adopted parents decide they don't want the kid anymore after a few years?

16. Many people have dogs who are treated like kings. What's your opinion about people who do it instead of adopting children?







B. Watch the first segment from the movie The Omen. Then discuss the questions that follow:






1. Describe the scene.


2. Why did Mr. Thorn decide to adopt the child?


3. What would you do if you were in his shoes?


4. Did he do the right thing not to tell his wife about the adoption? Why (not)?


5. What are the possible consequences of his act?


6. Should adoptions be made easier so that situations like the one in the movie did not happen?


7. Is there anyone wrong in this case? The priest, Mr. Thorn? Both? No one? Explain your answer.



8. What do you think will happen next?

C. Watch the segment from the great movie Orphan. Then discuss the questions that follow.





1. Describe the scene.

2. Why did they decide to adopt Esther?
 

3. Esther is an older child. Is it better or worse for the adopted parents?


4. Why do parents prefer adopting babies rather than older children like Esther? Was their decision right?

5. They decided to adopt a Russian child? Does it make a difference?


6. What do you think will happen next?


D. Watch the scene from the outstanding animated movie DESPICABLE ME and answer the questions.





1. Describe the children who want to be adopted and their feelings too.

2. Describe the place they live in, waiting for the adoption.

3. Describe Ms. Hattie, the lady who runs the place.    

4. Describe the man who adopts them.

5. How do you think their lives are going to be, according to what you see in the segment.

6. Which place is better. The place she lived in before the adoption or the house?

 7. Is this kind of adoption rare? Do all adopted children have better lives after the adoption?

 8. How often do people lie in order to provide the necessary information to adopt someone?

9. Do you think single men should be allowed to adopt children? What about gay couples? Justify your answers.


E. Watch the scene from the movie Reclaim and answer the questions:

1. Describe the scene.

2. The couple did not follow the regular procedures for adoption. Are they right?

3. They are adopting an orphan child from Haiti. She lost all her family. Are the couple wrong to help the girl?

4. What could possibly go wrong in such kind of adoption?


MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE OMEN

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - ORPHAN

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - DESPICABLE ME

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - RECLAIM

Free Birds, Pieces of April & The Ice Storm: Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is not a popular holiday in Brazil, so it is always profitable to insert cultural perspectives into the lessons. My students learned a lot about this holiday and had fun doing it.

GAME: Here you will find some information about Thanksgiving. In groups, decide if the statements are True or False. The group who scores most points is the winner.


1. ( ) Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada.


2. ( ) Thanksgiving is celebrated on the same day in both the US and Canada.


3. ( ) Thanksgiving Day is also celebrated in Leiden, the Netherlands.


4. ( ) Thanksgiving in the United States has been celebrated on various different dates throughout history.


5. ( ) In the West African country of Liberia, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the first Thursday of November.


6. ( ) Thanksgiving day originated in America.


7. ( ) It is traditional for families and groups of friends to get together for a large breakfast.


8. ( ) Traditional food often consists of a turkey, stuffing, different types of potatoes, cranberry sauce, gravy,
other seasonal vegetables.


9. ( ) Pumpkin pie is a traditional Thanksgiving dish.


10. ( ) Thanksgiving Day parades are held in some cities and towns on or around Thanksgiving Day


11. ( ) Many football games are played and watching them is a popular activity on this holiday.


12. ( ) Many families and groups of friends get together for Thanksgiving, so it is one of the busiest periods for travel.


13. ( ) Some states, such as Maine and West Virginia (among others), have an extra week for the Thanksgiving holiday


14. ( ) Native Americans celebrate Thanksgiving as the most important holiday of the year.


15. ( ) 95 percent of Americans eat turkey at Thanksgiving.


16. ( ) Thanksgiving is about asking for blessing for the following year.



Answer key:

1. T
2. F (in the United States, Thanksgiving Day falls on the fourth Thursday of November In Canada it is celebrated on the second Monday in October)
3. T
4. T
5. T
6. T
7. F (a large meal, usually dinner or lunch)
8. T
9. T
10. T
11. T
12. T
13. F (an extra day)
14. F (Not everyone sees Thanksgiving Day as a cause for celebration. The European settlers had a massive destructive effect on the Native American peoples and their culture. They have protest marches against it)
15. T
16. F (Thanksgiving is about giving thanks for the people and blessings of the past year)

II. Watch the segment from the movie Free Birds ad answer the questions:

1. What Thanksgiving symbols did you see in the segment?

2. What is the turkey's point of view about Thanksgiving food?

3. What does the segment say about the Thanksgiving tradition?

4. How do vegetarians celebrate Thanksgiving in your country?



III. Watch the segment from the great movie Pieces of April and discuss the questions:





1. Describe the scene.


2. Who do you think is hosting the dinner party?


3. What is being served?


4. What are some of the characteristics in exercise I did you manage to see in the segment?


5. How would you describe the mood of the guests during dinner?


6. Do you celebrate Thanksgiving? How do you do it? How similar do you think it is to your Christmas dinner?


7. Is it a good idea to celebrate Thanksgiving? Why (not)?



IV. Now watch the scene from the movie The Ice Storm and discuss the questions.




1. Describe the scene.


2. Who do you think is hosting the dinner party?


3. What is being served?


4. What are some of the characteristics in exercise I did you manage to see in the segment?


5. How would you describe the mood of the guests during dinner?


6. How would you compare both scenes?


MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - FREE BIRDS

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD -  PIECES OF APRIL

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD -  THE ICE STORM

Did You Hear about the Morgans?: Witness Relocation Program

My students loved the scene and the activity. The movie, though, has funny moments, but it isn't a movie I would strongly recommend. I managed to use two scenes from it, both really funny. I hope you like it.







A. Work in pairs to discuss the questions below:

1. Have you ever heard of the Witness Relocation Program? What do you know about it?


2. Is there a similar program where you live?


3. Would you tell the police that you witnessed a murder even if you knew that your life could be in danger because of that? Explain it?


4. What kinds of crime you have witnessed wouldn't you tell the police? Why not?


5. Do you think that many witnesses are afraid of reporting a crime because they are afraid of the criminals' retaliation to his/her family? What can be done about it, if it is the case?


6. Have you ever witnessed a crime (or Do you know anyone who has witnessed a crime)? Can you share what you (he/she) saw? What did you (he/she) do about it?


B. Read the Witness Relocation Program's procedures below and decide if you think they are TRUE or FALSE.

1. ( ) Usually the witness is relocated and given a new name.


2. ( ) Witnesses are encouraged to keep their first names and choose last names with the same initial in order to make it easier to instinctively use the new identity.


3. ( ) Witnesses are provided with new documentation.


4. ( ) They are assisted in finding housing and employment.


5. ( ) They are provided with a fixed regular income until they find a new job.


6. ( ) They don't have to work, if they don't want to.


7. ( ) Witnesses are allowed to travel back to their hometowns or contact unprotected family members or former associates in case of emergency only.


8. ( ) In order to prevent the possibility of the witness being followed, the witness is made to indirect transportation path, such as random flights and alternative roads, before finally reaching the location where they will live under the new identity.


9. ( ) This program is established to protect witness against organized crime only.


10. ( ) Every witness who has complied with the terms of the Witness Protection Program has been successfully protected. However, a few witnesses who broke with the terms have been killed.


(information collected from Wikipedia) False statements - 6 (have to work), 7 (are not allowed), 9 (or other serious offenses)

C. Now watch the movie segment from the funny movie "Did You Hear about the Morgans?" and discuss the following questions about it.




























1. Describe the scene.


2. What are the witnesses' reaction to the program?


3. Where are they going?


4. How are they going there?


5. Why was that location chosen?


6. How would you feel if you were the main character of the film? Would you adhere to the program? Why (not)?


7. Take a look at the items in exercise B. Say which ones did they mention in the segment.


8. What are the advantages and disadvantages to adhering to a program like this one?


9. In the case of the movie, do you think it will work? Explain it.



MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS?

Anna and the King, My Big Fat Greek Wedding & The Joy Luck Club: Cultural Misunderstanding

Talking about cultural misunderstandings is a topic we always address in our classrooms. Here are segments from three different movies, all of which are worth seeing.







A. Discuss the following questions in pairs.

1. What are the major features of your culture? How would you describe the people in your country?


2. Imagine a foreigner is coming to visit you. What special advice would you give him/her so that he does not face any serious cultural misunderstanding?


3. What advice would you give concerning:



- what to wear on the beach


- what to wear to go shopping


- what to wear in a party


- where to (not) eat


- how to greet people (kissing, shaking hands, etc.)


- What to take when you're invited for a dinner party


- how to talk to people of the opposite sex


- when traveling alone around the country


- how to flirt



4. What was the most different culture you have ever had contact with. How different was it?



5. What are some common mistakes foreigners make when they visit your country? Come up with examples.


B. Now watch the segment from the movie Anna and the King. Then make a list of all the cultural differences Anna experienced. She is an English teacher visiting Siam, which is now Thailand. Write at least 6 different items.





C. Now watch the three segments from the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Repeat the process in exercise B.


1. The first segment shows the Greek fiancee meeting her American parents-in-law for the first time.

2. The second segment shows the American fiance visiting her fiance's Greek family for the first time.

3. The third segment shows the American and Greek family getting together for a dinner party.





D. Class discussion:


1. How do you compare the American and Greek family to your own family? Which of the families are closest to your own family when we consider behavior and culture? Explain it.


2. How would your family feel if they were invited for the Greek dinner party? What about the American party?


3. How would they feel if they were invited to a party in your house?



E. Watch the movie segment from the movie The Joy Luck Club. make a list of 5 cultural mistakes the American man made during his first dinner party with his fiancee´s Chinese family.






MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - ANNA AND THE KING

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING (the three parts together)

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE JOY LUCK CLUB

Coco Chanel: Modeling - Fashion Show

Coco Chanel is a movie made for television, but Shirley MacLaine's performance is fantastic. It is a fairly good movie, but Zoolander is a comedy for those who like Ben Stiller. We usually have classes about models and fashion, so these segments are great tools for your classes.

A. Discuss these questions about models and fashion shows.


1. Do you follow the fashion trends? How do you do it or why don't you do it?


2. What's your opinion about the fashion industry?


3. Do you know any famous fashion designers? Talk about the ones you know and your opinion about them.


4. What's your opinion about fashion shows? Are they important or useless? Explain it?


5. What's your opinion about fashion models? Are they examples of beauty?


6. Many people think that models are not healthy. Do you agree with them? Does it apply to male models too?


7. Why do female models make much more money than male models?


8. What do you consider important in a fashion show? What does a designer have to take into consideration when planning one?


9. Have you ever been to a fashion show? Talk about it.


10. What's your opinion about the clothes you see in a fashion show? Are they wearable? Are they supposed to be wearable or is it just an expression of the designer's creativity and trends?


B. Take a look at what a few steps a designer has to consider while planning a show.


1. Choose an inspired theme for the show


2. The environment should reflect the central theme of the clothing line featured


3. Consider lighting effects, seating for guests, and enough space for the catwalk.


4. Music is a must, from classical to funk, but it should reflect the theme of the clothing


5. Models should be selected with care so that they merge with the theme and the clothes or any fashionables they display


6. Models should plan a small choreography that goes along the theme for the day. Models should be given enough time to present themselves individually and finally make a presentation together.


C. Work in small groups. Watch the segment from the movie Coco Chanel. This fashion show took place in 1950, so it was a long time ago. Check how or if the fashion show addresses the items in exercise B. Use examples to illustrate your opinions.





The information above is from the site Helium, article written by Christobel Rajesh


D. Now read the tips for posing for pictures: Information provided by the great modeling site Jurgita


1. Don't hold your breath for a pose. The concentration usually shows in the picture.


2. Don't keep both arms entirely straight unless directed to do so for a specific pose. Bend one or both arms, even if only a little, to make the pose look less artificial. Likewise, don't keep both legs entirely straight.


3. Don't always look straight at the camera. Instead, use a variety of head and eye positions: Try turning your head, or looking off to the side for some poses.


4. Don't use a big smile for every pose. Sometimes try a small smile, a laugh, or even a frown, to give some variety to your facial expressions.


5. Listen to what the photographer tells you. He can see you through the camera.


6. Rest most of your weight on one foot or the other instead of evenly on both feet. Doing so makes poses look less artificial.



MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - COCO CHANEL

From Darkness to a Sparkling ELT Connected Community

I was invited to open the new edition of the Brasilia BRAZ-tesol Chapter, an invitation that made me very honored. I will share my endeavour as a practically computer illiterate just about two years ago to the professional I have become after I started blogging and the benefits from doing so. I tell you, If I have managed to succeed, everyone can. Thanks for your support as readers. Hope to see you at Livraria Cultura, Casa Park, Nov 5th, 2:30 pm!

Vantage Point: Press

I truly recommend this movie, which shows the same scene throughout the movie with different perspectives, according the characters' views of the scene. This is the point of view of the press.





A. Work in groups:

1. What is the role of the press when transmitting a live event?


2. What are the difficulties involved?


3. What can go wrong?


B. Watch the segment and then discuss the questions that follow:





1. What was the press covering?


2. What were some of the unexpected events that took place during the coverage?


3. How would you describe the director of the broadcast (Sigourney Weaver's role)?


4. How would you describe the reporter?


5. How did they manage to continue the transmission after so many unexpected events?


6. It's many reporters' dream to cover dangerous, unexpected situations coverages, like terrorism attacks and wars. Why do you think that happens?


7. Would you like to be a reporter? Would you like to cover breaking news like the one in the segment?


C. Vocabulary practice: Match the vocabulary and definition columns about the press.

1. International correspondent


2. Copyeditor


3. anchorman or anchorwoman


4. Broadcast


5. Reporter


6. Bombshell


7. Cover


8. Scoop



( ) is the main news reader from a TV programme


( ) to report the news of a particular important event


( ) a person whose job is to discoverinformation about news or events and discribe them for a nespaper, maganzine, TV or radio


( ) reports from abroad


( ) makes corrections before the newspaper is printed or the news is read on TV


( ) to send out a programme on television or radio


( ) a sudden and usually unpleasant piece of news


( ) a story discovered and published by one newspaper before all the others


Coorect order: 3, 7, 5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8


MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - VANTAGE POINT

Save the Last Dance & She's the Man: Body Language

There is always space for discussions on body language. These two scenes are perfect to warm the topic up. Besides, they are fun scenes.

A. Read the definition for body language Body language copied from Wikipedia:


It is a form of non-verbal communication, which consists of body posture, gestures, facial expressions and movements. Humans send and interpret such signals subconsciously.


B. Look at the body language below try to perform them, and make guesses of what message it conveys. This information was provided by the informative site S.P.A.R.C.

1. Erect walk: _______


2. Standing with hands on hips: _________


3. Sitting with legs crossed, foot kicking slightly: _______


4. Sitting legs apart: ______


5. Arms crossed on chest: ______


6. Hand to cheek: _______


7. Rubbing hands: _______


8. Biting nails: ________


9. Drumming fingers: _______


10. Slightly rubbing nose: _______



Answers will vary from culture to culture, but these are the expected answers.

1. Confidence

2. Aggression or readiness

3. Boredom

4. Relaxation

5. Defensiveness, distance

6. Thinking, evaluating

7. Anticipation

8. Insecurity

9. Impatience

10. Lying


C. Watch the segment from the movie Save the Last Dance and answer the following questions about body language.



1. What does he say about hip-hop?


2. What does she have to do in order to be a good hip-hop dancer?


3. What's the body language she has to make use of in order to convey to the hip hop attitude? List
everything suggested.


4. Decide the purpose of the suggestions given in exercise 3.


D. Now watch the segment from the movie She's the Man. The girl has to join a male soccer team without their noticing she is a girl. Watch the movie segment and discuss the following questions.




1. What did she do to physically look like a boy? Will it be effective?


2. What did she do to learn to act like a man?


3. What body language did she make use of in order to fool the soccer team's boys? Do you think she will be successful?

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - SHE'S THE MAN

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD -  SAVE THE LAST DANCE

Fame: Success

A. Work in pairs and try to complete this monologue taken from the movie "Fame". Try to fill in the blanks with what you think this sixteen-year-old student believes success is. You may use one word or sentences to fill in the blanks.

"Success is waking up in the morning, so excited about what you have to do to literally fly out the door. It’s getting to work with people you ___________.
Success is connecting with the world and making people _________.
It’s finding a way to bind together people who have nothing in common but a ______.
It’s falling asleep at night knowing you ____________.
Success is _____and ______and ________. And success is _______."

B. Now watch the movie segment and check your guesses.





answer key: love, feel, dream, did the best job you could, joy, freedom, friendship, love. C. Work in pairs:

1. What is your definition of success?

2. Are success and fame the same things?

3. You you have fame, are you successful?

4. Do you agree with the statement from the movie segment from the film "Fame"? Why (not)?

5. Check the items you agree with when you talk about success. Justify your answers.

( ) Success is the accomplishment of an objective

( ) Success is wealth, fame, position.

( ) You can have success even if you do not make money out of it.

( ) If one is not rich, he is not successful.

( ) To have fifteen minutes of fame is to be successful.

( ) Success is not important in our lives.

( ) Being famous means being successful.

( ) Never getting divorced is success.

( ) Being promoted is success.

D. Read these quotations about success. In groups decide what they actually mean and if you agree with them. These quotations were taken from the awesome sight Success Quotes. In the end, choose your favorite one and the one you disagree with most.

1. "Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing". (Abraham Lincoln, politician)

2. "Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value". (Albert Einstein, physicist)

3. "To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded". (Bessie Stanley, writer)

4. "The distance between insanity and genius is measured only by success". (Bruce Ferstein, screenwriter and humorist)

5. "Life is a succession of moments. To live each one is to succeed". (Corita Kent, painter)

6. "I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and a devotion to the things you want to see happen". (Frank Lloyd Wright, architect)

7. "Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up". (Thomas Alva Edison, inventor)

8. "You have reached the pinnacle of success as soon as you become uninterested in money, compliments, 

or publicity". (Thomas Wolfe, journalist)

9. "Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm". (Winston Curchil, politician)

10. "The success of any great moral enterprise does not depend upon numbers". (William lloyd Garrison, abolitionist)

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - FAME