Date Night, Bangkok Dangerous Superstitions

Talking about superstitions is fun and generates lots of discussions in the classroom. I used these scenes to illustrate the topic.


I. Work in small groups. Come up with a list of common superstitions people have where you live
in.


II. Share them with the rest of the class.


III. Read the superstitions below, which are popular in different countries. In pairs decide if you have ever heard of them, if you believe them and if you have similar one where you live. This is taken from the curious site Paul Sparks, Online Business English Lesson Plans, Lesson Material and Ideas for Grade 1 English Conversation Lessons at Xiangtan Normal University...


1. YAWN - A yawn is a sign that danger is near. Cover your mouth when you yawn, or your soul can go out of your body along with the yawn.

2. BEE - If a bee enters your home, it's a sign that you will soon have a visitor. If you kill the bee, you will have bad luck, or the visitor will be unpleasant. A swarm of bees settling on a roof is an omen that the house will burn down.

3. BIRD - A bird in the house is a sign of a death. If a robin flies into a room through a window, death will shortly follow.

4. BRIDGE - If you say good-bye to a friend on a bridge, you will never see each other again.

5. BUTTERFLY - If the first butterfly you see in the year is white, you will have good luck all year. Three butterflies together mean good luck.

6. CAT - If a black cat walks towards you, it brings good fortune, but if it walks away, it takes the good luck with it. Keep cats away from babies because they "suck the breath" of the child.

7. ELEPHANT - Pictures of an elephant bring luck, but only if they face a door.

8. FOOT - If the bottom of your right foot itches, you are going to take a trip.

9. HAND - If the palm of your right hand itches it means you will soon be getting money. If the palm of your left hand itches it means you will soon be paying out money.

10. MILK - It's bad luck to let milk boil over.

11. PEPPER - If you spill pepper you will have a serious argument with your best friend.

12. UMBRELLA - Dropping an umbrella on the floor means that there will be a murder in the house. It's bad luck to open an umbrella inside the house, especially if you put it over your head.

 
IV. Watch the segment of the film DATE NIGHT and answer the questions that follow.





1. Describe the scene.

2. What exactly is the superstition shown in the movie segment.

3. Have you ever heard of this superstition?

4. Is there a similar superstition where you live?

5. What do you think will happen next?


V. Watch the segments from the movie BANGKOK DANGEROUS and discuss the questions that follow.

1. Describe the scene.

2. What exactly is the superstition shown in the movie segment.

3. Have you ever heard of this superstition?

4. Is there a similar superstition where you live?

5. What do you think will happen next?

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - BANGKOK DANGEROUS

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - DATE NIGHT