Ok time to talk books. See this link for the 100 best first lines of novels, as chosen by the American Book Review. I've picked out five of my favourites below for a very quick and easy lesson but with lots of legs. Choose these, choose your own...go for your life.
For an intro you can ask the students about the last book they read and what kind of books they like to read. You can elicit different genres of books - eg science fiction, thriller, romance etc - and talk about what qualities are specific to each genre.
Opening Lines
1. It was a wrong number that started it, the telephone ringing three times in the dead of night, and the voice on the other end asking for someone he was not. (Paul Auster, City of Glass)
2. If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth. (J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye)
3.Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano BuendÃa was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice. (Gabriel Garcia Marquez, One Hundred Years of Solitutude)
4. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair. (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities)
5. It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. (George Orwell, 1984)
Discussion questions
Do you know any of these famous opening lines?
Do you like them? Why/ why not?
Describe to your teacher/ partner what is happening in each of them in your own words
Is there anything unusual about any of them?
A good opening to a book makes us want to read on. What do we want to know/ find out after these opening lines?
What makes a good start to a book?
What makes a good end to a book? Do you like happy endings?
Follow-up activity
A variety of choices here for writing/ speaking exercises
Writing
Choose one of the openings above and write a short story about what happens next, including the ending
(If it's a group) Choose one of the openings above and then write down the next line of the novel and then pass your creation to the person next to you. Continue doing this until you have your original piece of paper again. Read out your story to your teacher
Write the first line of your new novel...then the last line...your partner has to guess what happens in between. The most interesting wins.
Speaking
Choose one of the openings above and tell your teacher/ partner what's going to happen next
(If it's a group) Everyone takes it in turn to say what happens next in the story until you have a complete story with an ending. Students can leave the sentence open for the next person to complete. eg 'He walked into the living room and he saw a...' etc
You get the idea, endless opportunities...alternatively you can use this exercise to practice specific grammar points...the choice is yours.
Friday 22 January 2010
Speaking - Dragons' Den
Dragons' Den is now a popular TV show all over the world. And guess what? You can use the format for a winning lesson - I always find that it's great fun and the students really get into it.
So what do you need? Below is a brief explanation of the show, followed by a role play activity and the typical questions the dragons ask. Students take it in turns to be the dragons or the people pitching to the dragons.
Alternatively you can show them the 2 minute introduction to the show to establish the context. Video here. Full text below.
If you want a lead-in you can get the students to discuss in groups the best inventions of the 20th Century. Then they can compare their list with the British Science Association's one at the bottom of this posting.
Dragons' Den Introduction Video - Full Text
These are the dragons. The multi-millionaire investors on their way to the den. There tonight they will make or break the dreams of dozens of budding entrepreneurs and inventors.
- You don't have a business plan at all
- You need to close this down fast
- I'm lost for words, I really am
- Everybody's got the right to be a little wacky but I thinking you're abusing that right now
Together the dragons are worth over half a billion pounds. They're powerful individuals who've built up their own business empires from scratch.
So how did they make their fortunes?
Peter Jones' remarkable business career began when he was just 16 and set up his own tennis academy. Today his £250 million empire includes leisure, telecoms and media businesses.
Deborah Meaden made her fortune in the holiday and leisure industry in the West Country, where she's just sold a stake in one of her companies in a £30 million deal.
Glaswegian entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne is worth over £170 million and currently owns Bannatyne's health clubs, casinos and hotels.
Theo Paphitis made his fortune by buying failing companies and transforming them into thriving businesses, including La Senza lingerie, Partners and Ryman's the high street stationers.
Australian born Richard Farleigh made millions as an investment banker and hedge fund manager and is now renowned as a prolific investor in UK start up companies.
In the den the dragons are ready to back the right business with their own money but tonight will anyone persuade them to invest?
Explanation of show
People who come on the show 'pitch' their businesses ideas or inventions to five wealthy entrepreneurs - the Dragons.
They must state how much money they want from the Dragons.
In exchange they offer 'equity' in their business - a percentage which they can negotiate with the Dragons.
The Dragons ask them questions to decide if they want to invest
If the Dragons want to invest they make an offer. If they don't they say, 'I'm out''
Role play
Divide the class. How you do this depends on the number of students. You could have 2 groups - one group of dragons and one group of pitchers. Alternatively in a bigger class you could have 3/4/5 dragons and then have the remainder of the class in groups of 2. They can then take turns to pitch their ideas to the dragons and the dragons can decide on the best one. See below for more detail and some typical questions that the Dragons ask on the show.
NB Don't give the Dragons the questions straight away - let them brainstorm their own ideas first. Then you can prompt them if necessary.
Group A
- You need investment for your new business idea
- You need to come up with a business or invention that you will 'pitch' to the dragons
- You need to decide how much investment you need and how much equity (percentage of your business) you are prepared to give away
- You need to think about your idea - think about how you would answer some of the questions below
- At the end of the question session you need to decide if you want to accept any of the offers
- You can negotiate the equity you are prepared to give away with the dragons
- If you agree on a deal with a dragon, shake their hand
Group B
- You are the Dragons
- The other group will pitch their idea or invention to you
- You have to ask them questions about their product to check if it is a good investment for you
- Brainstorm some questions so you are prepared for the pitch
- At the end of the pitch each dragon decides whether to invest or not
- If you want to invest you can try and negotiate the equity (percentage of the business that you want for your money)
- If you agree on a deal say 'Congratulations' and shake them by the hand
- If you don't want to invest say 'I'm out' and give a reason why
Typical Dragon Questions
Why do people need your product?
What will you use the money for?
What is your target market? / Who are your customers?
Where will you sell your product? Will you sell it online?
How much will it cost to make?
How much will you sell it for?
How much money do you expect to make?
How will you market your product - advertising/ publicity stunt?
Do you have any competitors?
When will I get my money back?
Tell me about your background
British Science Association's top 10 inventions that changed the world
1. GPS Technology
2. The Sony Walkman
3. The Bar code
4. TV Dinners
5. PlayStation
6. Social Networking
7. Text messages
8. Electronic Money
9. Microwaves (not the ovens)
10. Trainers
Thursday 21 January 2010
Reading/ Vocabulary - What's the weather like?
What would we talk about if it wasn't for the weather? I've always found that students love lessons on this topic and you can introduce them to a wealth of vocab and phrases.
So what have we got? For starters a compilation of articles about recent extreme weather around the world, taken from AFP, The Australian, The Guardian and the BBC. Comprehension questions follow.
Then there's the all important vocabulary...
...which you can test with the gap-fill at the bottom of the posting
Always take the weather with you...
Reading - Extreme Weather Articles
1. Cyclone Laurence lashes western Australia/ Raging bushfire in South Australia
SYDNEY — Tropical Cyclone Laurence ripped up trees and damaged buildings as winds of up to 215 kilometres (133 miles) an hour tore into the Western Australian coast, according to officials.
The storm had been at the highest rating of Category 5 when it smashed inland late Monday, battering the small communities of Eighty Mile Beach and Wallal in the resource-rich Pilbara and Kimberley region.
Sarah Edmunds, who lives on a cattle station south of the coastal resort town of Broome, described the overnight storm as "nerve-racking".
Bushfire
Chaotic scenes have erupted on the roads as residents battle to escape the approaching fire and sightseers clog the highway against advice from the Country Fire Service.
The fire has already burnt 509 hectareas of land, strengthened by 43 degree temperatures and strong winds.
The Country Fire Service (CFS) said there were unconfirmed reports that one house and one shed had been destroyed.
It said the fire was travelling in a southeasterly direction and warned local residents still in the area to stay inside their homes.
CFS crews are on standby across South Australia, facing hot, windy conditions with possible lightening before a trough from Tropical Cyclone Laurence moves through this evening, generating isolated showers and thunderstorms.
2. European weather deaths pass 100
More than 100 people have been killed in the cold snap across Europe, with temperatures plummeting and snowfall causing chaos from Moscow to Milan.
In Poland, where temperatures have dropped to as low as -20C in some areas, police appealed for tip-offs about people spotted lying around outside. At least 42 people, most of them homeless, died over the weekend.
In Ukraine 27 people have frozen to death since the thermometer dropped last week. In Germany, where temperatures have fallen to -33C in certain parts, at least seven people are known to have lost their lives in the freezing weather.
For millions of others across the continent, the cold snap has brought severe disruption, with flight cancellations and traffic jams thwarting pre-Christmas travel plans.
Airports were struggling to cope with icy runways, with Ryanair and Easyjet among several airlines to cancel some flights.
Roads were not exempt from the chaos. After a weekend that brought the heaviest snowfall in about 100 years, Moscow was gridlocked, with tailbacks snailing around the Russian capital.
Heavy snow and icy roads are causing chaos across most of the UK, where Met Office severe weather warnings are in place as the "deep freeze" continues.
Thames Valley Police said abandoned cars were causing an obstruction in the High Wycombe area.
All vehicles left on motorways overnight had been removed and owners must pay to get them back, the force said.
Reading Comprehension Questions
1. Why did Sarah Edmunds describe the cyclone as 'nerve-racking'?
2. What was the advice given by the Country Fire Service? Did people follow the advice?
3. Were the house and shed destroyed?
4. What have been the main consequences of the cold weather in Europe?
5. Why are the police appealing for 'tip-offs' in Poland?
6. Why do people need to pay to get their cars back in the UK?
Language analysis
1. Identify 3 verbs in the first text that describe the destruction of Cyclone Laurence
2. Identify 3 different ways of describing cold weather in the second text
Language Analysis Answers
1. lash/ rip/ damage/ tear/ smash/ batter
2. cold snap/ temperatures plummeting/ temperatures have dropped/ thermometer dropped/ temperatures have fallen/ deep freeze
Weather exercises - gap-fill for students
Use the following word and phrases to fill in the gaps (sometimes more than one answer is possible)
wintry
snowfall
biting
snowstorms
blizzards
sub-zero
cold snap
icy
freezing
white stuff
plummet
The Big Chill continues in Europe, with __________ temperatures and heavy __________.
The __________ temperatures and _________ conditions are causing chaos for people trying to get to work.
Many trains have been cancelled and buses are struggling to negotiate the ______ roads.
Weather forecasters are warning that the _________ will continue with further ____________ and ___________.
Tonight temperatures are set to ________ once again with ________winds.
But some people are enjoying the ___________. For children it means time off school and sledging and snowball fights.
Use the following word and phrases to fill in the gaps (sometimes more than one answer is possible)
umbrellas
heavens
drenched
claps
torrential
showers
thunderstorm
flashes
soaking
floods
rainfall
The _________ opened in Buenos Aires today as the city witnessed some of the heaviest _________ for years. Flash _________ were witnessed all over the city.
The ________ rain meant sales of __________ were booming, as people desperately tried to avoid getting ____________.
One ___________ wet woman described the scene as being like a 'monsoon'.
There were also reports of __________ of lightning and _______ of thunder during the ___________. Thankfully the forecast for tomorrow is for ____________ rather than more heavy rain.
Use the following word and phrases to fill in the gaps (sometimes more than one answer is possible)
sweltering
air-con
roasting
humid
milder
cool down
heatwave
burnt
beating down
hottest
sunbathers
Sydney is currently experiencing one of the ____________ summers in living memory.
The __________ conditions mean that people are staying indoors with the __________ turned to the highest setting.
The ___________shows no signs of abating and the situation on public transport has been described as 'unbearable'.
On the beaches the sun was __________ on the brave _____________, who were trying not to get _________
One resident of the city commented, 'It's absolutely __________...boiling hot every day and it doesn't even ______________ at night. We are all praying for some _________, less _________weather.'
Weather Exercises - Full texts
The Big Chill continues in Europe, with freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall.
The sub-zero temperatures and wintry conditions are causing chaos for people trying to get to work.
Many trains have been cancelled and buses are struggling to negotiate the icy roads.
Weather forecasters are warning that the cold snap will continue with further snowstorms or blizzards.
Tonight temperatures are set to plummet once again with biting winds.
But some people are enjoying the white stuff. For children it means time off school and sledging and snowball fights.
The heavens opened in Buenos Aires today as the city witnessed some of the heaviest rainfall for years. Flash floods were witnessed all over the city.
The torrential rain meant sales of umbrellas were booming, as people desperately tried to avoid getting drenched.
One soaking wet woman described the scene as being like a 'monsoon'.
There were also reports of flashes of lightning and claps of thunder during the thunderstorm. Thankfully the forecast for tomorrow is for showers rather than heavy rain.
Sydney is currently experiencing one of the hottest summers in living memory.
The sweltering weather means that people are staying indoors with the air-con turned to the highest setting.
The heatwave shows no signs of abating and conditions on public transport have been described as 'unbearable'.
One resident of the city commented, 'It's absolutely roasting...boiling hot every day and it doesn't even cool down at night. We are all praying for some milder, less humid weather.'
The Weather
Vocabulary and phrases
Hot/ Sunny
Mild
Humid
Warm
Boiling (hot)
Roasting
Searing
Scorching
Scorcher
Sweltering
The sun's shining
The sun's beating down
Cold/ Snow
Frost
Snow
Snowstorm
Snowfall
White stuff
Blizzard
Hailstone
Sub-zero temperatures
Below freezing
Chilly
Freezing (cold)
Wintry conditions
Temperatures plummeting/ dropping
Thermometer plummeting/ dropping
Cold Snap
The deep/ big freeze
The big chill
Wind
Light/ strong/ biting/ swirling wind
Blustery
Breeze
Gale
Hurricane
Tornado
Cyclone
Twister
It's blowing a gale
I got blown off my feet
Rain/ storms
(Light/ heavy) shower
Sunshine and showers
Drizzle
Torrential rain
Monsoon
Pouring down
Pissing down
Chucking it down
Hammering down
Raining cats and dogs
The heavens opened
Thunderstorm
Electrical storm
Lightning (flash/ bolt)
Thunder (clap)
General conditions
Bright
Clear
Cloudy
Overcast
Dull
Fog
Smog
Mist
So what have we got? For starters a compilation of articles about recent extreme weather around the world, taken from AFP, The Australian, The Guardian and the BBC. Comprehension questions follow.
Then there's the all important vocabulary...
...which you can test with the gap-fill at the bottom of the posting
Always take the weather with you...
Reading - Extreme Weather Articles
1. Cyclone Laurence lashes western Australia/ Raging bushfire in South Australia
SYDNEY — Tropical Cyclone Laurence ripped up trees and damaged buildings as winds of up to 215 kilometres (133 miles) an hour tore into the Western Australian coast, according to officials.
The storm had been at the highest rating of Category 5 when it smashed inland late Monday, battering the small communities of Eighty Mile Beach and Wallal in the resource-rich Pilbara and Kimberley region.
Sarah Edmunds, who lives on a cattle station south of the coastal resort town of Broome, described the overnight storm as "nerve-racking".
Bushfire
Chaotic scenes have erupted on the roads as residents battle to escape the approaching fire and sightseers clog the highway against advice from the Country Fire Service.
The fire has already burnt 509 hectareas of land, strengthened by 43 degree temperatures and strong winds.
The Country Fire Service (CFS) said there were unconfirmed reports that one house and one shed had been destroyed.
It said the fire was travelling in a southeasterly direction and warned local residents still in the area to stay inside their homes.
CFS crews are on standby across South Australia, facing hot, windy conditions with possible lightening before a trough from Tropical Cyclone Laurence moves through this evening, generating isolated showers and thunderstorms.
2. European weather deaths pass 100
More than 100 people have been killed in the cold snap across Europe, with temperatures plummeting and snowfall causing chaos from Moscow to Milan.
In Poland, where temperatures have dropped to as low as -20C in some areas, police appealed for tip-offs about people spotted lying around outside. At least 42 people, most of them homeless, died over the weekend.
In Ukraine 27 people have frozen to death since the thermometer dropped last week. In Germany, where temperatures have fallen to -33C in certain parts, at least seven people are known to have lost their lives in the freezing weather.
For millions of others across the continent, the cold snap has brought severe disruption, with flight cancellations and traffic jams thwarting pre-Christmas travel plans.
Airports were struggling to cope with icy runways, with Ryanair and Easyjet among several airlines to cancel some flights.
Roads were not exempt from the chaos. After a weekend that brought the heaviest snowfall in about 100 years, Moscow was gridlocked, with tailbacks snailing around the Russian capital.
Heavy snow and icy roads are causing chaos across most of the UK, where Met Office severe weather warnings are in place as the "deep freeze" continues.
Thames Valley Police said abandoned cars were causing an obstruction in the High Wycombe area.
All vehicles left on motorways overnight had been removed and owners must pay to get them back, the force said.
Reading Comprehension Questions
1. Why did Sarah Edmunds describe the cyclone as 'nerve-racking'?
2. What was the advice given by the Country Fire Service? Did people follow the advice?
3. Were the house and shed destroyed?
4. What have been the main consequences of the cold weather in Europe?
5. Why are the police appealing for 'tip-offs' in Poland?
6. Why do people need to pay to get their cars back in the UK?
Language analysis
1. Identify 3 verbs in the first text that describe the destruction of Cyclone Laurence
2. Identify 3 different ways of describing cold weather in the second text
Language Analysis Answers
1. lash/ rip/ damage/ tear/ smash/ batter
2. cold snap/ temperatures plummeting/ temperatures have dropped/ thermometer dropped/ temperatures have fallen/ deep freeze
Weather exercises - gap-fill for students
Use the following word and phrases to fill in the gaps (sometimes more than one answer is possible)
wintry
snowfall
biting
snowstorms
blizzards
sub-zero
cold snap
icy
freezing
white stuff
plummet
The Big Chill continues in Europe, with __________ temperatures and heavy __________.
The __________ temperatures and _________ conditions are causing chaos for people trying to get to work.
Many trains have been cancelled and buses are struggling to negotiate the ______ roads.
Weather forecasters are warning that the _________ will continue with further ____________ and ___________.
Tonight temperatures are set to ________ once again with ________winds.
But some people are enjoying the ___________. For children it means time off school and sledging and snowball fights.
Use the following word and phrases to fill in the gaps (sometimes more than one answer is possible)
umbrellas
heavens
drenched
claps
torrential
showers
thunderstorm
flashes
soaking
floods
rainfall
The _________ opened in Buenos Aires today as the city witnessed some of the heaviest _________ for years. Flash _________ were witnessed all over the city.
The ________ rain meant sales of __________ were booming, as people desperately tried to avoid getting ____________.
One ___________ wet woman described the scene as being like a 'monsoon'.
There were also reports of __________ of lightning and _______ of thunder during the ___________. Thankfully the forecast for tomorrow is for ____________ rather than more heavy rain.
Use the following word and phrases to fill in the gaps (sometimes more than one answer is possible)
sweltering
air-con
roasting
humid
milder
cool down
heatwave
burnt
beating down
hottest
sunbathers
Sydney is currently experiencing one of the ____________ summers in living memory.
The __________ conditions mean that people are staying indoors with the __________ turned to the highest setting.
The ___________shows no signs of abating and the situation on public transport has been described as 'unbearable'.
On the beaches the sun was __________ on the brave _____________, who were trying not to get _________
One resident of the city commented, 'It's absolutely __________...boiling hot every day and it doesn't even ______________ at night. We are all praying for some _________, less _________weather.'
Weather Exercises - Full texts
The Big Chill continues in Europe, with freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall.
The sub-zero temperatures and wintry conditions are causing chaos for people trying to get to work.
Many trains have been cancelled and buses are struggling to negotiate the icy roads.
Weather forecasters are warning that the cold snap will continue with further snowstorms or blizzards.
Tonight temperatures are set to plummet once again with biting winds.
But some people are enjoying the white stuff. For children it means time off school and sledging and snowball fights.
The heavens opened in Buenos Aires today as the city witnessed some of the heaviest rainfall for years. Flash floods were witnessed all over the city.
The torrential rain meant sales of umbrellas were booming, as people desperately tried to avoid getting drenched.
One soaking wet woman described the scene as being like a 'monsoon'.
There were also reports of flashes of lightning and claps of thunder during the thunderstorm. Thankfully the forecast for tomorrow is for showers rather than heavy rain.
Sydney is currently experiencing one of the hottest summers in living memory.
The sweltering weather means that people are staying indoors with the air-con turned to the highest setting.
The heatwave shows no signs of abating and conditions on public transport have been described as 'unbearable'.
One resident of the city commented, 'It's absolutely roasting...boiling hot every day and it doesn't even cool down at night. We are all praying for some milder, less humid weather.'
The Weather
Vocabulary and phrases
Hot/ Sunny
Mild
Humid
Warm
Boiling (hot)
Roasting
Searing
Scorching
Scorcher
Sweltering
The sun's shining
The sun's beating down
Cold/ Snow
Frost
Snow
Snowstorm
Snowfall
White stuff
Blizzard
Hailstone
Sub-zero temperatures
Below freezing
Chilly
Freezing (cold)
Wintry conditions
Temperatures plummeting/ dropping
Thermometer plummeting/ dropping
Cold Snap
The deep/ big freeze
The big chill
Wind
Light/ strong/ biting/ swirling wind
Blustery
Breeze
Gale
Hurricane
Tornado
Cyclone
Twister
It's blowing a gale
I got blown off my feet
Rain/ storms
(Light/ heavy) shower
Sunshine and showers
Drizzle
Torrential rain
Monsoon
Pouring down
Pissing down
Chucking it down
Hammering down
Raining cats and dogs
The heavens opened
Thunderstorm
Electrical storm
Lightning (flash/ bolt)
Thunder (clap)
General conditions
Bright
Clear
Cloudy
Overcast
Dull
Fog
Smog
Mist
Speaking - Hey how's it going?
Do you find that your students always greet you and each other in the same way? Something along the lines of, 'How are you?' 'Fine, and you?'
Well it's time to build up their repertoire and introduce them to the greetings people actually use in everyday English.
Below is a vocabulary list with some of the most common ones. See how many greetings and questions your students know first and then get them to match the answers to the right questions. Pronunciation is key here so keep an ear out. eg 'How have you been?' soon becomes 'Howya been?' in a normal conversation. [NB In subsequent lessons make sure you greet your students in a different way every time and encourage them to do the same.]
They can then practice having short conversations, using as many different openings as possible.
You could give them these short scenarios to help them along. Once they have perfected them they can say them in front of the class. The most creative and imaginative wins.
Conversation scenarios
1. Imagine you're two friends meeting each other in a bar. Say hi and have a quick chat about one or more of the following - last night's football match/ a programme on TV/ a film you saw/ a book you're reading/ a new band or song you love
2. Student A you have some big news to tell your friend - you're getting married!
Student B you need to offer your congratulations but you also want to make sure that your friend is making the right decision
3. Student A you have some gossip to tell your friend - you've seen two people in your office (who are both married) leaving work together a few times and last night you saw them in a pub together, laughing and joking and generally looking very intimate
Student B you work with Student A and you've noticed some flirting in the office but didn't want to say anything. But yesterday you 'accidentally' read an email between the couple that you can now tell your friend about
4. Student A - you've just returned from holiday. The weather was great but the holiday was a bit of a nightmare. It started when the flight was delayed and then it got steadily worse. Tell your friend what happened
Student B - ask the right questions and be sympathetic
Greetings
Hi
Hi there
Hiya
Hey
Hey there
Hello
Hello there
Alright (mate/ pal)
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Top of the morning to you
Put it there
Good/ great to meet you
Good/ great to see you again
Long time no see
It's been too long
Questions
(You) alright?
What's up?
What are you up to?
What you doing?
How are you?
How have you been?
How's it going?
How goes it?
How you going?
How you doing?
How's things?
How's everything?
What's new?
What news?
What's happening?
How do you do?
How's your day?
All good?
What's cookin? (good lookin)
What's going down?
Answers
Good, thanks
Fine, thanks
Not (too) bad (not bad)
Alright, thanks
I'm ok
Doing ok cheers
This and that
Not a lot
No good
Same old (same old)
Pretty good
Not great
Can't complain
Couldn't be better
Could be better
This and that
How do you do?
Same (old) shit (different day)
I feel on top of the world
Fighting fit
Goodbyes
(Good) bye
Catch you later
See you
See you later
See you soon
See you tomorrow
Cheers for now
Til the next time
Take it easy
Well it's time to build up their repertoire and introduce them to the greetings people actually use in everyday English.
Below is a vocabulary list with some of the most common ones. See how many greetings and questions your students know first and then get them to match the answers to the right questions. Pronunciation is key here so keep an ear out. eg 'How have you been?' soon becomes 'Howya been?' in a normal conversation. [NB In subsequent lessons make sure you greet your students in a different way every time and encourage them to do the same.]
They can then practice having short conversations, using as many different openings as possible.
You could give them these short scenarios to help them along. Once they have perfected them they can say them in front of the class. The most creative and imaginative wins.
Conversation scenarios
1. Imagine you're two friends meeting each other in a bar. Say hi and have a quick chat about one or more of the following - last night's football match/ a programme on TV/ a film you saw/ a book you're reading/ a new band or song you love
2. Student A you have some big news to tell your friend - you're getting married!
Student B you need to offer your congratulations but you also want to make sure that your friend is making the right decision
3. Student A you have some gossip to tell your friend - you've seen two people in your office (who are both married) leaving work together a few times and last night you saw them in a pub together, laughing and joking and generally looking very intimate
Student B you work with Student A and you've noticed some flirting in the office but didn't want to say anything. But yesterday you 'accidentally' read an email between the couple that you can now tell your friend about
4. Student A - you've just returned from holiday. The weather was great but the holiday was a bit of a nightmare. It started when the flight was delayed and then it got steadily worse. Tell your friend what happened
Student B - ask the right questions and be sympathetic
Greetings
Hi
Hi there
Hiya
Hey
Hey there
Hello
Hello there
Alright (mate/ pal)
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Top of the morning to you
Put it there
Good/ great to meet you
Good/ great to see you again
Long time no see
It's been too long
Questions
(You) alright?
What's up?
What are you up to?
What you doing?
How are you?
How have you been?
How's it going?
How goes it?
How you going?
How you doing?
How's things?
How's everything?
What's new?
What news?
What's happening?
How do you do?
How's your day?
All good?
What's cookin? (good lookin)
What's going down?
Answers
Good, thanks
Fine, thanks
Not (too) bad (not bad)
Alright, thanks
I'm ok
Doing ok cheers
This and that
Not a lot
No good
Same old (same old)
Pretty good
Not great
Can't complain
Couldn't be better
Could be better
This and that
How do you do?
Same (old) shit (different day)
I feel on top of the world
Fighting fit
Goodbyes
(Good) bye
Catch you later
See you
See you later
See you soon
See you tomorrow
Cheers for now
Til the next time
Take it easy
Wednesday 20 January 2010
Listening - Friday I'm in Love
A song is a sure-fire winner in the classroom and what could be better than introducing your students to the all time classic, Friday I'm in Love by The Cure.
Even better news is that the lyrics are clear enough for a gap fill exercise.
Surely you've got it on your iPod. If not get it here Youtube
Gap fill + full lyrics below.
And at the bottom of the posting is a fun exercise testing your students' knowledge of love collocations, followed by a discussion about chat-up lines.
All yours. Maybe do it on a Friday. Just a thought.
The Cure - Friday I'm in Love. Gap Fill
I don't care if Monday's ________
Tuesday's _________ and Wednesday ___________
Thursday I don't ________ about you
It's Friday I'm in love
Monday you can ____________
Tuesday, Wednesday break my ___________
Thursday doesn't even _________
It's Friday I'm in love
Saturday _________
Sunday always comes too __________
But Friday never __________...
I don't care if Monday's __________
Tuesday, Wednesday _________________
Thursday never ______________
It's Friday I'm in love
Monday you can hold your ________
Tuesday, Wednesday stay in ____________
Or Thursday watch the _________instead
It's Friday I'm in love
Saturday ________
Sunday always comes too _________
But Friday never ___________...
Dressed up to the _________
It's a wonderful ____________
To see your shoes and your spirits rise
Throwing out your frown
And just smiling at the __________
Sleek as a shriek
Spinning _____________ and ___________
Always take a big __________
It's such a gorgeous ____________
To see you eat in the middle of the ___________
You can never get ________________
Enough of this ____________
It's Friday I'm in love
I don't care if Monday's ________
Tuesday's _________ and Wednesday ___________
Thursday I don't ________ about you
It's Friday I'm in love
Monday you can ____________
Tuesday, Wednesday break my ___________
Thursday doesn't even _________
It's Friday I'm in love
The Cure - Friday I'm in Love. Complete lyrics
I don't care if Monday's blue
Tuesday's grey and Wednesday too
Thursday I don't care about you
It's Friday I'm in love
Monday you can fall apart
Tuesday, Wednesday break my heart
Thursday doesn't even start
It's Friday I'm in love
Saturday wait
Sunday always comes too late
But Friday never hesitate...
I don't care if Monday's black
Tuesday, Wednesday heart attack
Thursday never looking back
It's Friday I'm in love
Monday you can hold your head
Tuesday, Wednesday stay in bed
Or Thursday watch the walls instead
It's Friday I'm in love
Saturday wait
Sunday always comes too late
But Friday never hesitate...
Dressed up to the eyes
It's a wonderful surprise
To see your shoes and your spirits rise
Throwing out your frown
And just smiling at the sound
Sleek as a shriek
Spinning round and round
Always take a big bite
It's such a gorgeous sight
To see you eat in the middle of the night
You can never get enough
Enough of this stuff
It's Friday I'm in love
I don't care if Monday's blue
Tuesday's grey and Wednesday too
Thursday I don't care about you
It's Friday I'm in love
Monday you can fall apart
Tuesday, Wednesday break my heart
Thursday doesn't even start
It's Friday I'm in love
Love Collocations
Fill in the gaps with the words and phrases below:
has a crush
holiday romance
lovebirds
fall in love
unrequited love
love at first sight
love triangle
made for each other
love hurts
true love
Mr Right
1. Their eyes met across the dance floor. It was ______________
2. It hurts when the person you’re in love with doesn’t love you. _____________ can be so cruel!
3. He dated many girls, but he never found his ________________
4. Sarah and Paul are the perfect couple. They are just __________________.
5. Breaking up with someone can be painful. ____________
6. Veronica has finally met the man of her dreams. She is sure he’s ______________________!
7. They were like two _________________________ constantly holding hands and whispering sweet nothings into each other’s ears.
8. It's a complicated situation. Mel is seeing Steve who is also dating her best girlfriend. It's a _____________
9. They met in Ibiza. They were only together for 2 weeks and then she had to go home. I guess you could say it was a __________________
10. They met one summer, ______________ and were married 2 months later.
Chat up lines
Discuss
Have you ever been chatted up in a bar or nightclub? What happened?
Do chat-up lines work?
Have you ever used chat-up lines? If so which ones?
What are the funniest/ best chat-up lines in your language? Translate them into English
Chat-up Lines
Read the following chat-up lines and discuss with a partner which ones you like and which ones you don't like. Practice saying them to each other (and how you would respond!)
If I said you had a beautiful body would you hold it against me?
Get your coat. You've pulled!
Is it hot in here or is it you?
Is your father a thief? Because someone stole the stars from the sky and put them in your eyes.
Do you have some change? I told my mum I would call her when I fell in love.
Did it hurt when you fell out of heaven?
Are you Jamaican? [No, why?] Because jer-makin-me-crazy
I seemed to have lost my number, any chance i could have yours?
Do you believe in love at first sight? Or do you think i should walk past again?
Excuse me do you know how much a polar bear weighs? [NO!] Me Neither but it broke the ice.
Even better news is that the lyrics are clear enough for a gap fill exercise.
Surely you've got it on your iPod. If not get it here Youtube
Gap fill + full lyrics below.
And at the bottom of the posting is a fun exercise testing your students' knowledge of love collocations, followed by a discussion about chat-up lines.
All yours. Maybe do it on a Friday. Just a thought.
The Cure - Friday I'm in Love. Gap Fill
I don't care if Monday's ________
Tuesday's _________ and Wednesday ___________
Thursday I don't ________ about you
It's Friday I'm in love
Monday you can ____________
Tuesday, Wednesday break my ___________
Thursday doesn't even _________
It's Friday I'm in love
Saturday _________
Sunday always comes too __________
But Friday never __________...
I don't care if Monday's __________
Tuesday, Wednesday _________________
Thursday never ______________
It's Friday I'm in love
Monday you can hold your ________
Tuesday, Wednesday stay in ____________
Or Thursday watch the _________instead
It's Friday I'm in love
Saturday ________
Sunday always comes too _________
But Friday never ___________...
Dressed up to the _________
It's a wonderful ____________
To see your shoes and your spirits rise
Throwing out your frown
And just smiling at the __________
Sleek as a shriek
Spinning _____________ and ___________
Always take a big __________
It's such a gorgeous ____________
To see you eat in the middle of the ___________
You can never get ________________
Enough of this ____________
It's Friday I'm in love
I don't care if Monday's ________
Tuesday's _________ and Wednesday ___________
Thursday I don't ________ about you
It's Friday I'm in love
Monday you can ____________
Tuesday, Wednesday break my ___________
Thursday doesn't even _________
It's Friday I'm in love
The Cure - Friday I'm in Love. Complete lyrics
I don't care if Monday's blue
Tuesday's grey and Wednesday too
Thursday I don't care about you
It's Friday I'm in love
Monday you can fall apart
Tuesday, Wednesday break my heart
Thursday doesn't even start
It's Friday I'm in love
Saturday wait
Sunday always comes too late
But Friday never hesitate...
I don't care if Monday's black
Tuesday, Wednesday heart attack
Thursday never looking back
It's Friday I'm in love
Monday you can hold your head
Tuesday, Wednesday stay in bed
Or Thursday watch the walls instead
It's Friday I'm in love
Saturday wait
Sunday always comes too late
But Friday never hesitate...
Dressed up to the eyes
It's a wonderful surprise
To see your shoes and your spirits rise
Throwing out your frown
And just smiling at the sound
Sleek as a shriek
Spinning round and round
Always take a big bite
It's such a gorgeous sight
To see you eat in the middle of the night
You can never get enough
Enough of this stuff
It's Friday I'm in love
I don't care if Monday's blue
Tuesday's grey and Wednesday too
Thursday I don't care about you
It's Friday I'm in love
Monday you can fall apart
Tuesday, Wednesday break my heart
Thursday doesn't even start
It's Friday I'm in love
Love Collocations
Fill in the gaps with the words and phrases below:
has a crush
holiday romance
lovebirds
fall in love
unrequited love
love at first sight
love triangle
made for each other
love hurts
true love
Mr Right
1. Their eyes met across the dance floor. It was ______________
2. It hurts when the person you’re in love with doesn’t love you. _____________ can be so cruel!
3. He dated many girls, but he never found his ________________
4. Sarah and Paul are the perfect couple. They are just __________________.
5. Breaking up with someone can be painful. ____________
6. Veronica has finally met the man of her dreams. She is sure he’s ______________________!
7. They were like two _________________________ constantly holding hands and whispering sweet nothings into each other’s ears.
8. It's a complicated situation. Mel is seeing Steve who is also dating her best girlfriend. It's a _____________
9. They met in Ibiza. They were only together for 2 weeks and then she had to go home. I guess you could say it was a __________________
10. They met one summer, ______________ and were married 2 months later.
Chat up lines
Discuss
Have you ever been chatted up in a bar or nightclub? What happened?
Do chat-up lines work?
Have you ever used chat-up lines? If so which ones?
What are the funniest/ best chat-up lines in your language? Translate them into English
Chat-up Lines
Read the following chat-up lines and discuss with a partner which ones you like and which ones you don't like. Practice saying them to each other (and how you would respond!)
If I said you had a beautiful body would you hold it against me?
Get your coat. You've pulled!
Is it hot in here or is it you?
Is your father a thief? Because someone stole the stars from the sky and put them in your eyes.
Do you have some change? I told my mum I would call her when I fell in love.
Did it hurt when you fell out of heaven?
Are you Jamaican? [No, why?] Because jer-makin-me-crazy
I seemed to have lost my number, any chance i could have yours?
Do you believe in love at first sight? Or do you think i should walk past again?
Excuse me do you know how much a polar bear weighs? [NO!] Me Neither but it broke the ice.
Speaking - Customs and Traditions
Customs and Traditions
This is a good one to set for homework. Get all your students to fill it in and then discuss the answers in class. Click on the link above to link to the youtube video...it's a good starting point for discussion.
Are these customs similar to or different from customs in your culture? For each example write whether it is similar or different to your culture. If different write what is considered appropriate in your culture.
1. It’s customary in Japan to take your shoes off when entering
a home.
In my country it is normal to…
2. In Greece, it’s not unusual to kiss friends and relatives on both
cheeks when meeting them.
3. In some countries, owning a pet like a dog, a cat, or a bird is
considered inappropriate.
4. In the U.S, arriving 30 minutes early to a dinner party isn’t a
good idea.
Circle the word or phrase that best describes how each situation is viewed in
your culture. Then write a sentence explaining your opinion.
1. saying hello to strangers ( normal / inappropriate / appropriate)
Saying hello to strangers in my culture is considered normal.
2. opening a door for someone (bad form / strange / polite)
3. splitting a restaurant bill with a friend (an insult / a compliment / typical)
4. offering your seat on a bus to a schoolchild (unusual / offensive / normal)
5. chewing food with your mouth open (rude / polite / typical)
6. Kissing your friends hello when you see them (friendly/ strange/ rude)
7. Getting drunk in public (acceptable/ not acceptable/ inappropriate)
8.Using swear words (acceptable/ tolerated/ offensive)
9.Talking about money, for example your salary (normal/unusual/ rude)
10. Discussing religion/politics etc (encouraged/ normal / socially unacceptable)
This is a good one to set for homework. Get all your students to fill it in and then discuss the answers in class. Click on the link above to link to the youtube video...it's a good starting point for discussion.
Are these customs similar to or different from customs in your culture? For each example write whether it is similar or different to your culture. If different write what is considered appropriate in your culture.
1. It’s customary in Japan to take your shoes off when entering
a home.
In my country it is normal to…
2. In Greece, it’s not unusual to kiss friends and relatives on both
cheeks when meeting them.
3. In some countries, owning a pet like a dog, a cat, or a bird is
considered inappropriate.
4. In the U.S, arriving 30 minutes early to a dinner party isn’t a
good idea.
Circle the word or phrase that best describes how each situation is viewed in
your culture. Then write a sentence explaining your opinion.
1. saying hello to strangers ( normal / inappropriate / appropriate)
Saying hello to strangers in my culture is considered normal.
2. opening a door for someone (bad form / strange / polite)
3. splitting a restaurant bill with a friend (an insult / a compliment / typical)
4. offering your seat on a bus to a schoolchild (unusual / offensive / normal)
5. chewing food with your mouth open (rude / polite / typical)
6. Kissing your friends hello when you see them (friendly/ strange/ rude)
7. Getting drunk in public (acceptable/ not acceptable/ inappropriate)
8.Using swear words (acceptable/ tolerated/ offensive)
9.Talking about money, for example your salary (normal/unusual/ rude)
10. Discussing religion/politics etc (encouraged/ normal / socially unacceptable)
Tuesday 19 January 2010
Speaking/ Writing - Snowed in for New Year's Eve
A great scenario here for an extended speaking or writing exercise. Easy to manipulate to suit the needs/ size of your class.
Speaking wise it could be a straight discussion or a role-play activity. Some ideas below along with the brief intro to set the scene and get the ball rolling.
Then it's up to your students' imagination with the help of the question prompts...
New Year's Eve guests snowed in for 3 days
It was the ultimate lock-in. Around 30 people attending the New Year's Eve festivities at the highest pub in England had a big surprise at the end of the night: they couldn't leave.
Heavy snow meant they were trapped inside the Tan Hill Inn in North Yorkshire for 3 days until the weather conditions improved. Was it a cause for celebration or a nightmare from start to finish?
Speaking/ writing exercise
Discuss in groups/ write a description of what happened at the pub over the three days. You can use some of the following as a guide:
Who were the guests? Did they all know each other? Were there any unusual characters?
How did the guests feel? Were they worried or happy?
What did they do for 3 nights?
Did anything unexpected happen?
Were there any arguments or problems?
Did they run out of food or drink?
Were any of the guests ill or injured?
How did they keep their spirits up?
Did anyone try to leave the pub during the 3 days? If so, what happened to them?
Did they manage to leave in the end? How?
Role-play activity
Imagine that you are the guests at The Tan Hill Inn on New Year's Eve. The pub is 50km from the nearest town. You all arrived by car but they are now snowed in so you cannot use them. There is enough food and drink at the pub for 1/2 days. There is no electricity and mobile phones don't work. The weather forecast is for more heavy snow. One of the guests said she saw a large furry animal from the window of the pub. Do you try and escape or wait until the snow clears and help arrives?
The guests at the pub divided into 2 groups:
Group A
- You want to leave the pub on New Year's Day morning and brave the weather conditions
- You need to convince the other group that this is the best idea to ensure survival for everyone
- You must create your escape plan. How will you survive in the terrible winter conditions? Will you need to spend a night outside? What will you need to take? What are the dangers? How will you overcome them? What are the dangers if you don't leave the pub immediately?
- You must assign a team leader and any other roles you think necessary
- Describe your plan and argument to the other group
Group B
- You think the best idea is to stay at the pub and wait for help to arrive. The risks in braving the weather conditions are too great
- You must convince the other group that this is the best idea to ensure survival for everyone
- You must create a survival plan. How will you attract help? How will you ensure that the food and drink lasts as long as possible? What else are you going to need? What other problems are there and how will you overcome them? Could you live in the pub for a week or more if the weather conditions got worse? What are the dangers of leaving the pub?
- You must assign a team leader and any other roles you think necessary
- Describe your plan and argument to the other group
Speaking wise it could be a straight discussion or a role-play activity. Some ideas below along with the brief intro to set the scene and get the ball rolling.
Then it's up to your students' imagination with the help of the question prompts...
New Year's Eve guests snowed in for 3 days
It was the ultimate lock-in. Around 30 people attending the New Year's Eve festivities at the highest pub in England had a big surprise at the end of the night: they couldn't leave.
Heavy snow meant they were trapped inside the Tan Hill Inn in North Yorkshire for 3 days until the weather conditions improved. Was it a cause for celebration or a nightmare from start to finish?
Speaking/ writing exercise
Discuss in groups/ write a description of what happened at the pub over the three days. You can use some of the following as a guide:
Who were the guests? Did they all know each other? Were there any unusual characters?
How did the guests feel? Were they worried or happy?
What did they do for 3 nights?
Did anything unexpected happen?
Were there any arguments or problems?
Did they run out of food or drink?
Were any of the guests ill or injured?
How did they keep their spirits up?
Did anyone try to leave the pub during the 3 days? If so, what happened to them?
Did they manage to leave in the end? How?
Role-play activity
Imagine that you are the guests at The Tan Hill Inn on New Year's Eve. The pub is 50km from the nearest town. You all arrived by car but they are now snowed in so you cannot use them. There is enough food and drink at the pub for 1/2 days. There is no electricity and mobile phones don't work. The weather forecast is for more heavy snow. One of the guests said she saw a large furry animal from the window of the pub. Do you try and escape or wait until the snow clears and help arrives?
The guests at the pub divided into 2 groups:
Group A
- You want to leave the pub on New Year's Day morning and brave the weather conditions
- You need to convince the other group that this is the best idea to ensure survival for everyone
- You must create your escape plan. How will you survive in the terrible winter conditions? Will you need to spend a night outside? What will you need to take? What are the dangers? How will you overcome them? What are the dangers if you don't leave the pub immediately?
- You must assign a team leader and any other roles you think necessary
- Describe your plan and argument to the other group
Group B
- You think the best idea is to stay at the pub and wait for help to arrive. The risks in braving the weather conditions are too great
- You must convince the other group that this is the best idea to ensure survival for everyone
- You must create a survival plan. How will you attract help? How will you ensure that the food and drink lasts as long as possible? What else are you going to need? What other problems are there and how will you overcome them? Could you live in the pub for a week or more if the weather conditions got worse? What are the dangers of leaving the pub?
- You must assign a team leader and any other roles you think necessary
- Describe your plan and argument to the other group
Listening - An Inconvenient Truth Trailer
Climate change, global warming, the greenhouse effect...these are topics that will engage your students and provoke debate.
Al Gore's 2006 documentary, An Inconvenient Truth was an international success. It raised awareness about environmental issues and caused a good deal of controversy along the way.
Find out what your students think.
You'll need the trailer YouTube
And the gap fill exercise below (complete text follows)
Once you're done check out the discussion questions at the bottom of this posting.
An Inconvenient Truth Gap Fill
If you look at the ten hottest years _____________, they've all occurred in the last 14 years and the hottest of all was 2005.
________________ is that we are causing global warming.
I am Al Gore. I used to be the next President of the United States of America.
This is Patagonia 75 years ago and the same glacier today. This is Mount Kilimanjaro 30 years ago and last year. ________________ there will be no more snows of Kilimanjaro.
This is really not a ____________ so much as a ________________. Temperature increases are taking place all over the world and that's causing stronger storms.
This is the biggest crisis in the history of this country.
Early this morning Hurricane Katrina _________________ into New Orleans.
Is it possible that we should prepare against other _______________________?
From Paramount Classics comes a film that has shocked audiences everywhere they've seen it.
The Arctic is experiencing faster melting. If this were to go, sea level worldwide would go up twenty feet. This is what would happen in Florida. Around Shanghai, home to 40 million people. The area around Calcutta, 60 million. Here's Manhattan. The World Trade Centre Memorial would be ____________________.
Think of the impact of _________________________. And then imagine 100 million.
We have to act together to solve this global crisis.
Our ability to live is what is ______________.
An Inconvenient Truth Full Text
If you look at the ten hottest years ever measured, they've all occurred in the last 14 years and the hottest of all was 2005.
Scientific consensus is that we are causing global warming.
I am Al Gore. I used to be the next President of the United States of America.
This is Patagonia 75 years ago and the same glacier today. This is Mount Kilimanjaro 30 years ago and last year. Within the decade there will be no more snows of Kilimanjaro.
This is really not a political issue so much as a moral issue. Temperature increases are taking place all over the world and that's causing stronger storms.
This is the biggest crisis in the history of this country.
Early this morning Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans.
Is it possible that we should prepare against other threats besides terrorists?
From Paramount Classics comes a film that has shocked audiences everywhere they've seen it.
The Arctic is experiencing faster melting. If this were to go sea level worldwide would go up twenty feet. This is what would happen in Florida. Around Shanghai, home to 40 million people. The area around Calcutta, 60 million. Here's Manhattan. The World Trade Centre Memorial would be under water.
Think of the impact of a couple of a couple hundred thousand refugees. And then imagine 100 million.
We have to act together to solve this global crisis.
Our ability to live is what is at stake.
Follow-up Discussion Questions
Is global warming an urgent problem. Why/ why not?
What examples of freak weather can you think of in the world?
Can we do anything to improve the situation?
What are the consequences if we don't do anything?
Should this film be shown in schools?
Al Gore's 2006 documentary, An Inconvenient Truth was an international success. It raised awareness about environmental issues and caused a good deal of controversy along the way.
Find out what your students think.
You'll need the trailer YouTube
And the gap fill exercise below (complete text follows)
Once you're done check out the discussion questions at the bottom of this posting.
An Inconvenient Truth Gap Fill
If you look at the ten hottest years _____________, they've all occurred in the last 14 years and the hottest of all was 2005.
________________ is that we are causing global warming.
I am Al Gore. I used to be the next President of the United States of America.
This is Patagonia 75 years ago and the same glacier today. This is Mount Kilimanjaro 30 years ago and last year. ________________ there will be no more snows of Kilimanjaro.
This is really not a ____________ so much as a ________________. Temperature increases are taking place all over the world and that's causing stronger storms.
This is the biggest crisis in the history of this country.
Early this morning Hurricane Katrina _________________ into New Orleans.
Is it possible that we should prepare against other _______________________?
From Paramount Classics comes a film that has shocked audiences everywhere they've seen it.
The Arctic is experiencing faster melting. If this were to go, sea level worldwide would go up twenty feet. This is what would happen in Florida. Around Shanghai, home to 40 million people. The area around Calcutta, 60 million. Here's Manhattan. The World Trade Centre Memorial would be ____________________.
Think of the impact of _________________________. And then imagine 100 million.
We have to act together to solve this global crisis.
Our ability to live is what is ______________.
An Inconvenient Truth Full Text
If you look at the ten hottest years ever measured, they've all occurred in the last 14 years and the hottest of all was 2005.
Scientific consensus is that we are causing global warming.
I am Al Gore. I used to be the next President of the United States of America.
This is Patagonia 75 years ago and the same glacier today. This is Mount Kilimanjaro 30 years ago and last year. Within the decade there will be no more snows of Kilimanjaro.
This is really not a political issue so much as a moral issue. Temperature increases are taking place all over the world and that's causing stronger storms.
This is the biggest crisis in the history of this country.
Early this morning Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans.
Is it possible that we should prepare against other threats besides terrorists?
From Paramount Classics comes a film that has shocked audiences everywhere they've seen it.
The Arctic is experiencing faster melting. If this were to go sea level worldwide would go up twenty feet. This is what would happen in Florida. Around Shanghai, home to 40 million people. The area around Calcutta, 60 million. Here's Manhattan. The World Trade Centre Memorial would be under water.
Think of the impact of a couple of a couple hundred thousand refugees. And then imagine 100 million.
We have to act together to solve this global crisis.
Our ability to live is what is at stake.
Follow-up Discussion Questions
Is global warming an urgent problem. Why/ why not?
What examples of freak weather can you think of in the world?
Can we do anything to improve the situation?
What are the consequences if we don't do anything?
Should this film be shown in schools?
Tuesday 12 January 2010
Listening - Avatar Trailer
It's the biggest blockbuster for years, so why not use it for a fun and easy lesson?
Grab the trailer Youtube
Dish out the gap-fill exercise below
And away you go...
Text with gaps
- Are you Jake Sully?
We'd like to talk to you about a _________ on a new world.
You'd be _________.
- I became a marine for the hardship. Told myself I can pass any test a man can pass. All I ever wanted was ________________.
- Ladies and Gentlemen. You are not in Kansas anymore. You are on Pandora.
- You should see your faces.
- We have an _____________ called the Navi. They are very hard to kill.
- This is why we're here. Because this little grey rock sells for _________.
Their village happens to be resting on the richest deposit and they need to ________.
Those savages are __________ our whole operation. We're on __________and you're supposed to be finding a ______________.
- The concept is to drive these ____________ called Avatars. They are grown from human DNA, mixed with DNA of the natives.
- Marine in an Avatar body. That's a __________. You get me what I need, ___________ you get your legs back. Your real legs.
- Hell yes sir.
- Looks like you. This is your Avatar.
- Just relax and ______________. That shouldn't be hard for you.
- Jake it's real simple. I want you to learn from the inside. I want you to _____________.
- You should not be here. Go back. All this is your fault.
- I need your help.
Outstanding
- Haven't got lost in the woods have you?
Did you forget _________________?
- The strong ____________ and nobody does a thing.
- You've got one hour.
- You knew this would happen.
- Everything changed.
- Jake it's crazy here. Quaritch is rolling and there's no stopping him.
- You're going up against gunships with ____________.
- Well I guess we better stop them.
They've sent us a message that they can take whatever they want. Well we will send them a message. That this, this is our land.
Complete text
- Are you Jake Sully?
We'd like to talk to you about a fresh start on a new world.
You'd be making a difference.
- I became a marine for the hardship. Told myself I can pass any test a man can pass. All I ever wanted was a single thing worth fighting for.
- Ladies and Gentlemen. You are not in Kansas anymore. You are on Pandora.
- You should see your faces.
- We have an indigenous population called the Navi. They are very hard to kill.
- This is why we're here. Because this little grey rock sells for 20 million a kilo.
Their village happens to be resting on the richest deposit and they need to relocate.
Those savages are threatening our whole operation. We're on the brink of war and you're supposed to be finding a diplomatic solution.
- The concept is to drive these remotely controlled bodies called Avatars. They are grown from human DNA, mixed with DNA of the natives.
- Marine in an Avatar body. That's a potent mix. You get me what I need, I'll see to it you get your legs back. Your real legs.
- Hell yes sir.
- Looks like you. This is your Avatar.
- Just relax and let your mind go blank. That shouldn't be hard for you.
- Jake it's real simple. I want you to learn from the inside. I want you to gain their trust.
- You should not be here. Go back. All this is your fault.
- I need your help.
Outstanding
- Haven't got lost in the woods have you?
Did you forget what team you're playing for?
- The strong prey on the weak and nobody does a thing.
- You've got one hour.
- You knew this would happen. Everything changed.
- Jake it's crazy here. Quaritch is rolling and there's no stopping him.
- You're going up against gunships with bows and arrows.
- Well I guess we better stop them.
They've sent us a message that they can take whatever they want. Well we will send them a message. That this, this is our land.
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