The Perfect Match? How is technology affecting our relationships?

You are going to

• watch a short film
• use adjectives to describe personality
• discuss relationships 
• discuss technology 
• watch and discuss a short film

Note these are discussion activities for a speaking class based around a short 8 minute silent film called "97%"
(The film provoked considerable discussion when I used it in my FCE / CAE / CPE classes...)

Before you watch

A) Discuss personality

• Why do friends get on well with each other?
• How would you describe yourself to other people?
• Physically - choose any 3 words - eg tall, brunette, fair, dark-skinned, brown-eyed etc
• Personality - choose 5 words from the list below

• Who else in class has chosen the same words as you?

B) Discuss relationships

• How many of the personality adjectives above would you look for in a partner?
• Are you in a relationship? Do you have a partner/ boyfriend / girlfriend or are you married?
• What is a "perfect match" in a relationship? Is your partner a perfect match for you? Do "perfect matches" exist? Is personality important when choosing a partner?
• What do you look for in a partner?
• Would you accept a 50% match?

C) Discuss technology

• Do you have a smartphone?
• What do you use it for?
• Do you use social media (facebook, instragram, twitter)?
• What apps do you use?
• Are you addicted to it?

D) Watch
Watch the film below
What do you think the 97% in the title refers to?



97% (Short film) from Ben Brand on Vimeo.

E) After you watch - Discuss the film

• What do you think is the "message" of the film?
• Do you agree with it? Why / why not?
• What is the most important scene in the film? Why?
• What do you think is the man's attitude towards a) his phone? b) romantic relationships? c) other people? d) life?
• Do you think technology is changing the way we relate to each other? Can you give any examples from your own experience?
• Do you think using a phone app or a dating site is a good way to find a partner?
• Do you think technology will play an increasing role in our relationships and behaviour?

F) Write 
Choose 1

A) Write a review of the film discussing the film's ideas.

Plan
Introduction

• What is the name of the film? 
• What kind of film is it?
• What is the message of the film?
• Give a short (1 or 2 sentences) summary of the story. Do not give spoilers.

Main text

• Discuss the message of the film?
• Which scene best illustrates its message?
• Discuss the importance, prevalence and role of technology in our lives, our possible addiction to it and the effect it may be having on us and our relationships with each other.

Conclusion

• What is your opinion of the film's ideas and message?

B) "Our relationship with technology is having a damaging effect on the way we relate to each other." To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Plan
Introduction (3 sentences)

• Introduce the subject - modern technology 
• Introduce the idea to be discussed - our relationship with it.
• Introduce the question - What exactly are the effects it may be having on us?

Main text

• Discuss at least 3 examples of technology affecting our relationships or behavior. Give pros and cons. Support your ideas with specific examples.

Conclusion.
What is your opinion? Do you agree with the statement? Can you summarize your ideas in one sentence?

More

• What is beauty? Adjectives, Beauty, Crossword, Describing a person, Elementary, Fashion, Food, Health, IELTS, Intermediate, Life in the UK

•  Are the machines taking over?  Advanced, Business, Future, Future Continuous, IELTS, Shopping, Technology, Upper Intermediate

• Miss Devine Describing a person, Intermediate, Listening, Miss Devine, Past Habits,Upper Intermediate, Would  

• Are you always on your phone? Advanced, CAE, FCE, IELTS, Intermediate, Listening, Technology, Upper Intermediate, Writing, Writing an argument, Writing introductions for argument essays

• Could you live without it? Mobile phones, Living without electricity, Advantages and disadvantages, IELTS, Intermediate, Linking words, Listening, Reading, Smartphones, Writing an argument, Contrasting, Technology

Film Reviews - Skyfall and The Master

You are going to

• practise language for talking about films
• listen to two very short film reviews (Skyfall and The Master)
• write / present a film review

1) Discuss

• What are your favourite films?
• How often do you go to the cinema?
• Do you look at film reviews before watchng?
• What's the best film you've seen recently?
• Look at these two posters. Have you see the films Skyfall and The Master?

2) Before we start

1. How many words connected with the cinema and films can you think of in 60 seconds?
2. Write a list of vocabulary - Actor, comedy, camera....
3. Who has got the most?
4. Share your film vocabulary with the class
   

3) Watch the Skyfall trailer

• Do you know / like James Bond films?
• What kind of films are they?
• Watch the trailer for the latest Bond film "Skyfall".
• What kind of film is it?

4) Listen
Listen to a review of Skyfall by Chris Hewitt of BBC Radio 6 Music.
1) What adjectives does he use to describe the film?

listen to ‘Chris Hewitt's mini Skyfall review ’ on Audioboo

2) Listen again and do the gap-fill exercise below
Vocabulary
Ergo = therefore
Butts heads with =  argues
Easing into = finding his place, getting comfortable

5) Watch The Master trailer

• Have you seen "The Master"?
• Watch the trailer.
• Who is in the film?
• When is the film set?

6) Listen
Listen to a review of The Master by Chris Hewitt of BBC Radio 6 Music.
1) Does he like the film?

listen to ‘The Master - Chris Hewitt's One Minute Film Review with Lauren Laverne’ on Audioboo

2) Listen again and do the True / False exercise below.

7) Write / Present
Write or present your own short film review
You can
a) write a film review
b) take notes and present your review to the class or record yourself reading it.
Don't forget to use some of the film / cinema vocabulary you have practised above.
Use some adjectives too. Amazing, Brilliant...
Superlatives - The best...



Plan
Introduction

• What's the name of film?
• What kind of film is it? (Horror, comedy, romantic...)
• Name of Director / Producer / Script writer
• Who are the cast?

Description of main characters

• Who are they?
• What kind of people are they?
• What do they do?

Plot (story)

• What happens in the film? DO NOT tell the complete story of the film (or the ending) or you will ruin it for people! Just briefly describe the plot. Don't give too many details.

Your opinion

• Did the film have a good plot? Did you believe it? Was it convincing?
• Did you learn anything from watching the film or was it just entertaining?
• Did the actors play their parts well? Can you give an example of a scene in the film with a great performance?

Recommendation

• Would you recommend the film? Why?

8) Practise
Do the crossword




Printable worksheets here
Crossword here






More
More reviews
http://efllecturer.blogspot.com.es/2012/06/stone-roses-reunion-review.html


Official "Skyfall" site
http://www.skyfall-movie.com/site/


Official "The Master" site
http://www.themasterfilm.com/

The Stone Roses reunion - A Review

You are going to

• practise some phrasal verbs and idioms
• listen to a review of the Stone Roses reunion concert in Barcelona
• write a review of a band / singer you have seen

1) Discuss

• What's your favourite kind of music?
• What concerts have you been to?
• What's the best band or singer you have ever seen?
• Have you heard of the Stone Roses?

The Stone Roses are an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The band's most successful lineup consisted of vocalist Ian Brown, guitarist John Squire, bassist Gary "Mani" Mounfield, and drummer Alan "Reni" Wren. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stone_Roses

 

2) Vocabulary
You are going to listen to a radio clip about the Stone Roses concert in Barcelona in June 2012. Before you listen. Look at these 2 vocabulary exercises.


1) Match the vocabulary. 
Do you understand these words?   fan,   forthcoming,   gig,   members,   a bit off,   reunion,   tour
Match them with the explanations in the exercise below

2) Phrasal Verbs / Idioms

How many of these phrasal verbs / idioms do you know?
be back, break up, end up, fall out, follow someone around, get back together, get into, get going, hang in, hit your stride, live up to expectations, sing along

Match them with the correct definition in the exercise below. You can drag and drop the meanings on the right to the expression on the left.

3) Listen
Now listen to the radio clip.
Was the Stone Roses' gig a success?

listen to ‘Liam Gallagher hails Stone Roses return’ on Audioboo

From Radio 4 Today http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9727000/9727011.stm



4) Gap-fill
Listen again. Fill in the spaces with the correct expression

Printable versions here




5) Practise
Now choose some of the expressions and write some sentences using them
Example - It was a great concert. It really lived up to my expectations




6) Write
Write a review of a concert you have seen
Organize your writing into paragraphs

1. Introduce the show - Who / What / Where / When?
2. Introduce the artist - Who are they? Background information - Give a very short description of the artist
3. Describe the concert - Where was it? What was the atmosphere like? How long did they play? Describe some highlights - best songs / best moments
4. Give your opinion - What was the show like? If it was good say why. If it was "a bit off" give some constructive recommendations. What should the artist do to improve?
5. Conclusion - it's a review so say whether you think people should go and see the band / artist and give a reason.

More

Phrasal Verbs dictionary
http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/phrasal-verbs/

Idioms dictionary
http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/

The Stone Roses
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stone_Roses

The Stone Roses in Barcelona
http://www.nme.com/news/the-stone-roses/64242



Watch the Stone Roses in Barcelona