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/

Question Time Capital Punishment Debate - Are you for or against?

You are going to

• watch a short debate about capital punishment from the BBC's Question Time programme
• practise vocabulary connected with crime
• look at some expressions connected with debating and stating opinions
• debate a topical question
• write an argument essay

1) Discuss

Capital punishment

• What is it?
• Is it fair?
• Is it necessary?
• Is it wrong? 
• is it revenge?
• Do two wrongs make a right?
• What is your opinion?

2) Before you watch
Vocabulary check
The words on the right are used in the clip you are going to watch. Do you understand them all? Match them with the definitions in the drop-down menu to check you know them.

3) Watch

Question Time is BBC TV debate show where a panel of guests discuss issues of the day. This program is from 22/11/2011

The participants in this clip are;
Priti Patel - Conservative MP http://www.priti4witham.com/
Ian Hislop - Editor of Private Eye (a British satirical and current affairs magazine)
Justine Roberts - co-founder of Mumsnet.

 
Watch the clip

• What opinions about Capital punishment are stated by the participants in the debate?
• Who is "for"?
• Who is "against"?

You can see the full debate here






4) Practise
Look at this summarized transcript of the debate.
Fill in the gaps with a word from the list.

5) Write
Choose 1 of the questions and write an answer. 
Look at the website below if you need some more ideas or views on capital punishment.

• In many countries where capital punishment has been abolished there has been a corresponding rise in violent crime rates. For this reason, many governments are considering its re-introduction as a form of deterrent. Should capital punishment be re-introduced? (IELTS)

• "Without capital punishment our lives are less secure and crimes or violence increase". To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? (IELTS)

• "By punishing murderers with the death penalty, society is also guilty of committing murder. Therefore, life in prison is a better punishment for murderers." (IELTS)

Read here for a summary of views on capital punishment.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/capitalpunishment/









6) Debate
Debating Language
1) Look at the text again
What language do the debaters use to state their opinions?




2) Look at the phrases below. Fill in the gaps

3) Debate for IELTS
Many IELTS students have problems thinking of ideas to put in their essays. Why not make your own version of Question Time? Choose some IELTS questions / topics and debate them in class.
Make a note of the points people make and include them in the essays which you can write after you've finished debating them.

Look at the questions for debate below. Choose one. 
A) In pairs or groups one person / group thinks of ideas to support an idea. The other person / group thinks of ideas to oppose it.
B) Debate the topic. Try and convince your "opponent" that you are right and give examples which support your points.
C) Have a "chairman" who can moderate the debate and make sure everyone gets an equal turn.
D) Let others in the class decide who has argued their ideas the best and "won" the debate.
E) Don't forget to use some of the debating language.
F) Use reason and logic. Don't get too emotional!

Some ideas for debating;

• Downloading free films and music from the internet is stealing. Do you agree or disagree?
• "Free Speech does not only cover saying what your opinion is without reprisals; it also gives you the right to be as foul, unpleasant and vile as you feel the need to be".   What do you think?
• Should rich countries forgive all debts for poor countries?
• Should money be spent on space exploration?
• Is animal testing necessary?
• Will the Internet bring people of the world closer together?
• Should retirement be compulsory at 65 years of age?
• Education is not a luxury, but a basic human right and as such should be free for everyone irrespective of personal wealth. Do you agree or disagree?
• Children should never be educated at home by their parents. Do you agree or disagree?
• Many people believe that women make better parents than men and that this is why they have the greater role in raising children in most societies. Others claim that men are just as good as women at parenting. What do you think?
• Most high level jobs are done by men. Should the government encourage a certain percentage of these jobs to be reserved for women?
• Should criminals be punished with lengthy jail terms or re-educated and rehabilitated using community service programs for instance, before being reintroduced to society?
• All blood sports should be banned. Do you agree or disagree?
• Should governments ever intervene in the rights of the individual?
• Global warming is the most serious issue that the world is facing today. Do you agree or disagree?

More
Printable worksheets here


More language for expressing an opinion  
http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/communication-lesson-opinion.php

More on debates
http://esl.about.com/od/conversationlessonplans/a/debate6.htm

More on "For and Against" essays
http://academicwriting.wikidot.com/for-and-against-essays

More on crime
http://efllecturer.blogspot.com.es/2012/05/what-happened-to-db-cooper.html

Describe a city - Superlative Southampton

You are going to

• watch a short video about the city of Southampton and do a comprehension exercise
• read about the city of Southampton on a Tourist Guide page and do a comprehension exercise
• practise superlatives
• practise language for describing a city
• describe a city / town

1) Discuss

• Where are you from?
• Where do you live?
• Do you like your town?
• What can people do there?
• What are the best things about living there?
• Does anyone famous come from there?
• Did any famous historical events happen there?

I am from Southampton in the UK.
So let's have at look at Southampton.

2) Watch
Watch the video
1) Find out

• What can you do in Southampton?
• Would you like to live / study / work there?

2) Watch again and do this quiz

3) Read
Quickly read the "Superlative Southampton" guide below
1) Find the answers to these questions.

• Where is Southampton?
• What kind of city is it?
• Have any famous people come from Southampton? 
• Why is it "superlative"? How many examples of superlatives can you find?

Superlative Southampton - A City Guide

 
Location 
Southampton is the largest city on the south coast of England. It is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest National Park. The city lies roughly in the centre of the south coast of England approximately halfway between the towns of Bournemouth and Portsmouth.

View Larger Map

The Port

Southampton is the biggest commercial and container port on the south coast of England. It has also been home to many ocean ”liners” and passenger ships. It presently has three large cruise ship terminals, with another one in the offing.

Leisure

Southampton is a vibrant, modern city and has one of the most modern shopping centres in the south of England.The mix of high street stores and traditional shops and boutiques has made the city one the UK's most popular retail destinations. It also has wealth of sporting, leisure, entertainment and cultural opportunities. The city centre has an unusual number of large parks. It is one of the greenest city centres in the UK.

Entertainment

Southampton has a variety of entertainment choices from the ice rink and paintballing to the Ocean Village Cinema and Megabowl. Southampton has an exciting nightlife which includes many restaurants and bars. Historic Oxford Street is home to Southampton's finest restaurants.

Southampton FC

Sport

As well as numerous indoor sports, keep fit and swimming facilities Southampton Sports Centre is one of the largest open air sports and athletic arenas in the south of England. In contrast to the ‘out of town’ location of the Sports Centre, Championship League Southampton Football Club has its state-of-the-art football stadium set down firmly in the heart of city’s waterside population, on the banks of the River Itchen, very near to the original Saxon settlement of Hamwic.

Art Gallery

Arts

Southampton's elegant City Art Gallery contains 3,500 works of art from six centuries. The work of up and coming artists and designers can be found in the nearby Millais Gallery. The Mayflower, the largest theatre in southern England, puts on musicals as well as ballet and operas. The Nuffield Theatre, at Southampton University, stages performances from Shakespeare to contemporary drama. The city is also home to some of the region's best concert halls and two large multi-purpose venues staging major rock, contemporary and classical music events.

“Sotonians”

The city represents the core of the Greater Southampton region, with a population of 228,600. The city's name is sometimes abbreviated in writing to "So'ton" or "Soton", and a resident of Southampton is called a “Sotonian”.

Titanic

History

Southampton is noted for being the home of the RMS Titanic. The newest museum (opened in 2012) in the city is the SeaCity Museum which tells the story of the people of the city, their lives and historic connections with Titanic and the sea.  Southampton was also where the Spitfire, the famous World War II aircraft, was designed and built.  It has been home to many of the largest and most famous cruise liners in the world for over a century and was once known as the "Gateway to the world".

Jane Austen

Famous residents

Benny Hill

Many world famous figures from history were born or made their home in Southampton. These include singer Craig David; the composer of popular hymns, Isaac Watts; comedian Benny Hill: inventor of the Spitfire, R.J. Mitchell; film Director, Ken Russell;  jazz Trumpeter, Nat Gonella and novelist Jane Austen.

Adapted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southampton and http://www.stga.org.uk/southampton-in-brief.html

2) Look at the text again.
Some of the words are in bold. Can you match the words in bold with the definitions below?
If you are not sure try and guess from the context and choose the answer that fits best.

3) How much can you remember? Do the quiz.

4) Practise superlatives
Fill in the gaps with a superlative. If you are not sure how to make superlatives look here http://efllecturer.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/comparatives-and-superlatives.html

If you can't remember the answers look at the reading text again.

Printable worksheets here





5) Write
Write a guide for your town

• Use the headings in the Southampton guide to help you (Location, Leisure, Sport, Arts, History, Famous Residents etc)
• Use some of the language in the text for describing places (situated, vibrant, facilities etc).
• Use some superlatives (the best, the largest, the most famous etc)

8) More on Southampton
Solent University guide to Southampton
http://portal.solent.ac.uk/hellouni/southampton/southampton.aspx

Wikitravel http://wikitravel.org/en/Southampton

Visit Southampton http://www.visit-southampton.co.uk/

Titanic Walk http://www.oceanvillagesouthampton.com/visit/self-guided-walks/titanic-tour/

SeaCity Museum http://www.seacitymuseum.co.uk/

The Port of Southampton http://www.plimsoll.org/

Southampton Football Club http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/southampton






More practice
Speaking Presentation - "Your City" http://efllecturer.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/your-city-past-and-present-powerpoint.html

The Changing UK - Southampton

Comparative and Superlative quiz http://anthonyhalderman.com/english/compsup.htm