Nov 28, 2008

Ratatouille: Passive Voice







1) Remy_____________ (distract) the cyclist.
4) Remy _______________ (command) Linguini's body movements.
5) Remy ______________ (open) Linguini's eyes.
8) Colette _______________ (sharpen) the knives.
10) Colette ____________________ (slap) Linguini's face.

Now rewrite the sentences above using the passive voice.Ex:

1) The cyclist was distracted (by Remy).

How to develop your own video activity:


- The students rewrite the sentences using passive voice.



Nov 23, 2008

Kung Fu Panda: Comparatives


Before you watch the segment:


This is Po:



This is Tai Lung




After watching the segment:


(Po / Funny) Po is funnier than Tai Lung.
How to develop your own activity
- Select a scene in which you can compare two characters
- Choose adjectives that describe the characters
- Select the adjectives you want to assess
- The students write sentences using comparatives




      I.  Project a picture of Po and Tai Lung on the board. Give each student a white and an orange balloon. Tell them that the white balloon represents Po and the orange balloon represents Tai Lung. Each student gets slips of paper with the vocabulary in the box. Make sure they understand the adjectives. Tell them to stick the words on the balloons according to what they think of the characters. 
I.              Count how many of each adjective they have on the balloons for each character and elicit comparative sentences. Write the sentences on the board as the students say them.

II.             Play the video segment.

III.            Miming Game: Ask students to stand up and make a line with their backs to the board.  One student should face the board and mime the sentence projected on the board (Slides with comparative sentences about Po and Tai Lung). The first student in the line has to say the sentence. If he says it correctly, he mimes the following sentence and the student who was miming goes to the end of the line.

IV.          Follow up: Students pair up to make a poster using their balloons and a slip with an adjective the Teacher gives them. Tell them to draw the faces of Po and Tai Lung on the balloons. They should glue the balloons and the word on a sheet of paper and write a comparative sentence. 

Nov 17, 2008

The 40 Year-Old Virgin: Asking Questions


Asking Questions



Andy - I don't know. Can you?

Andy -Is there something I should be looking for?

Beth - Sometimes...


Beth - Beth.

Now watch the video segment and check your answers.

How to prepare your own video activitiy:

- Choose a segment in which very basic questions are asked.


- The students watch the segment and check their answers.


Nov 6, 2008

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Present Perfect



1. ( ) Watch TV


3. ( ) Skate around the kitchen.

4. ( ) Play tennis.

5. ( ) Pour Cheetos into a bowl.

6. ( ) Hide in the kitchen cabinets.

7. ( ) Remove the kitchen utensils from the cabinets.

8. ( ) Throw a jar at Dave's head.

9. ( ) Faint.

10. ( ) Read a book.

11. ( ) Speak English.

12. ( ) Turn on some kitchen appliances.

13. ( ) Throw the chipmunks out of the house.

14. ( ) Try to reenter the house.

15) ( ) Call the police.

16) ( ) Close the window shades.

17) ( ) Sweep the floor.

18) ( ) Stand in the rain.

19) ( ) Sing songs in the garden.

20) ( ) Dance very happily.


EX: Dave has watched TV

How to prepare your own video activity:



- Ask students to identify who performed them.

- Ask students to write sentences using the present perfect tense.
