Monday, April 30, 2012

Observe and Report: Shocking Moments

We usually talk about shocking moments in our classes. I used this funny scene - one of my favorite ones on this blog -  to illustrate the topic and have students role-play the continuation of the scene. 

Definitions provided by Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary. 

Shocking: 1. extremely surprising: 2. offending or upsetting someone by doing or saying something which they consider is immoral or unacceptable. 

I. Work in pairs:

1. Think about two events that have been in the news recently which would apply for each of the definitions for the word SHOCKING.

2. Tell each other two situations in which you were shocked. Try to come up with one situation for each definition.

3. Think about three things that would probably shock your parents (children). Mind definition 1.

4. Think about three things that would shock you. Mind definition 2.

II. Watch the segment from the movie Observe and Report. Than answer the questions that follow.

1. Describe the scene.

2. The main character is shocked. Which definition (1 or 2) better applies to this shocking moment.

3. How would you react if you were in her shoes?

4. Did she overreact or was the situation shocking enough? Explain it.

5. What should happen to the guy who shocked the girl? Justify your answer.

III. Role-Play:


S1: You are a police officer. Ask the victim to describe what happened and decide what you are going to do about it.

S2: You are the victim. Answer the police officer's questions and tell him what you want him to do about the situation.


S1: You are a police officer. You have caught the suspect. Ask him what and why he acted that way. Decide what you are going to do about it.

S2: You are the suspect. Come up with a good explanation for your behavior. Try to be as convincing as possible. Make the police officer believe that your behavior is not a reason for concern. 


Friday, April 20, 2012

Jane Eyre and Bad Teacher: Schools in the Past and Nowadays

I like both movies in different ways. Jane Eyre is a dramatic, effective movie and Bad Teacher is a funny comedy about a teacher I would never hire for my Institution. Great sources for discussion. I used them to talk about education in the past and nowadays.

Talk to a partner:

1. Describe the ideal school in your viewpoint.

2. What do you like best in your school?

3. What do you dislike the most?

4. How different will schools be in the future?

5. Are schools better or worse than they used to be?

6. What will the role of teacher be in the future? Will they ever be replaced by
computers/ robots/ another technology?

Watch the segments that follow and compare both educational systems.

Pay attention to the following items:



Teacher's behavior:

Students' Behavior:

Punishment and Praising:

Motivation (teacher's and students'):

Seating Arrangements:

School Facilities:

SEGMENT 1: Jane Eyre


Class Discussion:

- Which school looks better. Why?

- What should be done to improve the quality of the education offered by both schools?

- Should grades and tests be curbed from our educational system? Explain it.

- What about books?

- What about writing essays and compositions?

- Should education be online only? Why (not)?



Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Grown ups: Breast Feeding

This is a very funny movie and I used many scenes for warm-ups. This one is about breast feeding, dealt with in a humorous way.

Read the items below and write:

1. if the item says that breastfeeding benefits the mother.

2. if the item says that breast feeding benefits the child.

3. if the item is a con to breast feeding

( ) Eat more and lose weight faster

( ) It's easy and convenient

( ) There's a very special bond between Mother and Baby and it's the natural way to feed

( ) There's less spitting up, no stains and the poop doesn't smell!

( ) Protects against some breast and ovarian cancers

( ) MAY delay menstrual period

( ) Protects against ear infections, colds, and viruses

( ) Helps brain to grow and develop

( ) Less learning and behavior difficulties

( ) Less diaper rash and other skin problems

( ) Less colic, less crying

( ) Easy to digest

( ) Less diarrhea

( ) Fewer trips to the doctor and hospitalizations

( ) Nursing is definitely time-consuming: Newborn babies typically feed every 2 to 3 hours during the day and may awaken frequently at night.

( ) If someone else wants to feed the baby with a bottle of breast milk the mother still has to pump.

( ) Breastfeeding takes a lot of energy for your body to make milk, so the mother can often feel quite fatigued.

( ) There can be a certain amount of anxiety and frustration while a mother is learning the process.

( ) Sometimes mothers have physical problems like mastitis, plugged milk ducts and engorgement if the baby is not feeding frequently or properly.

( ) Working mothers can find it challenging to schedule nursing. It is necessary to pump at work and some jobs may not allow for such breaks (they should, but some do not comply.

Answer key:

1. The first 6 items

2. From the 7th to the 13th items

 3. From the 14th item to the end

II. Talk to a partner.

1. What's your opinion about breast feeding?

2. Until what age do you think it is okay to feed the child?

3. Where is it not appropriate to breast feed a baby?

4. What would you do if you saw someone staring at a mother who is breast feeding?

5. Do you know how long your mother breast fed you?

II. Watch the scene from the movie Grown Ups and discuss the questions:

1. Describe the scene.

2. What is unusual about this situation?

3. Is the mother right or wrong to breast feed her child in the barbecue party?

4. Is it okay to breast feed a boy at the character's age?

5. Why do you think the girl reacted the way she did?