The Tale of Desperaux: Simple Present

I love this animated movie. The story is touching and funny. I had to use something from the film, so I used this scene for the simple present tense. Basic learners can perform the tasks easily, but if you think the language used in the segment will scare them away, use it with intermediate students.







I just can't live without animated movies. I love this one. Desperaux is such a cute hero that everyone would like to have that little mouse in their house - I guess!







A. Work with a partner. Choose a holiday you celebrate where you live (Ex: Carnaval, Thanksgiving). Write down 5 sentences saying what people do during the holiday.











Ex: CARNAVAL











1. People wear funny costumes.











2. They dance the samba.









OUR HOLIDAY: ___________











1. _____________________





2. _____________________





3. _____________________





4. _____________________





5. ____________________







B. Now watch the segment and write down 5 things people do during the holiday, Soup Day.


















1. ______________________



2. _____________________



3. _____________________



4. _____________________



5. _____________________











C. Now look at the sentences you wrote in exercise A. Do people perform the activities you wrote about your holiday on Soup Day? Write down 3 sentences saying what they don't do.



Ex: They don't wear funny costumes.

They don't dance the samba.





1. _____________________



2. ____________________



3. ____________________







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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE TALE OF DESPERAUX

Footloose: Modal Verbs for Obligation, Prohibition, and Permission

This new version of the 80's Footloose does not have the impact or charm of the original version, but the opening scene is shocking and thought-provoking. It is also controversial, which makes it debatable.











I. Watch the movie segment and say what youngsters must, must not, can, or don't have to do, according to the new rules decided by the City Council of Bomont.











1. Minors _________ obey the curfew.



2. They ______________ dance lasciviously in public places.



3. Minors _______ be home by 10 pm on weeknights and 11 pm on weekends. Youngsters who are above 18 ________ obey the curfew.



4. Individuals ___________ organize public gatherings where minors engage in inappropriate activities, such as consumption of alcohol or unlawful drugs.



5. Minors __________ listen to vulgar or demeaning amplified music.



6.  Adults __________ advise their children of what is good for them if they wish, but they ____________ help them break the law.



7. Minors ____________ to be happy about the new decision, but they _________ respect and accept the decision.












































Discuss:



1. Do you agree with the prohibition?



2. What did the teens do wrongly, in your opinion?



3. Should the City Council decide what people can or can't do to have fun? Explain.



4. What are the possible consequences of such a drastic decision?



WORKSHEET





MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - FOOTLOOSE





Answer key:



1. Must

2. Must not

3. Must / don't have to

4. Must not

5. Must not

6. Can/ Can't

7. Don't have to / Must

Johnny English Reborn: Imperative Forms

This is a really funny movie with a lot of scenes that can be used in the classroom. This funny one is wonderful for imperative forms.





I. Before watching the segment, put the words in the right order in order to make imperative sentences:



1. her / shut / up



2. up / lock / it



3. that / maintain / tone



4. confrontation / keep / avoid / eye-contact / and



5. table / go / the / stand / to / up / and / coffee



6. your / pocket / go / your / to / right



7. act / just / natural



8. trigger / pull / the



9. fire / hold / your



10. lose / don't him





II. Watch the segment now and check your answers.






































III. Make a list with instructions for your partner to perform. Try to use make the scene as close as possible to the one you have just seen. If you prefer, you may make the scene completely different from the original one, but you must use imperative forms to give your instructions.



S1: Drinks the magic potion and does whatever he is told.



S2: Gives the instructions/commands





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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - JOHNNY ENGLISH REBORN



Answer key:







Shut her up



lock it up



maintain that tone



avoid confrontation and keep eye-contact



 stand up and go to the coffee table



go to your right pocket



just act natural



pull the trigger



hold your fire



don't lose him

Megamind: Adversative Conjunctions

This is one of my favorite animated movies. Megamind is a lovely villain, with an incredible background story. I used this scene to practice the use of adversative conjunctions in a contextualized manner.



 I. Watch the segment and decide if the sentences below refer to Evil (Megamind) or Mr. Goody Two-Shoes. Write (M) if it is about Megamind or (G) if it about Mr. Goody.







Mr. Goody Two Shoes (G)



Evil - Megamind (M)






































1. Landed in the White House ( )

    Landed in a the Metro City Prison for the Gifted ( )



2. Was adopted by the presidential family ( )

     Was adopted by the prisoners ( )



3. Had life handed to him on a silver platter ( )

    Was taught the difference between right and wrong by the prisoners ( )



4. Had the power of flight, invulnerability and and great hair ( )

    Had his amazing intellect. ( )



5. Had already amassed an a gigantic army of soft-headed groupies ( )

    Was given an opportunity to better himself. ( )



6. Is sent to quiet time in the corner. ( )

    Receives all the praise, adulation. ( )



7. Was destined to be a super villain. ( )

    Was destined to be Megamind's rival. ( )





II. Connect both sentences with one of the adversity conjunctions below. Mind punctuation. Try not to repeat the conjunctions.

BUT / HOWEVER / IN CONTRAST / WHILE / WHEREAS / ON THE OTHER HAND / THOUGH (FINAL POSITION)

Ex: Goody landed on the White House whereas Megamind landed on the Metro State Prison for the Gifted.

or

Whereas Megamind landed on the Metro State Prison for the Gifted, Goody landed on the White House.



2. ___________________________________

3.___________________________________

4. ___________________________________

5. ___________________________________

6. ___________________________________

7. ___________________________________



WORKSHEET



MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - MEGAMIND







Answer key:



I.



1. Landed in the White House (G)

    Landed in a the Metro City Prison for the Gifted (M)



2. Was adopted by the presidential family (G)

     Was adopted by the prisoners (M)



3. Had life handed to him on a silver platter (G)

    Was taught the difference between right and wrong by the prisoners (M)



4. Had the power of flight, invulnerability and and great hair (G)

    Had his amazing intellect. (M)



5. Had already amassed an a gigantic army of soft-headed groupies (G)

    Was given an opportunity to better himself. (M)



6. Is sent to quiet time in the corner. (M)

    Receives all the praise, adulation. (G)



7. Was destined to be a super villain (M)

    Was destined to be Megamind's rival (G)



II. Answers will vary.

27 Dresses: Present Perfect

Romantic comedies are not my cup of tea, but they are wonderful sources of activities. 27 dresses is no exception. This scene is great for practicing the present perfect tense.

I. Talk to a partner:





1. Have you ever had insomnia? How often does it happen?





2. What do you do when you just can't sleep?





3. What makes you lose your sleep?





4. When you can't sleep, do you insist on trying to sleep or do you get up and do something else until you fall asleep?







II. Look at the activities below. Check the ones you usually do when you have a hard time to fall asleep.





1. ( ) read a magazine



2. ( ) read a book



3. ( ) use the computer



4. ( ) moisturize your hands with cream



5. ( ) work out



6. ( ) clean the stove



7. ( ) speak to yourself out loud



8. ( ) talk to your sister (or someone else)



9. ( ) dance



10. ( ) eat





III. Watch the movie segment and check what the main character has done during her insomnia.





IV. Now write sentence in the present perfect tense saying what she has (not) done during the whole night.





Ex:





1. She has read a magazine.



2. She hasn't read a book.





Answer key:



III. Don't check 2, 9, 10





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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - 27 DRESSES

Home on the Range: There + to Be

Animated movies are just great. This one is not an exception. I used this scene with beginners, practicing the use of THERE TO BE with farm animals and food items. I hope you like it.

I. Watch the segment. Read the items below and check the ones you managed to see during the scene.

( )  a black cow





( )  chickens



( ) chicks



( ) bananas



( ) apples



( ) a goat



( ) corn



( ) a dog



( ) a duck



( )  bees



( ) grapes



( )  pigs



( )   a rooster



( ) eggs



( )  a brown cow

III. Now write sentences about the items in exercise A, using There is (isn't) or There are (aren't). Remember that you may use Any and Some in your sentences





Ex: There is a black cow.

      There are some chickens

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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - HOME ON THE RANGE



Answer key:



You won't see bananas, a dog, and grapes

Planet 51: Passive Voice with Present Perfect

This has been one of the animated movies that I have laughed most. Its humor is clever and extremely attractive to both adults and children. I strongly recommend it. I used this scene to practice the passive voice use with present perfect statements, because the astronaut day's hasn't ended yet, so we can contextualize the grammar point easily.













A. Watch the movie segment and check what has happened to the astronaut since he landed on Planet 51. Fill in the blanks with the present perfect tense of the given verbs. Decide if you will use affirmative or negative forms according to the segment.

1. The astronaut ______ (place) a flag on Planet 51.



2. A boy ______ (ask) him an autograph.



3. A strange pet _________ (attack) him.



4. The pet ______ (chase) him.



5. The astronaut ________ (scare) a boy and his mother at lunch time.



6. A boy on a bike _________ (run over) him.



7. He _________ (find) other humans.



8. He ________ (take off) his suit.





B. Now rewrite the sentences above using passive voice.



Ex: 1. A flag has been placed on Planet 51 (by the astronaut).





MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - PLANET 51



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Answer key:

A. 1. has placed / 2. has asked / 3. has attacked / 4. has chased / 5. has run over / 6. hasn't found / 7. hasn't taken off

B.

2. He has been asked for an autograph (by a boy).

3. He has been attacked by a strange pet.

4. He has been chased (by the pet).

5. He has been run over by a boy on a bike.

6. Other humans haven't been found.

7. His suit hasn't been taken off.