Intermediate / Advanced English Lesson. Listening and Understanding is 50% of all languages.

Listening and Understanding is 50% of all languages

MOVIES

Speaking is only half of learning a language.  Fifty percent is understanding what someone if saying to you.  In reality a student can’t expect to turn on the subtitles every time he or she watches the TV or goes to the cinema. Brazilians are quite used to going to a cinema and reading the movie instead of watching it. English speakers on the whole refuse to do that.  “If it aint in English we aint watching it.”  And lets face it all of the good movies are in English and all of the best music.

Below you will find a number of short video clips. I want you to watch each clip and explain to me what it’s about and answer my questions. Yes, it’s a challenge and yes it’s difficult but it’s the only way.  Let’s go.  DO NOT USE SUBTITLES

Clip number One:  “SIGNS staring Mel Gibson”

Questions & discussion:

1. Have you seen this movie?
2. What does “pinned against a tree mean”?
3. What is happening in this clip?
4. What are the occupations of the two people talking at the beginning of the clip?
5. What was the last thing his wife said?

Clip number two:  “COOL HAND LUKE with Paul Newman”

Questions & discussion:

1. Explain:  What is he doing at the beginning of the movie:
2. What is the first thing the policeman says to him?
3. What is wrong with the man?
4. What is the guy in the hat saying to Luke?
5. “What we’ve got here is failure to communicate”  What does this mean?

Clip number three:  “Four Weddings and a Funeral”

Questions & discussion:

1. What is happening in this clip?
2. “He was my north, my south, my east and west, my working week and my Sunday rest ”  What does this mean?
3. What accent is he speaking English in?

Clip number four:  “Batman & Robin 1966”  Adam West.

Questions & discussion:

1. What are they talking about?
2. What are the names of the four villains?

Clip number five:  “The Matrix:  Keanu Reeves

Questions & discussion:

1. What does the guard say to Keanu Reeves when he approaches the scanner?
2. What does the second guard ask for on the mobile phone?
3. What did the first soldier shout and what does it mean?
4. This clip is called “Shootout in the lobby”  what is a LOBBY?