TODAY'S ENGLISH(es)
THE
FUN da MENTAL LANGUAGE
Learning Tools for Portuguese learners of English as a foreign language
Dear students and visitors,
It´s great you came to this place. I hope you enjoy the activities you find here and that they help you improve your language skills. Enjoy the learning.
Thanks for visiting.
This space was especially created for 11th form ESAM students (classes B, C and F), schoolyear 2009-2010.
Its main aim is to provide students with tasks and materials meant as a complement to the classes. It offers extra practice, allowing learners the freedom to organize their work sessions. I hope it may be helful and enjoyable.
11th FORM
The Hall of Fame
Famous people usually have a strong influence on the masses, especially on the young.
Would you like to be famous? Some people often dream about it...
A. Listen to the song and dance (why not?).
1. When you feel ready, identify the key words.
2. How can a person live forever?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B1QTEGL3t0http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B1QTEGL3t0
See also document with lyrics, if you like.
https://sites.google.com/site/ourworksheets21/home/it-s-a-consuming-society-1
Assessment: Rate from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much)
Was this activities useful? ___ interesting ? _____ difficult? ____
B. 1. Now we could play a bit with this idea of being famous
Choose three well-known personalities you really admire.
(They can be contemporary or from the past) and build your Hall of Fame
- personality one (names)
- personality two
- personality three
Make brief notes stating a few reasons why you admire each of those persons ( their looks, their character and personality, their deeds, etc)
Now go to the following site:
http://www.voki.com/activated.php
- Open an account if you haven't one already and then create an appropriate Voki for each of them.
- Then, based on your previous notes, write a well-organized paragraph with relevant biographical data about each of them. Using the audio tools (audiopal), insert or record the text corresponding to each character.
B.2. Imagine you are also a famous person. Let´s create and build your character too.
Consider the following:
- What would you choose to be famous for?
- How would you look like? What would you do? How do you think you would feel?
- What would your message and legacy to the world be?
- ...
When you're ready, record a text (preferably with your own voice) and add this Voki to the other ones.
Assessment: Rate from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much)
Were these activities useful? ___ interesting ? _____ difficult? ____
B.3. Writing
You may now choose one of those personalities, do some research on the person's life and write a short biography(150-200 words) of the person. Write your personal text.
To see an example, you can go here: http://www.piaget.org/aboutPiaget.html
You can write a shorter text, if you do not have many details.
Assessment: Rate from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much)
Were these activities useful? ___ interesting ? _____ difficult? ____
Congratulations. You have now built your Hall of Fame.
II.
Celebrities often live to convey a certain image that they ( or someone else) created. They are usually very much worried about the way they are seen. However, and to be honest, don't we all somehow care about our own image?
Points to consider:
A. 1. What are your views on the matter, how important is image for you?
2. How do famous people (or others) influence you?
Now listen to this text and then do the following tasks:
audio file: A question of image
go to: https://sites.google.com/site/ourworksheets21/home/it-s-a-consuming-society-1
B. True or False? Correct the false statements.
1. Everybody is aware of the influence that the media has on them.
2. The people we see on the screen are just ordinary people.
3. The media uses misleading techniques to create unrealistic images of people.
4. In the 60s Kennedy won the TV debate because he looked younger than Nixon.
5. Bill Clinton didn't care about the way he looked during is campaign in the 90s.
6. The most famous actors and singers deal personally with their image.
7. Teenage fans look upon stars as someone they would like to be.
C. Complete the missing words from this extract of the text:
Not only does the media (1.)____ an unattainable "ideal", but it also shows images of women and men that are physically (2.)____ . A number of techniques is used, such as body (3.)____ where up to five models are used to create the body of one woman,or computer (4.) _____ of images, where shadows, (5)_____ and moles are routinely airbrushed out.
D. Complete the following sentences
1. The media and the fashion industry are the main responsible for..
2. Most women and girls get obssed about...
3. Many people who wish to become thin end up...
4. Problems with food are now spreading to ...
Key: https://sites.google.com/site/ourworksheets21/home/it-s-a-consuming-society-1
Assessment: Rate from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much)
Were these activities useful? ___ interesting ? ___ difficult? ____
My friends and I had joined a weight-loss organization. At one meeting the instructor held up an apple and a candy bar. "What are the attributes of this apple," she asked, "and how do they relate to our diet?" "Low in calories" and "lots of fiber" were among the answers. She then detailed what was wrong with eating candy, and concluded, "Apples are not only more healthful but also less expensive. Do you know I paid 75 cents for this candy bar?" We stared as she held aloft the forbidden treat. From the back of the room a small voice spoke up, "Oh, I'll give you a dollar for it."
*** ***
A Consuming Society
2.It's a Consuming Society - You are what you buy
I. A.
1.Look at the picture and write a short paragraph stating your views on it.
2. How do you see yourself as a consumer?
Some people are careless consumers and even become addicted to shopping.
How about you? Go to the page below and try the quiz you can find there. Then see the results and report on the conclusions.
http://www.emotionalwellbeingblog.com/2006/08/quiz-are-you-shopaholic.html
Assessment: Rate from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much)
Was this activity useful? ___ interesting ? ___ difficult? ____
B. Teenagers and consumerism
Watch the YouTube video called Teenage Affluenza and then do the tasks below
1.What is teenage affluenza?
Folow the link or go to Youtube and use the title to look up for the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjqDqR1iJ1Q
2. List:
Complaints of Australian teenagers
*
*
*
...
Life in poor countries
*
*
*
...
3. How does affluenza affect the lives of these tenagers?
And how does lack affect the lives of other people in less fortunate areas of the world?
4. Do you see yourself as these two Australian teens?
5. Is there a lesson affluent teens need to learn? State your reasons.
Assessment: Rate from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much)
Was this activity useful?___ interesting ? ___ difficult? ____
C. Physical image and consumerism, beauty and eternal youth, ideals of a time...
Points to consider
- How far would you go?
- How much money would you spend?
- Why would you do it?
III. Further practice
If you are specially interested in this topic, you can click the link below and watch the video. Never forget to be attentive and use your discernment.
Beauty and consumerism - the shaping of our world
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIPuf1P4AJA
Note: the text/script has some mistakes
Make some notes on any points you think relevant and wish to consider or discuss.
Assessment: Rate from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much)
Was this activity useful? ___ interesting ? _____ difficult? ____
Overall assessment of the tasks:
Rate from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much)
Leave your constructive comments and suggestions:
