LOVE ACTUALLY I have prepared a lesson plan using the film Love Actually. I have chosen this film because I like it a lot and I think my students will also like it since it’s an entertaining comedy, and they will have a good time watching it, while they work their skills. Besides, it’s mainly about love, a suitable topic for teenagers and it’s set at Christmas, which is so close. I have prepared the exercises for a class of 4º E.S.O. There are 28 students in the class, but it’s the best class I’ve got this year and I’m sure they will do it very well because they have quite a good level of English and they are very hard-working. EXERCISE 1 Extract 1 (The beginning of the film): 00:48 - 1:56 - INTRODUCTION: WORKING WITH VOCABULARY AND SOME GRAMMAR (PRESENT CONTINUOUS) This exercise is divided into two parts. A) Watch the beginning of the film, without listening to it. While watching, answer these questions: - Where is the scene set? (Where are the people?) - What are the people doing? - Which objects can you see? - Which adjectives would you use to describe the people’s feelings? - Which family relationships can you guess among the people? B) Watch the extract again, but this time you have to fill in the blanks while you listen to it. - LISTEN AND COMPLETE: Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the __________, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow_________________. General opinion makes out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don’ t ______________ that. Seems to me that love is_________________. Often is not particularly dignified or newsworthy but it’s______________ there. _____________ and______________, ______________ and ______________, _____________ and ______________, _______________, _________________, old ________________. When the plane hit the Twin Towers, none of the phone______________ from people on board were messages of _____________ or revenge, but they were all messages of ________________. If you look for it, I’ve got the sneaky feeling you’ll find that __________________ _________________ is all around. Check your answers by watching and listening to it again, this time with the subtitles on. FOLLOW UP (Discussion) - Do you really think love is all around? Why? Why not? - Are you in love? - Is love important to you? EXERCISE 2 Extract 2 (Some of the main characters and their stories are introduced): 02:00 – 09:17 PAIRWORK. BACK TO THE SCREEN A) Student A watches the extract (without listening to it) and tells his/her partner, who is back to the screen, what’s going on. Student B takes notes and asks questions if he/she doesn’t understand the situation. 02:00 – 05:37 B) Change places and do the same. This time, student B tells his/her partner what he/she is watching and student A takes notes. 05:37 – 09:17 Once you have finished you will tell what you have understood from what you’ve been told. Very funny versions may emerge. Finally watch and listen with the subtitles on EXERCISE 3 Extract 3 (Sarah has a conversation with her boss): 17:30 – 19:22 GUESS OR INVENT A DIALOGUE A) Watch the extract without listening to the dialogue. Then try to guess how the two people are feeling and what they are talking about just by their reactions and the look on their faces. This vocabulary may help you: - SURPRISED, SAD, HAPPY, WORRIED, ANGRY, EMBARRASED - BOSS, EMPLOYEE B) Two students take the roles of the characters and act out the scene. The rest of the class can help them by telling them how they must act, what they can say next... C) Finally, watch it again in full and find out if you guessed it right. Is it similar or different from what you had thought? EXERCISE 4 Extract 4 (We find out a bit more about some of the characters): 23:51 – 32:00 TRUE OR FALSE? Watch, listen, read the subtitles and decide if the statements below are TRUE or FALSE. 1. Colin is going to California. 2. He (Colin) is going to the USA to work. 3. Mia has to organise a party. 4. She (Mia) has got a jealous boyfriend. 5. Daniel is worried about Samuel. 6. Samuel’s problem is that he wants to be a musician. 7. Jamie is a painter. 8. Sarah lives with his boyfriend. EXERCISE 5 Extract 5 (Jamie and the Portuguese girl): 43:36 – 47:07 BACK TO THE SCREEN Turn round so that you can’t see the screen; listen to the scene, and guess what’s going on just by paying attention to the voices, the noises... - What noises have you heard? - What do you think is happening? Watch it and see how right you were about your guesses. EXERCISE 6 Extract 6 (At the party): 1:01:43 – 1:04:10 A) PUT THE LINES IN ORDER. Watch, listen and put the lines in order. - You’re looking very pretty tonight. - Sorry? - Yes, thanks. - Some more than others. - Unless you just... - Before we run out of chances. - Who, me? - I suppose it’s his job to dance with everyone, isn’t it? - Not my boyfriend. - No! no! Good - You’re a saint! - Just one dance? - It’s all for you, sir. - Any chance of a dance with the boss? - It’s for you. - As long as your boyfriend doesn’t mind. B) Listen again, this time with the subtitles on in order to make it easy. C) WHO SAYS WHAT? Match each line with the character who says it: - SARAH, the fair- haired lady - KARL, the handsome bloke - MIA, the black-haired lady - KAREN, the middle- aged lady - HARRY, the middle-aged man
