ESL 11A
Name_____________________________________________
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Preview Questions:
Before viewing the film, answer the following questions in your group. Jot down your
answers.
1. Are you married or engaged? If so, explain how you met your partner. If not,
explain how you think you will meet your future partner.
2. How much of a role did/will your family play in the selection and/or approval of
your mate?
3. Do you think your family is typical of most people in your culture with regard to
ideas about courtship and marriage? In what ways are your ideas about dating
and marriage similar to or different from your family’s ideas?
WATCH the film and take notes.
Post viewing MBFGW Questions:
After viewing the film, review your notes and answer the following questions in your
group.
1. What did Toula’s mother mean when she said, “The man is the head (of the family,)
but the woman is the neck -- and she can turn the head any way she wants?” Do you
agree or disagree with this statement? What is the traditional role of men/women within
the family in your culture? In your family? In your mind?
2. Why did the Pourtokalous’ suddenly begin inviting different single men to their home
for dinner? What was Toula’s reaction?
3. What did Toula’s brother Nick mean when he said (quoting Dear Abby), “Don’t let
your past dictate who you are, but let it be part of who you will become?” Tell why you
agree or disagree with the statement.
4. What did Toula’s father mean when he said, “My daughter is marrying into a family
that is dry -- like toast.”? Why did he seem sad that she was “marrying toast?”
5. What did Toula and Ian like about each other? What did they like about each other’s
families? What did they misunderstand about each other’s families?
11A Comparison/Contrast: Fill in the boxes below with examples from MBFGW and
FIF. Then, choose at least 3 of the 6 criteria and write a paragraph on a separate sheet
comparing/contrasting the two fathers. Use either block or point by point structure.
__Criteria______________
A
B__________
Characteristic or Event + Costa – Toula’s father
Kazem – Firoozeh’s
example from text or film
father
1. Obsession
2. Attitude about Women
3. Ideas about Family
(including family of
origin)
4. Attitudes about Living
in America and Allegiance
to Native Culture
5. Relationship to Food
6. Personality
ESL 11A
NAME_____________________________
Read Reading Two: “What’s Wrong with Tradition?” Letter to the Editor on p.183 in
Northstar (RW). Then answer the question on NS (RW) p.84 -- your response to Paul
Nguyen.
ESL 11A Persuasion
Name ______________________________
In the very last line of the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Toula tells her
daughter, “You may marry anyone you want to.” In a well organized, well supported,
grammatically correct paragraph, answer the following prompt:
Should a man or woman marry someone from a different culture?
Use a separate paper. Skip lines. Do not write on the back page.
Paragraph Checklist:
Interesting Title: (Important words in caps; the title should be centered.)
Hook: (The hook should engage the reader. Be sure it is indented!)
Topic Sentence:
(Make sure the t.s. answers exactly and only the question being asked. It may
even contain some of the words in the question, e.g. A woman should [should
not] marry…)
Reason #1
Support from reading, film, personal observation:
Example
Fact
Statistic or other proof
Reason #2
Support from reading, film, personal observation:
Example
Fact
Statistic or other proof
Reason #3
Support from reading, film, personal observation:
Example
Fact
Statistic or other proof
Conclusion or Transition