Validation

Video activity – 16.24 minutes

Language - Paying compliments in English

Watch a beautiful short film by director Kurt Kuenne to practise using positive adjectives and paying compliments.

1. Pre-watching discussion:

What is a compliment to you?  What is definitely not a compliment? How often do you say nice things to your friends or family? Do you ever pay a compliment to your classmates, teachers, coworkers or bosses? How do you feel when someone pays you a compliment? Surprised, happy, self-conscious?

 2. Structures:

Learn the following structures for paying compliments or making positive comments to people.

Be + so/ very / really + adjective	Have  + adjective + noun	Item of clothing/ accessory/ color +  suit/ match/ flatter	That’s a + adjective + noun Those are + adjective +noun
“Tom, you’re so funny.”	“Lucy, you have an amazing attitude.”	“Jack, that teeshirt really suits you.”	“Tim, that’s a great tie.”
“Juana, you’re very elegant today.”	“Serena, you have a great sense of humor.”	“Cora, your necklace matches perfectly with your eyes.”	“Ana, that’s a fantastic smile.”
“Marianne, you’re really kind to everybody.”	“Ricky, you have a wonderful laugh.”	“Ingrid, red flatters you very much.”	“Mario, those are awesome shoes.”

Practice saying a few positive comments of your own.

3.  Watching

In this short film a parking attendant gives customers real validation* -dispensing free parking and free compliments.

*Validation means approval.  Parking validation is free parking given by businesses to their customers.

PART 1

1a-Watch the first segment (up to 04.00) of the movie and answer TRUE or FALSE.

A)Hugh validates parking for a shop.  

B)A few people start coming to see him for compliments.

C)People are not buying, they just come to see him.

D)His boss is angry with him.

E)He compliments famous people.

F)There’s no one Hugh cannot make smile.

1b-Mini debate:

What will happen next? Will Hugh live happily ever after validating people and parking? What could go wrong?

2a-Watch the second segment (from 04.00 up to 07.37) of the movie and answer TRUE or FALSE.

G)Smiling in a driver’s license photo is not allowed.

H)He makes the photographer girl smile during her working hours.

I)Hugh is sad and thinks there’s no point in validating people anymore.

2b-Mini debate:

What will happen next? Will Hugh live unhappily for the rest of his life? What could brighten his days?

3a-Watch the third segment (from 07.37 up to the end) of the movie and answer TRUE or FALSE.

J)He becomes a famous photographer.

K)One day he sees a driver’s license with a photo of Victoria.

L)She was fired from her job for smiling.

M)He finds her taking passport photos.

N)No one can smile in passport photos.

O)She didn’t smile for years because her mother did not smile either.

P)Victoria had looked for him but couldn’t find him.

Q)Someone told Hugh for the first time that he was amazing.

3b-Mini debate:

How did you like this film? What is its message? What could be the effect of complimenting people in a society?

PART 2 – Re arrange the words in each statement to make a few of Hugh’s compliments from the film – other combinations may be possible. 

Then, watch again and/or check your work in the answer section.

e.g.  awesome / ‘re / you   = You’re awesome.

A) an / face / have / amazing / you   

B)  features / you / powerful / have

C) ‘re /  amazing  / you / cheekbones/ and/ great /have / you    

D) appreciate / people / have / much / other / life/ so / that / don’t/ you / experience

E) and / suit / you / fantastic / flatters / it / that / really / is / a

F) a / have / golf/ you / swing / great

G) have / moustache / you / a / fantastic  

H) in/ are / shape / you / great

I) ‘re / and / so / you / ‘re / efficient / amazing / you

J) a/ name / ‘s / beautiful / that

K) seen / ‘ve / the / eyes / have / ever/ most / you / beautiful / I

L) great / ‘re / pet / you / a / owner

M) reason / you / to / smile / have / every

N) beautiful / ‘re / you / couple / a

O) and / dress / eyes / your / your / matches / are / gorgeous /your

Answers here!

The History of Valentine's Day

Video activity - 3.39 minutes

Do you know why Valentine’s day falls on February 14th? How did this holiday originate? Where does it come from?

Watch the clip and choose the best option to the statements or questions below.

1The origin of this holiday can be traced back to

a)Greece  b)Rome  c)Ireland

2.Lupercalia was a festival

a)celebrated in mid February   b)in honour of Romulus

c)in honor of a saint

3.The Roman god of fertility was

a)Pan  b)Cupid  c)Faunus

4.When was February 14th declared St. Valentine's Day to validate the pagan festival?

a)in the 4th century  b)in the 5th century  c)in the 15th century

5.There were several saints called Valentine.

a)True  b)False

6.Claudius, the emperor,...

a)banned marriages of soldiers  b)wanted his soldiers to be married  c)wanted Father Valentine to celebrate weddings

7.Valentine was sentenced to death because...

a)he was in love with the emperor's daughter  b)he didn't obey the emperor's orders  c)he didn't want to celebrate weddings

8.February 14th is the day when

a)Valentine was executed  b)the emperor died  c)Valentine's girlfriend died

9.The note “from your Valentine” was first witten...

a)by the emperor’s daughter  b)by Father Valentine  c)by the Roman people

10.Cupid is described as...

a)the Greek god of love  b)the lost son of Venus  c)the winged match-maker

11.How many roses are sold approximately on this day in the US?

a)180 million   b)18 million    c)1.8 million

12.How many heart-shaped boxes of candy are sold approximately on this day in the US?

a)6 billion    b)36 million   c)16million

13.How much money do Americans spend during this holiday?

a)14 million dollars  b)40 million dollars  c)14 billion dollars

14.According to the poets “Love...

a)...doesn’t need gifts”  b)...is really all you need”  c)...grows everywhere.”

Answers here!

New Year In Times Square

Vocabulary, Reading & Video Activity

The New Year's celebration in Times Square in New York is well known around the globe. How did it originate? What do the preparations involve? What are the details of this emblematic event?

A.Vocabulary: Match the terms and pictures. Which do you expect to find at the event in Times Square?  

Fireworks - Confetti   -  LED  - Party hat  - Cheerleaders  - Baloons   Sparkling wine  - Porta-Potties   - Party props  - Snacks

 

TIMES SQUARE

Every year as the clock nears midnight on December 31, the eyes of the world turn once more to the dazzling lights and bustling energy of Times Square. Anticipation runs high. New Year's Eve at the symbolic center of New York City has become more than just a celebration — it's a global tradition.

The world holds its breath, and cheers as the clocks strike twelve.

As the famous New Year's Eve Ball descends atop One Times Square, countless people watch Times Square, nationwide, and throughout the world and are united in bidding collective farewell to the departing year and expressing joy and hope for the year ahead.

Text source: www.timessquarenyc.org

VIDEO - History of New Year's Eve In Times Square,  New York

B. QUIZ : Watch the clip and answer the questions below.

 

 

1.When did the celebrations begin in Times Square?

 

2.Where was the celebration held before that?

 

3.How did the tradition of the glowing Ball happen?

4.How many times was the tradition cancelled?

5.How many versions of the glowing ball were?

6.When was the current ball introduced?

Answers here!

The Perfect Coffee

Conversation, vocabulary & video

A)Match the terms to the pictures:

an espresso – instant coffee – a French press or Cafetier  a latte -   an Italian percolator/coffe maker  an espresso machine  -  a plastic cup with a lid

B)Discuss the questions below with a parter or in small groups.

Do you drink coffee, tea or any kind of hot drink in the morning? What kind of coffee do you prefer? Do you care if you have instant or blend coffee? Is there a particular brand or coffee shop that you like? What’s the best method to prepare a perfect cup of coffee: a French Press, an Italian Coffee Maker, an Espresso Machine,..? Do you know the difference between blend, cappuccino, espresso, latte, etc? Is coffee bad for you?  Does coffee affect your appetite? Does coffee have any health benefits? Which?

C)VIDEO Segment: Whatch the clip. Are these statements TRUE or FALSE? Correct the ones you think are wrong.

1. You can make a decent cup of coffee with any good coffee maker.

2.14 grams of coffee for 2 cups is a right amount.

3.They are using a cafetiere for 7 cups.

4.You will also need mineral water.

5.Oxigen helps percolate(a) the coffee.

6.It is best to pour(b) a little water, stir(c) and then pour the rest of the water.

7.To stir is very important.

8.Coffee needs to brew for at least 2 minutes.

Glossary: (a)filter  (b) serve liquids  (c)mix in circular  motions

Answers here!

Tom’s Diner, a song by Suzanne Vega

Song, listening & vocabulary

A diner is a small, usually inexpensive restaurant with a long counter and designed to resemble a dining car on a train. They are characteristic of American life, especially in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and in other areas of the Northeastern United States, as well as in the Midwest.

1.Listen to the song and mark the words mentioned.

https://youtu.be/j4jtIDaeaWI
  

morning	tea	Milk	umbrella	afternoon
chair	corner	Rain	table	window
clock	cake	horoscope	midnight	boy
cathedral	train	question	picnic	reflection
Paper	eyes	woman	waiter	voice

2.Listen again if necessary  and answer the questions below. Afterwards, read the lyrics and compare your responses.

1. Where is she?
2. What is she doing?
3. What is she thinking about?
4. Who else is mentioned in the song? What are they doing?
5. Is this a happy or a sad song? Why?

Answers here!