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!

7UP - The What's Up Issue

Reading and Video Activity

Have you ever thought how certain names are originated?

Where does the name 7up come from?  What does it mean?

When you make assumptions or tentative associations, you can use the following language:

It sounds like... It reminds me of... It suggests...

It makes me think of... It could be... It may be...

For example: “The name 7up reminds me of the seven days in a week.”

Read the following article about the 7up history and discuss the questions below. Use the language above for TENTATIVE ASSOCIATIONS whenever possible.

7 Up was created by Charles Leiper Grigg, who came up with the formula for a lemon-lime soft drink in 1929. The product, originally named "Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda", was launched two weeks before the Wall Street Crash of 1929. The public quickly developed a taste for the soda. As it grew more and more popular, the original name was traded in for something short and sweet. Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda became known as 7UP. Although the origin of the name is unclear, it is believed that it comes from the seven main ingredients in the drink. Always at the frontier of taste and pop culture, 7UP was also among the first sodas to introduce sugar-free and caffeine free options. Through the years, ads  featured everything from a mascot named Spot, to Fido Dido to the "Make 7UP yours" tagline. However, the most successful campaign was in 1967, when 7UP brought the phrase UNCOLA into popular culture,  symbolizing being true to yourself and challenging the status quo. Adapted from 7up.com and wikipedia.com

Questions:

1.What do you think of the drink’s original name?

2.Why was it changed?

3.What is a possible explanation for the name 7up?

4.What does the tagline “Make 7up yours” mean to you?

5.What does the phrase “the Uncola” represent?

7up commercial

Complete the following chart about certain preferences that men and women may have.

“THE MALE MIND v. THE FEMALE MIND”

1.What kind of car do men like?	1.What kind of car do women like?
2.What could a fireplace represent to men?	2.What could a fireplace represent to women?
3.What kind of TV show do men enjoy watching?	3.What kind of TV show do women enjoy watching?
4.What is the perfect pet for men?	4.What is the perfect pet for women?

A)Whatch the 7up commercial and discuss the questions below:

1.Does the ad agree with your ideas about the male and the female mind? 
2.What do the following mean?

-Pink truck

-Fireplace to grill meat.

-Food show host tackled by football player.

-Cat that barks.

 B)Put the script lines in order. Then watch the ad again to check your work.

Man: Anything. Woman:But with just 10 calories, so we now both get what we want. Off Voice:Get both. Woman: We never saw eye to eye on anything. Off Voice: New 7up ten, great taste, 10 calories. Man: Both. Woman: We couldn't be happier. Man: Then we discovered the new 7up 10 has all the great taste of 7up

VOCABULARY:

“See eye to eye” = agree

 

ACTIVITY VERSION FOR GROUPS

Brainstorming, Discussion, Reading and Video Activity

Language Functions: Tentative associations, explaining meanings, agreeing and voting for a choice.

Part 1 : Brainstorming segment A – small groups

1) Share ideas: Make suggestions or say anything that comes to mind to answer the question below. There are no right or wrong comments. This is a free association exercise. You have 8 minutes to come up with a list of at east 15 possible answers. Every idea is welcome. No criticism or judgement, please!

QUESTION:  Where does the name 7up come from? What does it mean?

Language to use: Tentative Associations

It sounds like... It reminds me of... It suggests...

It makes me think of... It could be... It may be...

2)Class discussion: Share your list with the other groups. Write all ideas from each group for everyone to see – on a board, flipchart, etc.

Vote and select the top 5 answers.

Language to use: Selecting & Voting

I’m for...                    ...the idea about... I vote for...                ...the theory of... I agree with...           ...the one about... I choose...                ...the explanation about...

Part 2 : Reading and Discussion segment

Read the following article about the 7up history and discuss the questions below. Use the language above for TENTATIVE ASSOCIATIONS whenever possible.

7 Up was created by Charles Leiper Grigg, who came up with the formula for a lemon-lime soft drink in 1929. The product, originally named "Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda", was launched two weeks before the Wall Street Crash of 1929. The public quickly developed a taste for the soda. As it grew more and more popular, the original name was traded in for something short and sweet. Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda became known as 7UP. Although the origin of the name is unclear, it is believed that it comes from the seven main ingredients in the drink. Always at the frontier of taste and pop culture, 7UP was also among the first sodas to introduce sugar-free and caffeine free options. Through the years, ads  featured everything from a mascot named Spot, to Fido Dido to the "Make 7UP yours" tagline. However, the most successful campaign was in 1967, when 7UP brought the phrase UNCOLA into popular culture,  symbolizing being true to yourself and challenging the status quo. Adapted from 7up.com and wikipedia.com

Questions:

1.What do you think of the drink’s original name?

2.Why was it changed?

3.What is a possible explanation for the name 7up?

4.Did anyone come close during the brainstorming session?

5.What does the tagline “Make 7up yours” mean to you?

6.What does the phrase “the Uncola” represent?

Part 3 : Brainstorming B and Pre-watching Segment

Get in one of two groups: MALE STUDENTS or FEMALE STUDENTS and come up with the 3 answers requested in the chart. Follow the instructions for Brainstorming A, and first say anything that comes to mind. Finaly, vote for 3 final answers.

Chart for female students: “THE MALE MIND”

1.What kind of car do men like?	a).......................................... b).......................................... c)..........................................
2.What could a fireplace represent to them?	a).......................................... b).......................................... c)..........................................
3.What kind of TV show do they enjoy watching?	a).......................................... b).......................................... c)..........................................
4.What is the perfect pet for them?	a).......................................... b).......................................... c)..........................................

Chart for male students: “THE FEMALE MIND”

1.What kind of car do women like?	a).......................................... b).......................................... c)..........................................
2.What could a fireplace represent to them?	a).......................................... b).......................................... c)..........................................
3.What kind of TV show do they enjoy watching?	a).......................................... b).......................................... c)..........................................
4.What is the perfect pet for them?	a).......................................... b).......................................... c)..........................................

Share your ideas with the class, discuss and compare notes. Remember being sensitive to everyone.

Part 4 : Watching and Discussion Segment

A)Whatch the 7up commercial and discuss the questions below:

1.Does the ad agree with your ideas in the second brainstorming segment? 
2.What do the following mean?

-Pink truck

-Fireplace to grill meat.

-Food show host tackled by football player.

-Cat that barks.

 B)Put the script lines in order. Then watch the ad again to check your work.

Man: Anything. Woman:But with just 10 calories, so we now both get what we want. Off Voice:Get both. Woman: We never saw eye to eye on anything. Off Voice: New 7up ten, great taste, 10 calories. Man: Both. Woman: We couldn't be happier. Man: Then we discovered the new 7up 10 has all the great taste of 7up

VOCABULARY:

“See eye to eye” = agree

 Answers here!

Greetings - The What's Up Issue

Phrases and Reading Activity

There are many ways of greeting people in English, both formal and informal. you need to be careful about using informal expressions with people you do not know well or those with a higher rank than yours.

GREETING -INFORMAL Hi Hey, how's it going? What's up? Good to see you. How are things (with you)? How’s it going? How’s life been treating you?	GREETING - FORMAL Good morning Good afternoon Good evening How are you? It's good to see you.
GREETING SOMEONE YOU DON’T SEE OFTEN -INFORMAL How come I never see you? Such a long time! Long time no see. Where have you been hiding? It’s been ages (since we last met). What have you been up to (all these years)?	GREETING SOMEONE YOU DON’T SEE OFTEN - FORMAL How have you been? It has been a long time. It’s been too long. It’s always a pleasure to see you. How long has it been? I’m so happy to see you again.

Reading

Read the article and answer the questions that follow.

Modern etiquette: international greeting customs By Pamela Eyring (Reuters Life!)  In business, the first thing we do when we meet someone is shake hands. While it seems simple enough, this "first impression" greeting sends a powerful message about you and your respect for others. For the most part, the western-style handshake is the accepted form of greeting in the international business world. However, the manner in which it is performed varies from country to country. When doing business outside the United States, make sure you shake hands with everyone you greet and greet everyone in the room. Failure to do so is considered a rejection of those you omitted, and will be noticed. Also, be sure to shake hands upon arrival and departure. When meeting associates in the U.S. a firm handshake is preferred but when traveling abroad it's a different story. Here are a few ways you might be greeted by others when doing business abroad: JAPAN - Both handshaking and bowing are accepted forms of greeting in international business circles so take your lead from the person you are meeting. If shaking hands, do so lightly. If you are greeted with a bow, respond by bowing in kind. RUSSIA - Russians usually use a firm handshake when meeting a guest. If you've met the person before don't be surprised if the greeting includes a hug. Russian men customarily kiss their guest's cheeks (men and women alike) while women reserve such intimacies for other Russians and simply shake hands with foreigners. EUROPEANS - While their handshake is the western style, eastern and western Europeans re-shake hands whenever they are apart for a period of time. For example, it is considered polite to shake hands when you leave for lunch and when you return. ARAB COUNTRIES - Male friends may embrace and kiss each other on both cheeks following a light and lingering handshake. They also stand very close to one another when talking. If you are a non-Arab woman traveling to an Arab country, let the man offer his hand first because some Muslim men do not shake hands with women. Many Arab business women who often travel to Western countries shake hands with men and women. Let her offer her hand first. Adapted from  http://www.reuters.com

Questions

1. Which of the following forms of greetings is not mentioned in the article?

HUGGING  -  KISSING HELLO  - SHAKING HANDS  - WAVING  - BOWING

2. Is it common for everybody to kiss in Russia?

3. Where is bowing a custom?

4. Do business people hug in the US?

5. What is the international business greeting?

6. Where do people tend to stand very close to one another?

7. Do Russian shake hands again if they are apart for a while?

Answers here!