At the movies

At the movies

The objective

To discuss and debate various aspects of the film-going experience

The language

Present tense for habits

Past simple

Question forms

The set-up

Write down notes or fully written account about your last experience going to the cinema. Include things like, how you chose the film, when you went, how you bought the ticket, what the cinema is like, whether or not you bought concessions (why or why not), how the seats were, how big the cinema was, any incidents (annoying people, for example), whether there were a lot of previews or not and what you like/dislike about going to the cinema in general.

The low-down

Explain to the class that you´re going to tell them about the last time you went to the cinema. Ask them to listen and see if they recognize which cinema you went to. Also mention that they can ask you questions if they want. Tell your story as naturally as possible. Allow people to interrupt, asking for repetition or asking questions (reformulate their question on board before answering). When you´re finished, tell the class if no one guesses and ask if anyone has been. Was their experience similar? Once finished, ask them to decide in pairs the topics you mentioned, for example (on board): How/why you chose the film. Check in open class and as you do, ask them to answer the questions as you go through each topic.

Now what?

Now ask them to do the same with their partners, explain their last experience--including these topics mentioned--without naming the cinema. They can prepare notes first if necessary or directly explain. This will generate lots of conversation about the cinema-going experience in general, as well as about the films they saw.

Time to teach

Make sure that throughout, you´re writing down all the new vocabulary that appears, going into as much detail as possible in order to elicit new vocabulary. Review the vocabulary in a quiz game. Arrange students into teams and define new vocabulary aloud, as they listen, they write down their answers.

More talk-time

What´s your opinion about 3-D films? Are they worth the money?

What´s your opinion about the cost of going to the cinema? Is it worth the money?

How often do you go to the cinema?

What do you like the most about going to the cinema? The least?