Films, songs, photos and games

as course support in the process

of teaching and learning specific
English

Ela VĂLIMĂREANU
(source: Dynamics of Specialised Languages. Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment of
Specialised Languages, Cluj, Casa Cărţii de Ştiinţă, 2009, p.148-154)
 Exercises on a film:
Short scene of THE ENGLISH PATIENT
Screenplay by
Anthony Minghella
Based on the Novel by
Michael Ondaatje
Directed by
Anthony Minghella
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116209/ (internet movie database)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFapxzXjw8o (full movie online)
http://two-movies.com/watch_movie/English_Patient_The (download the
movie)
 Several stages in doing the task and developing study skills by a blending of
general and specific English (for students in Geography and Tourism).
Four study skills improved throughout this exercise:

I. Reading Comprehension: script Hand-outs given to students asked to read the

excerpt of the script to get familiar with the context.

II. Listening Comprehension : the short scene taken from the film is played twice.
Students supposed to put in the right order the mixed-up lines to make a
coherent script.

III. Speaking skills: Students asked to sum the scene up, to highlight examples of
winds described in the scene and speak about their mythical significance, to
outline the two characters, to intuit the starting point of their intimacy.

IV. Writing skills: Students asked to write down a weather forecast announcing
this sand storm. Then to think of different ways of ‘how this story should be
continued’ and find an end to it. Finally to read over the setting description and
write a short composition/fictional story focusing on nature/environment details.
84. INT. CAR. NIGHT.
Inside the cabin, the sand swirling around them, Katharine and Almásy
sit without speaking. Dawn is trying to break through. He pours a
little water into a mug so that they can wash out their eyes and noses
and mouths. She takes her silk scarf and first dries her eyes with it,
then dries his.
KATHARINE
Will we be all right?
ALMÁSY
Yes is a comfort. Absolutely is not.
KATHARINE
This is not very good, is it?
ALMÁSY
Yes. Absolutely.
KATHARINE
No.
85. EXT. THE DESERT. DAWN.
The sand is piling up against the two cars, the tent is swept from its
moorings, the water cans are hurled up too, and then plunge ominously
into sand drifts as if going under an ocean.
ALMÁSY
...let me tell you about winds. The Ghibli which rolls and rolls and produces a rather strange and
nervous condition...There is a whirlwind from the Southern Morocco, the Aajej, And there is The
Ghibli from Tunis… against which the fellahin defend themselves with knives.

And we hear Katharine's laugh.

Almasy sits alongside Katharine, whose head is against his shoulder.
He continues his story of winds.

ALMÁSY
Then there is the Harmathan…Red sand from this wind has flown as far as the south coast of
England, apparently producing showers so dense they were mistaken for blood….a red wind
which Mariners called the sea of darkness.

KATHARINE
It’s all true. Herodotus, your friend... it…And he writes about a wind - the Simoon – which a
nation thought it so evil that declared war against it and marched out against it in full battle
dress, their swords raised…he writes about

ALMÁSY
We have a house on that coast and it’s never, never rained blood. Fiction.

THE DESERT. DAY. MORNING.

The sand has almost COMPLETELY ENGULFED the car on the
exposed side, covering the windshield like snow, and encroaching onto
the door of the protected flank.
Exercises on a song: Fred Astaire - Cheek to cheek
Heaven, I'm in Heaven,
And my heart beats ………………………;
And I seem to find the happiness …………
When we're out together dancing, …………….

Heaven, I'm in Heaven,

And the …………………………. thro' the week
Seem to vanish like a ……………………………
When we're out together dancing, ………………..

Oh! I love to ……………………..,

And to reach ………………………,
But it doesn't …………………………
………………………………………..

Oh! I love …………………………..

In a river …………………………….,
But I don't enjoy ……………………….
………………………………………….

Dance with me
I want my arm about you;
…………………….. about you
……………….. thro' to Heaven

Heaven, I'm in Heaven,

And my heart beats ………………………;
And I seem to find the happiness …………
When we're out together dancing, …………….
Lexis:
1. gapped text- to develop Listening and Reading comprehension: fill in with the missing
words
2. seek (irregular verb)
verb (formal use): to try to find or get something: seeking asylum, refuge, jobs; ask for
help, approval, permission: Legal advice should be sought before you take any further
action; to try or attempt: Seek to reassure her.
phrasal verb: seek sb/sth out (formal use)
noun: job seekers, asylum seekers
-ing suffixed adjective: seeking (attention-seeking)
Exercise: find synonyms in informal use.

2. cheek: different word meaning; informal (speak impudently,have the cheek to), idioms
(turn the other cheek, cheek by jowl; word family: cheeky, cheeking, cheek-bone, cheeked,
etc.

3. Developing Speaking and Writing skills: find in the song text ways of spending free time.

Grammar Focus:
1. V+so that to express intensity of feeling. Think of some examples of this pattern and use
the modal Can and the adverb Hardly to enhance intensity.
Model: My heart beats so that I can hardly speak.
2. Degrees of comparison to express intensity: half as much as. Think of some examples.
Exercises on photos (developing Speaking and Writing skills as ‘Integrated skills’):
http://www.intrepidtravel.com/destinations/morocco/GoogleAdWords?s_kwcid=sahara%20tour|2796951101
1.Look at the following photos and imagine an
itinerary in Sahara. You can either be the guide or
a tourist in this Sahara tour. Speak about different
tourist attractions and places of interest.
2. Homework or ‘food for thought’: watch the
whole film or read Michael Ondaatje’s beautiful
novel (each student a part of the novel working in
teams) and make a map of The English Patient’s
itinerary. Other teams will be asked to present
Count Almasy’diary tracking the evolution of his
feelings for Katherine as well as his/his team’s
achievements in mapping and charting the desert.
 Games to develop speaking skills:
In two teams play the Geographical Game of Africa, in a tour
through the different most important States, cities and famous
places of Africa. Think about traditions and customs, geography,
climate, safari trips, food and drinks, mosques and religious habits.
THANK YOU!!
Cheer up with this piece of English Black Humour

Due to the current financial crisis facing the world a the

moment, the light at the end of the tunnel will be switched
off to save on electricity costs, until further notice.

Sincerely yours, God