Conv er s at i onQues t i ons Env i r onment&Pol l ut i on •
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A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom. Classroom. Are there litter laws where you you live? If so, what is the penalty for littering? Do you thin !ars shoul" #e #anne" from !ity !enters? Do you thin people shoul" re!y!le newspapers? $hy or why not? Do you thin there are lessons to learn from nature? %ow has the worl" !hange" sin!e you were a !hil"? &te!hnology, values, environment, health' %ow often is gar#age !olle!te" in your neigh#orhoo"? If humans are really intelligent an" not simply manipulate" #y their genes lie any other animal, why !an(t they "o anything a#out overpopulation? $hat are some things that !an #e re!y!le"? $hat are some things that your !ommunity is "oing to help the? $hat are some things whi!h you re!y!le? $hat are some types of pollution? $hat are some ways that you !an re"u!e pollution in this !ountry? $hat !an you "o to help prevent pollution? $hat !an you "o to mae this worl" a #etter pla!e? $hat "o you thin of people who smoe !igarettes in"oors? $hi!h is more important, in!reasing people(s stan"ar" of living, or prote!ting the environment? )hin of a situation in your area involving this issue. $hi!h si"e woul" you !hoose? $ho "o "o you thin thin is more respon responsi#le si#le for polluti pollution, on, in"ivi in"ivi"ual "ual people or the government? E+plain. $hat is the the most most importa important nt issue issue fa!ing fa!ing the environ environment ment to"ay? to"ay? Do you now a#out any antipollu antipollution tion programs programs in in your your !ommunity? $hat a#out programs in your native !ountry? Do you you usual usually ly "rin "rin #ot #ottle tle" " water water? ? $hy or or $hy not? not? If you you !oul" !oul" !hoose !hoose one one alternati alternative ve energy energy sour!e sour!e to "evelop "evelop whi!h one woul" you !hoose? $hy? Are !ompan !ompanies ies more more or or less less environm environmental entally ly respons responsi#le i#le now now than than they were in the past? $hy "o you thin that is? • •
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2 Do you thin re!y!ling is an important !ommunity servi!e? Do you re!y!le? 3 $ho shoul" pay for the !osts asso!iate" with renewa#le energy? 45 Shoul" we mae the "evelopment of renewa#le energy sour!es an e!onomi! priority? 44 $hat are some ways energy is waste"? 4* $hat types of energy are popular in your native !ountry? 4 $hat is the main pro#lem with renewa#le energy sour!es? 4- $hat !an large !ities "o to improve their air 6uality? 4/ %ow !an we prote!t the environment an" at the same time improve people(s stan"ar" of living? 40 Do you thin overpopulation is an important environmental issue? $hy or why not? 41 Shoul" an environmental levy #e impose" on S78s not use" in the farming !ommunity? %ow woul" this help the environment? 42 Shoul" gas for motorists #e more e+pensive? $hat woul" #e the a"vantages an" "isa"vantages of this? 43 Do thin glo#al warming is real? Do you thin this is an effe!t of pollution? *5 Are worrie" a#out glo#al warming? *4 If you live on an islan" or on the !oast "oes this in!rease the "anger from glo#al warming? $hy? ** $hat(s happening to forests in the worl"? * $hat happens when we remove forests? *- $hat !an we "o to prote!t forests? */ $hy shoul" we re!y!le? *0 Does your lo!al government mae it easy or har" for !iti9ens to re!y!le? *1 Are there people in your !ountry who mae their living from pi!ingup other people(s gar#age? *2 %ow is pollution effe!ting the environment of the 7nite" States to"ay? %ow a#out your own !ountry? *3 Does your !ountry have a smoing #an law in pla!e? 5 $hat are the #enefits: "isa"vantages of a smoing #an? 4 %ow "o in"ivi"ual "e!isions a#out num#er of !hil"ren affe!t overall population num#ers? * $hat is glo#al warming? Do you thin nu!lear power safe? $ho shoul" #e allowe" it an" why? $ho shoul" poli!e it? - In what ways !an we save more water? Please tell your e+perien!es. •
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/ $hat shoul" we "o to in!rease the awareness a#out environmental pollution? 0 Do you have any i"eas on how to minimi9e the use of plasti! #ags an" Styrofoam #o+es? 1 Does your lo!al government mae it easy or har" for !iti9ens to re!y!le?
Conv er s at i onQues t i ons Adv er t i s i ng A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom. •
$hat is the most sho!ing a"vertisement you have seen?
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$hat is the funniest a"vertisement you have seen? Des!ri#e it.
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$hat maes an a" memora#le?
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$hat are the "ifferent types of a"vertising? &Eg. )8'
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$hat types of !ompanies !hoose ea!h type?
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Do you #uy pro"u!ts #e!ause of a"vertising?
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Do you fin" a"vertising persuasive?
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$hy "o you #uy one pro"u!t over another?
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Shoul" a"vertisers #e allowe" to a"vertise to !hil"ren?
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Shoul" al!ohol or to#a!!o !ompanies #e allowe" to a"vertise? $hy or why not?
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$hat "o you thin of !ele#rity en"orsements?
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$hi!h !ele#rities a"vertise whi!h pro"u!ts?
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Do favorite or annoying !ele#rities mae you want or not want to #uy a pro"u!t?
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Shoul" there #e a"vertisementfree 9ones?
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Is there truth in a"vertising?
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$hat in" of a"vertisements attra!t your attention?
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$hy is it ne!essary to a"vertise?
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Do you thin a"vertising shoul" #e allowe" to interrupt )8 or ra"io programs? $hat are the alternatives?
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$hat is the #est way to a"vertise to !hil"ren? A"ults? Seniors? et!..
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Do you thin a"vertising is too e+pensive?
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$hat are some effe!tive a"verts you have seen lately &on )8, newspaper, et!'?
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$hat are some ineffe!tive a"verts you have seen lately?
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Can you remem#er an a"vertising !ampaign that !aught your attention?
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$hat are the "ifferent metho"s of a"vertising?
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$hat is the most popular way of a"vertising?
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Do you thin that the Internet an" !a#le:satellite )8 have #e!ome more important than national )8 for a"vertising pro"u!ts?
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$hat "o you thin is the #est way of "is!overing the tastes an" interests of teenage !onsumers?
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Can )8 a"vertising #e a for!e for goo"?
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%ow easy "o you thin it is to influen!e !hil"ren with a"vertising?
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Do you agree with anti!onsumerism organi9ations that the !hil" will have wat!he" /5,555 !ommer!ials #y the time she gra"uates from high s!hool?
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Do you thin the government has he right to #an a"vertising for ;un foo" an" so"a "uring !hil"ren(s )8 programs. $hat "o you thin a#out this? $hy "o you thin they ma"e this "e!ision?
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Do politi!al parties in &!ountry' use )8 a"vertising? If so, shoul" they?
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$hen out waling or shopping in the !ity, "o you a!!ept a"vertising fliers or free samples that are offere" to you?
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$hat forms of a"vertising are there?
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$hat woul" mae an a"vertisement more interesting?
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Can you #uy something an" get something for free in your !ountry?
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Do people use !oupons where you live?
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$hat is the most a"vertise" pro"u!t in your !ountry?
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$hat is the #est form of a"vertising?
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$hat gets you intereste" in an a"vertisement?
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Des!ri#e an a"vertisement that you have seen or hear" on the )8 or ra"io. $hat was it a#out? %ow long "i" the !ommer!ial last? Di" it mae you want to #uy the pro"u!t?
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$hat is the funniest !ommer!ial that you have seen? Des!ri#e it.
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$hat "ifferen!es !an you noti!e #etween !ommer!ials from 45 or 4/ years ago an" !ommer!ials to"ay?
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Do you thin a"s influen!e the !hoi!es you mae when you #uy !lothes?
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Do you often #uy a parti!ular #ran" when you #uy !lothes?
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$hy "o you #uy this #ran"?
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Does it give status to wear parti!ular #ran"s lie
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Do you sometimes want very e+pensive things whi!h you or your parents !an(t affor"?
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Do you thin a"s influen!e the !hoi!es you mae when you or your parents #uy foo"?
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$hat #ran" is the et!hup you or your parents #uy?
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Is it always the same #ran"? $hy "o you prefer this #ran"?
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$hat #ran" is the toothpaste you or your parents #uy?
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Can you name three "ifferent ways of a"vertising? &=or e+ample, "ifferent me"ia'
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Do you thin there are too many a"s in television? $hy:why not?
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Do you now why some !hannels have a"s an" others not? If you "o now e+plain.
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Do you thin there are too many a"s in maga9ines? $hy:why not?
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Do you thin there are too many a"s in newspapers? $hy:why not?
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)hin of an a" you thin is goo" or funny an" tell a#out it.
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$hat in"s of a"s "o you lie an" why? $hat maes a goo" a"?
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Do you thin !hil"ren or young people are easier to influen!e through a"s !ompare" to a"ults?
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Do you thin it(s o to show a"s aime" at !hil"ren on television? $hy: why not?
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$hen you wat!h )8, how mu!h attention "o you pay to the a"vertisements?
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$hi!h a"vertisements "o you lie most an" whi!h least? $hy?
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%ow woul" you a"vertise something you wante" to sell?
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$hat are the harmful an" the #enefi!ial effe!ts of a"vertising?
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Do you thin that a"s !reate a "esire for more an" more material possessions?
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Do you thin that !ommer!ials on )8 are annoying #e!ause they interrupt programs or "o you thin that many a"s are more amusing that the programs on )8?
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Do you thin a"vertising is too e+pensive? $hat are the "ifferent metho"s of a"vertising?
http://podbay.fm/show/188247710/e/1174142916?autostart=1
I nt r oduct i on Hi ,Lor i her ewel c omi ngy out oano t herepi s odeofReal Engl i s hCon v er s at i onsf r om Be t t eratEngl i s hdo tc om.I nt oda y’ sepi s ode,Mi c hael andIe x c hanges ome opi ni onsaboutt el ev i s i on,par t i c ul ar l ywi t hr es pec tt oc ommer c i al sandadv er t i s i ng. I nt hi sc on v er s at i onwedi s c ov ers omedi ff er enc esb et weenBr i t i s handAmer i c an Engl i s hv oc abul ar y , andus es omee v er y da yphr as al v er bs .Asal wa y s,y ou ’ l l fi nd t hef ul l t r ans cr i ptandv oc abul ar yl i s tont hewebs i t e,www. bet t er at engl i s h. c om. Bef or el i s t eni ngt ot hec onv er s at i on,y oumi ghtwantt opaus eandt hi nkaboutt he f ol l owi ngques t i ons : 1 .Ar ey o ui n fl u en c e db yTVa dv e r t i s i n g? 2 .I fs o ,t h enho wa r ey o ui n fl ue nc e d? 3.DoTVc ommer c i al sat t emptt oappeal t opeopl e ’ sl ogi cort ot hei remo t i ons ? 4.I swat c hi ngTVi sac ons t r uc t i v eac t i v i t y , ori si tmor eawas t eoft i me? OK,wi t houtf ur t herado,her ei st hec onv er s at i on.
Conv e r s at i onT r a ns cr i pt Lor i :TVi ss oev i l .
Mi c hael :[ l aughs ] L:Imean,don’ t …don’ onTV–whatat i mewast eranda te v enge tmest a r t e d t i mes uc keri ti s ,and…andal l oft hehor r i bl e…al l oft hehor r i bl emes sagest hat y o u’ r ebo mba r d edwi t hi fy o uar e ,y o uk no w,j us to neo ft h es epe op l ewh oc ome s ho mei nt h ee v eni ng ,t ur nsont h eTVa ndj u s th ast heTVo nk i n do fi nt h e bac k gr oundunt i l y ougot obedatni ght .Somepeopl eev enf al l as l eepi nt hei r bedr oomswi t ht heTVon. M:Yeah,wel l Idon ’ tk no w…It hi nkpeopl ewoul dper hapsus et hi sf ordi ff er ent r eas ons .I fy ouj us twants omebac k gr oundnoi s e,ma ybet he yj us tr egar di tt he s a mewa yt h eywo ul ddopu t t i n go napi e c eo fmu s i c … L :Ye ah M:…i nt h eb ac k g r o un d,j u s tt oh a v es o mea mb i a nc e … L :Y ea h. M:…a st h e y ’ r egoi ngabout t hei re v eni ng,butIdok no w whaty oumean.It hi nk t hatal o tofpr ogr amsar eac ompl e t ewas t eoft i me. L:Wel l s ee,t hat ’ st het hi ng.Idon’ tt hi nkpeopl es houl dbel i mi t edt owat c hi ngt hi ngs t hatar eeduc at i onal .Imean,t her e ’ snot hi ngwr ongwi t hwat c hi ngs omet hi ngt hat ’ s j us tent er t ai ni ng.[ I t ' sj us t ]t hatt her e’ ss omuc h…umm…j us tr eal l ynegat i v es t uffout t h e r e . M:Yes .I …ButIt hi nkt hat ’ s …t hat ’ st hec ommer c i al s i deofi t ,andunl es sy ouhav e s ome t h i n gl i k ei nEn gl a ndf ore x ampl e–t heBBC–t h eydo n’ th av ea dv e r t i s eme nt s . L:[ l aughs ] M:Th ey …t h eyge tt h ei r … L :Ad s ! M:…revenuef r o m… e r t i s ement s L:Doy our eal l ys ayt hat ,adv ?Youdon’ tsay…? er t sbut e r t i s ement s M:Yes !That ’ sr i ght ,wel l wewoul ds ayadv ,oradv ,y e ah.
o mme r c i a l s L:Ev e nf ort heon est hatar eont heTV?Youdon ’ tc al l t hem c ?
M:No,no!Wewoul dn’ t …Imean,Iknow…weknow whatcommer ci al sar e,butno, headv er t s wewoul dsayt .
L:Real l y ? headv er t s M:“ I ’ m goi ngt omak eac upoft eawhi l s tt ar eon, ”t hat ’ swhatwewou l d
s a y . L:Oht hat ’ sf unn ybe caus ea s…Ic an ’ ts pea kf oral l Amer i c ans ,butf oranAmer i c an o mmer c i a l s wewoul ddefi ni t el yc al l t hos et hi ngsy ouseeonTVc .
M:Ri ght ,r i ghtt hat ’ s …t hat ’ swhatIhearAmer i c anscal l i ngt hem butwe… L :Y ea h. d v e r t s M:…wecal l t hem a .
L:OK,i nt er es t i ng M:Butt hat ’ s ,umm,wi t ht heBBCt he ydon ’ tge tt hei rmone yf r om adv …adv er t i s i ng, t he yge ti tf r om t heTVl i c ens e,whi c hy ouha v et opa yj us tf oro wni ngaTVe v er y y ear ,andt hat ’ swhat …y ouk no w,t he yk eepi tf r eef r om adv er t s . L:OK. M:Soy o ud on ’ th av et oputupwi t h t hat ,whi c hi sr eal l yqui t eni c ebec aus eal l t he s at e l l i t ec h an ne l san dt hei n dep en de ntTVc han ne l si nEn gl a ndar eu mm…f u l l o f adv er t s ,al l t het i me,andy our eal l ygett hati mpr es si ont hatpeopl ear et r y i ngt os el l t hi ngst oy oual l t het i meandi t ’ s ,er r …al l t het hi ngsshowi ngy out haty ouhav et o bey oungandbeaut i f ul andal l t hi ski ndof … L :Y ea h. M:And“ I fy oubuyourpr oduc t s .y ouwi l l bel i k et hes epeopl ei nt hes e… per f ec t peop l e…” L:Yeah,t hemy t hoft r ans f or mat i on. M:Yes ,ex ac t l y ,ex ac t l y .
L:Yeahi t ’ sl i k e,“ l et ’ scr eat et hi ngst hatmak ey ouf eel badabouty our s el fandt hen s h o wy o ut h et h i n gsy o une edt obu yt o …” M:That ’ si t ! L:“ …i mpr ov ey our s el fs oy ouwi l l f eel bet t er . ” M:That ’ si t ,andIt hi nkt hat ’ s …t hat ’ smean,t hat ’ s …t hat ’ snotni c e. L:I t ’ shor r i bl e! M:So,butI …t hat ’ s …t hat ’ swhatIs eewhenIs eet headv er t s ,I … Iseet hr ough i ts o… L :Y ea h. M:Bu tI … Id on ’ twa t c hmu c hTVe i t h er ,s ou mm… L:Uhhuh.No,i t ’ shor r i bl e–hor r i bl et i mewas t er .
Fi nalwor ds Thank sf orl i s t eni ng,andt hank st ot hos eofy ouwhoha vedonat eds i nc el as tt i me.I c an ’ tt el l y o uen ou ghho w muc hMi c ha el an dIa ppr ec i a t ey ours u pp or t .Re me mb er , y ourc ont i nueddonat i onsmak eBe t t eratEngl i s hpos s i b l e.By ef orno w!
Voc abul ar yl i st Don’ tevengetmest ar t ed Don ’ tg etmes t ar t ed( onX) I fs omeo nes ay s ,“ ”i tmeanst hatt he yhav es t r ong
f eel i ngsandal ott os ayaboutt hec ur r entt opi c .Thei deai st hati ft heyst ar tt al k i ng abouti t ,y ouwon’ tbeabl et ogett hem t os t op.Youc ans ayi taboutot herpeopl e, Don’ tgethi ms t ar t ed f ore x amp l e“ onbut t er fl yc ol l ec t i ng…he’ l l bor ey ouf orhour s ! ”
goi ngabout ogoab ou ts ome t h i n g I nt hi scont ex t ,t meanst oc ont i nueanac t i v i t yf oraper i odof
t i me.I fy ouar egoi ngabouty ourev eni ng,y ouar eengagi ngi ny ourt y pi c al ev eni ng ac t i v i t i es . revenue I nc ome( money )t hatabus i nes s ,or gani z at i onorgov er nmentr ec ei v esr egul ar l y .TV e v e nu e( l i c ens esgener at er mon ey )f o rt hego v er nmen t .
t oputupwi t h T op utu pwi t h( s o me t h i n go rs o me bo dy ) meanst ot ol er at ei t ,ev ent houghy oudon’ t
l i k ei t . mean( adj ) Meani nt hi sc ont ex tmeansunk i nd( orev enc r uel ) .I nBr . E,t headj ec t i v emeancan
a l s omea nb ei n gs e l fi s ha ndu nge ner ou s( pa r t i c ul ar l yabo utmo ne y ) . s eet hr oughi t ,t os e et h r o ug hs o me t h i n g/ s o me bo dy I nt hi scont ex t me an st ou nd er s t an dt h et r u t h
aboutaper s onors i t uat i ont hati si nt endedt odec ei v eormani pul at ey ou.
Conv er s at i onQues t i ons Fi l msi nYou ro wnL an gu age A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom. •
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Do you have a film in"ustry in your !ountry? o $hat is your general impression of it? If you "o not have a film in"ustry in your !ountry, where are most of the movies that you wat!h ma"e? Do any other !ountries mae films in your language? If so, name them. $hi!h !ountry is the main pro"u!er of movies in your language? Are you aware of the lo!ation of any ma;or film festivals for films in your language? Is there an in"epen"ent film in"ustry pro"u!ing movies in your language? If you now a#out it, please "es!ri#e it. $hat are the names of some of the most famous "ire!tors of movies in your language? o $hat films have they ma"e? $ho are some of the most famous male a!tors in movies in your language? o Can you name at least three? o Do you lie them? o $hat are they famous for? o $hat in"s of people lie them?
Does anyone not !are for them? $ho are some of the most famous female a!tors, or a!tresses, in films in your language? o Can you name at least three? o Do you lie them? o $hat are they famous for? o $hat in"s of people lie them? Does anyone "islie them? Please name some of the #est films ma"e in your language. Des!ri#e their plots an" tell why you lie" them. %as the film in"ustry that maes films in your language pro"u!e" films that #e!ame popular aroun" the worl"? If so, name some. Are animate" films #eing originally pro"u!e" in your language? o Do you lie them? o Des!ri#e some of them. o %ave they #e!ome popular outsi"e your !ountry or !ulture? Are romanti! films pro"u!e" in your language? o %ow "o they "iffer from romanti! movies ma"e in %ollywoo"? Des!ri#e some !ome"y films ma"e in your language. o %ow are they "ifferent from %ollywoo" !ome"ies? Are horror films pro"u!e" in your language? o %ow "o they "iffer from s!ary movies ma"e in %ollywoo"? $hat a#out a!tion films? o Are they "ifferent in some ways from %ollywoo" films? Do films ma"e in your language have the same in"s of spe!ial effe!ts as %ollywoo" films? Are there goo" "o!umentaries ma"e in your language? If so, "es!ri#e some topi!s they "eal with. $hat positive effe!ts "o foreign films have on the people an" !ulture of your !ountry? $hat possi#le negative effe!ts "o foreign films have on the people an" !ulture of your !ountry? o =or e+ample, "o you feel that what is shown in foreign films !onfli!ts with or "istorts the values of your own !ulture? o =or e+ample, "o people in your !ountry get the wrong in" of information from foreign films? In an i"eal worl", what woul" you lie to see the future #e of the film in"ustry in your language? o
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$hat in"s of films woul" you lie your !hil"ren to wat!h when they are young? o $hen they are teenagers? o $hen they #e!ome a"ults? Are movies originally pro"u!e" in your language the most popular films in your !ountry, or are films with su#titles or "u##ing from stu"ios in other !ountries, for e+ample, from %ollywoo" in the 7nite" States, more popular in your !ountry than those ma"e in your language? Douglas >eall
