The video above is the ending of a movie launched in 1969 called The Italian Job. It is a wonderful example of a type of ending for a movie called a CLIFFHANGER. SHOCKER = THRILLER = SUSPENSE-FILLER = CLIFFHANGER
Here is another great movie ending:
This would be what we call a TEAR JERKER - one that really makes you cry.
What kind of movie ending do you like? Use the COMMENTS box to write about a movie ending that you particularly liked and say why you liked it so much.
No, the picture above is not taken in The Middle East or Afghanistan. It was in Brazil last week. People are still coming to terms with the protests, but there are some questions I would like to hear what you have to say about them: 1. Did you ever think of seeing something like that happen in Brazil? 2. Have government leaders ever taken their constituents seriously? 3. When do you think the Brazilian population really woke up to the reality that taxpayers' money was being invested in building stadiums? 4. How often do doctors and medical staff have they need to do their jobs? What about teachers? 5. When exactly did government decide to limit the powers of the Public Ministry (Public Prosecutors)? In other words, until when exactly did government decide to limit the powers of the Public Ministry. 6. Will things get back to normal after these events? 7. Under what circumstances is police aggression considered acceptable? Post your answers in the Comments Box.
What do you love most about your home? What adjectives would you use to describe your home? (Here are some adjectives that might help: luxurious, cosy, welcoming, warm, comfortable)
What kind of architecture do you like? What impresses you about the architecture of a building? Which do you prefer - classical or modern architecture? Where does the money for public architectural projects like a new subway station or airport come from? How do they raise funds? How effective are fundraising events? Never before has so much money been invented in architectural projects to revitalize areas of the city. Is it worth it?
Is it better to revitalize or demolish and rebuild?
Sometimes it takes something simple and seemingly insignificant to cause an outburst of anger, dissatisfaction, despair, exasperation and aggression.
Recurrent social problems that are never dealt with by the authorities add to this mounting disapproval until it can no longer be contained:
poor living conditions
deficient health services
incompetent educational systems
increasing local, state and federal taxes
shameless corruption and fraud
an existential shortage of doctors and medical professionals
a growing number of run-down buildings and areas
What do we say in the light of these absurdities?
Enough is enough!
Enough of this shameless behavior
Enough is enough!
We've had enough of this!
If things were not already chaotic, the fact that politicians seem to be able to get away with murder.
Their shamelessness is enough to make anybody's blood boil
When we learn of their outrageous acts, we just hit the roof. (we got really angry)
The intention is not to be negative or pessimistic but there are several adjectives we can use to talk negatively about public spaces:
ever-worsening
decaying
poor
no-go
dilapidated
overcrowded
run-down
Some public spaces:
buildings
neighborhoods
areas
centers
communities
streets
cities
One particular space that usually sparks negative associations is a shanty town or slum, a.k.a. favela in Brazil.
Cramped, dirty, noisy, overcrowded, smelly, unsafe, leaky pipes, faulty wiring. Just a few words that might come to mind.
So the question is why would someone from a developed country want to visit a favela?
Why go to a place that rises up around a posh area in Ipanema where middle-class locals would never dare to go?
Why pay to visit a place that looks like a daunting impregnable fortress?
Many people, government and press, believe they are making progress: historic buildings are being revitalized, hospitals are being refurbished, schools are being built, and public parks are being put up.
The answers to these questions are yet to be found.
2. While is normally used to talk about simultaneous actions. It can also be used to show CONTRAST. In the case of the second situation, while means the same as whereas.
3. Though = although = even though
Only "though" can be used at the end of the sentence.
The three of them can be used at the beginning or in the middle of the sentence
The big question is how do you feel about using discourse markers and what strategies can be used to really learn them?
Learning them is a plus
The stuff about knowing the difference between discourse markers with similar meanings is important
How they are used vary from context to context and from English user to user.
A good way to learn them is paying attention to how people use them and trying to imitating it. But remember, use other speakers as models, but don’t try to be a copycat.
You shouldn’t worry about trying to learn all of them: take one of them at random and try to fit it in a sentence. (at random = in an aleatory manner)
Now watch this short video that talks about a world famous dancer and choreographer Gillian Lynne. What do you think might have happened to her if she had not met that particular specialist?
Complete the last sentence of the video:
Somebody else might …... ….... her medication and ….. her to calm down
a neutron bomb? I would be careful not to explode
a sacrifice?
an ornament?
a star on the christmas tree?
a sailor?
a messenger?
a full moon?
an alien?
a souvenir? glasses, t-shirts, caps, keychains, perfumes, ceramics, postcards, matchbox, tinderbox (decorative box for small objects)
a pedal brake?
a verb?
a song?
The Happiness GapWishlists can be used to ...
voice an opinion/a reason/an idea / a fear/ a worry or a concern interpret someone's personality say a prayer remind you of your goals haunt someone forever taunt someone (taunt = provoke) send subtle messages to someone show how crazy you are (you might just end up in the sanitarium)
a sanitarium = a mad house = a mental hospital = "a nut house" = "a cuckoo farm or a funny farm"
What kind of wishlists can these people make together?
colleagues or co-workers or workmates
a couple
siblings
scientists
business partners
government officials or ministers
Now make a wish! Complete these sentences below with your own ideas.
Question: How do we form the verb that comes after these sentences?
It's time ... I wish ...
I'd sooner ...
If ...
Supposing ...
I'd rather ...
Here is a preview of a wishlist for our planet:
eliminate poverty
achieve peace in the Middle East in particular
preserve the environment by using renewable fuels e.g. ethanol, biodiesel
reduce carbon emissions
