Communication
1. Watch the video. What's the main message of the story? What do we learn from it?
2. Watch the video and answer the questions.
- What are the main characters like?
- At the beginning of the film the little old lady goes through a struggle with a vending machine to get the last box of cookies. Do you think that fighting is the old lady's personality trait??
- How does the old lady react when the teenager shares the cookies with her?
- Does the film have a predictable ending? Why? Why not?
- Choose the adjectives from the list that describe the film best: "thought-provoking", "stupid", "hilarious", "bittersweet", "boring", "enjoyable", "juvenile"?
- Have you met people who are always looking for a fight?
Communication
Vocabulary/ Expressions
3. Read the idioms about holidays in context. Match the idioms with their definition.
1. off the top of my head A: What time does the morning train come in? B: Off the top of my head, I don't know.
2. beat around/about the bush Stop beating around the bush – get to the point.
3. word of mouth No announcement was necessary - the news has already spread by word of mouth.
4. cut/make a long story short He wanted to be a doctor but, to cut a long story short, he ended up as a pharmacist.
5. drop somebody a line Just drop me a line when you decide on a date.
6. hot off the press I've got it hot off the press – Ryan is quitting.
7. think something over I'll think it over and give you an answer next week.
8. My lips are sealed. A: Oh please don't tell him you saw me here. B: Don't worry. My lips are sealed.
9. I'm all ears. Tell me about your first day at the new job – I'm all ears!
2. beat around/about the bush Stop beating around the bush – get to the point.
3. word of mouth No announcement was necessary - the news has already spread by word of mouth.
4. cut/make a long story short He wanted to be a doctor but, to cut a long story short, he ended up as a pharmacist.
5. drop somebody a line Just drop me a line when you decide on a date.
6. hot off the press I've got it hot off the press – Ryan is quitting.
7. think something over I'll think it over and give you an answer next week.
8. My lips are sealed. A: Oh please don't tell him you saw me here. B: Don't worry. My lips are sealed.
9. I'm all ears. Tell me about your first day at the new job – I'm all ears!
A. to avoid talking about what is important
B. to write someone a letter, especially a short informal one
С. from the knowledge you have in your memory
D. the process of telling people you know about a particular product/service, usually because you think it is good and want to encourage them to try it
E. said when you are promising to keep a secret
F. to consider an idea or plan carefully before making a decision
G. news that contains the most recent information about something
H. to be waiting eagerly to hear about something
I. to leave out parts of a story to make it shorter; to bring a story to an end
B. to write someone a letter, especially a short informal one
С. from the knowledge you have in your memory
D. the process of telling people you know about a particular product/service, usually because you think it is good and want to encourage them to try it
E. said when you are promising to keep a secret
F. to consider an idea or plan carefully before making a decision
G. news that contains the most recent information about something
H. to be waiting eagerly to hear about something
I. to leave out parts of a story to make it shorter; to bring a story to an end
1. off the top of my head A: What time does the morning train come in? B: Off the top of my head, I don't know.
A. to avoid talking about what is important
2. beat around/about the bush Stop beating around the bush – get to the point.
B. to write someone a letter, especially a short informal one
3. word of mouth No announcement was necessary - the news has already spread by word of mouth.
С. from the knowledge you have in your memory
4. cut/make a long story short He wanted to be a doctor but, to cut a long story short, he ended up as a pharmacist.
D. the process of telling people you know about a particular product/service, usually because you think it is good and want to encourage them to try it
5. drop somebody a line Just drop me a line when you decide on a date.
E. said when you are promising to keep a secret
6. hot off the press I've got it hot off the press – Ryan is quitting.
F. to consider an idea or plan carefully before making a decision
7. think something over I'll think it over and give you an answer next week.
G. news that contains the most recent information about something
8. My lips are sealed. A:Oh please don't tell him you saw me here. B: Don't worry. My lips are sealed.
H. to be waiting eagerly to hear about something
9. I'm all ears. Tell me about your first day at the new job – I'm all ears!
I. to leave out parts of a story to make it shorter; to bring a story to an end
1 - C, 2 - A, 3 - D, 4 - I, 5 - B, 6 - G, 7 - F, 8 - E, 9 - H.
4. Match the phrases with the pictures:
A. beat around/about the bush, B. word of mouth, C. to cut/make a long story short, D. hot off the press, E. My lips are sealed. F. drop somebody a line, G. I'm all ears. H. off the top of my head, I. to think something over.
A. beat around/about the bush, B. word of mouth, C. to cut/make a long story short, D. hot off the press, E. My lips are sealed. F. drop somebody a line, G. I'm all ears. H. off the top of my head, I. to think something over.
Cover the phrases and look at the pictures. Test yourself or a partner.
5. CONVERSATION questions
- Why is there so much misunderstanding between people?
- What do people do that drives you crazy in a conversation? How do you feel when people interrupt you?
- What is your role in a conversation?
- How do conversations between men and women differ?
- Do you like to communicate face-to-face, over the phone or on Skype? Why?
- What is the difference between "discuss", "debate" and "argue"? Why do you think some people like to argue?
- When was the last time you had an argument? Why did you argue?
- Have you ever had a great conversation with a complete stranger?
- Have you ever tried to consciously change your conversational style? What did you change?
- How can someone improve their conversation skills?
