Oscars 2010

The most glamorous night of the cinema industry has taken place last night 7th March in its 82nd edition. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science has awarded 24 awards to recognise professional excellence in the film industry. The Academy has also awarded some special awards. These are some of the winners of 2010

Best motion picture The Hurt Locker

Actress in a Leading Role Sandra Bullock for The Blind Side

Actor in a Leading Role Jeff Bridges for Crazy Heart

Actor in a Supporting Role Christoph Waltz for Inglorious Basterds

Actress in a Supporting Role Mo´Nique for Precious

Director Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker

Foreign Language Film El Secreto de Sus ojos

Music Original Score Michael Giacchino for Up

Music Original Song The Weary Kind by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett for Crazy Heart

Going to the cinema is a favorite date. Check how two friends do it  at this  BBC page with some readings and listening exercises

Have you watched any of the award winning films, do you think they deserved an Oscar or were other films  more deserving of the honour? We look forward to reading your comments

Music to my ears

Our best critics in Avanzado 1 review the top 50 songs/albums of today’s music scene. Click to see the first issue of our magazine Music to my ears

Prepositions

Do you think you need further practice with prepositions?   Complete this prepositions race to check it.

The KEY will help you decide if in doubt.

Describing situations

When expressing how you feel or how things are like, there is a whole new world beyond nice or OK.
What would you feel like in these situations? How would you describe these situations? Beat off the challenge and try and complete the exercise by racking your brain!

Once done, check the KEY

Apart from that, there are more expressions to explain your likes and dislikes:

Use of auxiliaries

It’s a well-known fact that auxiliary verbs are needed when asking questions; however, there are some other cases they are worth being used:

a)to emphasize

b) to avoid repetition

c) to show surprise, amazement or interest

d) to agree – disagree

e) to check  your listener is paying attention to you

Carpe Diem: MUSIC

Fed up with a hectic time? What are you waiting for? Now, take a break. Relax. Lay back.  Put your feet up and play your favourite music. What type of music is it? What is it like? Inspiring, provoking, joyful, uplifting?

LET’S TALK ABOUT MUSIC

When describing music, we must try and select our language carefully in order to give as many details as possible when giving our reader a thorough description of the song/album.  Have a look at these examples.

Learning English while watching video clips can be a really fun activity. You may even find some with the lyrics so that you can sing along as in a karaoke.

Here you are the ones whose songs were included in our coursebook.

Carpe Diem: CINEMA

This is life!! Lazing around all day without having to work and enjoying our favourite activities, namely, music, literature or cinema.

LET’S TALK ABOUT FILMS

When reviewing films, we must answer several questions:

1. What was the name of the film?

2. What sort of film was it?

3. Who directed it? Who starred in it?

4. What was it based on?

5. Where was it set?

6. What was it about?

7. How would you describe the film, the performance of the actors, the stunts and special effects? Remember, don’t spoil the magic of the film, particularly, the end!!

8. Would you recommend it? Why? Include a brief summary of how it makes you feel as well. What was it like?

Fascinating!       Funny!        Brilliant!       Entertaining!      Moving!

A bore!        Exciting!       Hilarious!            The best picture ever!

Gripping!                  Thrilling!             Frightening!               Fantastic!

The scariest movie ever!             Amazing!       Shocking!            Thumbs up!

A must see!                        Dreadful!                          Worst movie ever!

Have a look at the following handout on How to write a film review and write your own review.