The Future; Dystopian Societies
The second block revolves around the future. As a starting point we shall watch Blade Runner, a science fiction classic movie. It will trigger discussion on whether predictions made in dystopian narratives have actually come true or are likely to do so in the near future.
Listening
- Listen to people talk about how they spend their free time
- Listen to and watch videos of experts talking about the future
- Listen to and watch videos about high tech gadgets
- Listen to and watch different science fiction film trailers set in dystopian societies: Her; 1984; Interstellar; The Hunger Games; Matrix;
- Listen to videos explaining how inventions work.
Speaking
- Make an oral presentation on an innovative house appliance.
- Discuss alternative endings for films/books/plays
- Ask people about their expectations for the future.
- Discuss features of dystopian societies
- Compare changes in leisure patterns
- Compare timelines and talk about how life has changed/will change/is changing.
Reading
- Read news stories connected with inventions and technological advances.
- Read texts from blogs and websites dealing with technology.
- Read newspapers articles to identify facts and opinions.
- Read non abridged articles on ethical issues posed by technological advances.
- Read film reviews of science fiction films.
- Read instructions of a gadget.
- Read comparative descriptions of a new gadget in a forum/web page.
Writing
- Write an opinion essay
- Write a narrative using personification techniques: My life as…
- Write a short review of a new gadget/app/
- Write a description of a gadget/app
- Write a review of a film
- Write a plot outline: Blade Runner sequel
- Write a set of questions you would like to ask to a speaker of a Ted talk on future technological advances
- Write summaries of class sessions.
- Write a summary of a talk.
- Write speech bubbles.
Language knowledge and usage
- Relative clauses
- Passive tenses
- Stress patterns in poetry
- False friends
- Functional language: expressing probability (likely/unlikely)
- Functional language: agreeing and disagreeing
Vocabulary
- Technology
- Films
- Science fiction
- Idioms with time
- Household appliances
- City life
- Apps
