Speaking Boost · A2 · Lesson 23 of 50
Speaking Boost A2 · Block 5: Free Time

What was the first film ever shown in a cinema?

The first paid cinema show was in Paris in 1895, and the films were only about a minute long! Learn to talk about films and series, give your opinion, and recommend a film to three different viewers.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Films and series

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. What kind of films do you like?
  2. Do you prefer the cinema or watching at home?
  3. What series do you watch now?
  4. Who is your favourite actor?
  5. Do you watch films with subtitles?
  6. What was the last film you watched?
2

Words and phrases

12 min
2.1

New words

Read each word and the example. Then say a sentence about you and films.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word that fits.

  1. We bought two for the 8 o'clock film.
  2. I watch English films with .
  3. Let's go to the on Friday.
  4. This about animals is very interesting.
  5. Each of the series is 40 minutes.
  6. My favourite is Tom Hanks.
  7. Kids love this about a talking dog.
  8. Can you a good film?
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. boring ↔
  2. A film that makes you laugh is a
  3. A film about real life is a
  4. One part of a series is an
  5. You see a film on a
  6. The story of a film is the
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to talk about films and series.

  • It's about...Це про...It's about a family in Paris.
  • It's a film with...Це фільм з...It's a film with Tom Hanks.
  • You should watch it.Тобі варто це подивитися.It's great. You should watch it.
  • It's worth seeing.Це варто того, щоб подивитися.The ending is a surprise. It's worth seeing.
  • It's not for me.Це не для мене.I don't like horror. It's not for me.
  • Can you recommend...?Можеш порекомендувати...?Can you recommend a good comedy?
  • I can't stop watching!Я не можу відірватися!This series is so good. I can't stop watching!
  • What kind of films do you like?Які фільми тобі подобаються?I like comedies and cartoons.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

The first films

Read the text. Hover over the dotted words for help.

What was the first film ever shown in a cinema?

Today, we watch films on our phones, on TV and at the cinema. But where did cinema begin?

On 28 December 1895, in a café in Paris, two brothers, Auguste and Louis Lumière, showed short films to people who paid for tickets. Many people say this was the first cinema show.

The films were very short: only about a minute each. They had no sound, and people watched them in silence. One film showed workers leaving a factory. Another showed a train arriving at a station.

A story says that people were afraid of the train and moved back in their seats. Nobody knows if this is true, but it is a nice story.

Today, the cinema is a big business, and series are very popular too. What do you like to watch?

3.2

True or false?

  1. The first cinema show was in Paris.
  2. The Lumière brothers showed their films in 1995.
  3. The first films were about one minute long.
  4. The first films had sound and music.
  5. The text says we know for sure that people were afraid of the train.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Do you prefer the cinema or watching at home? Why?
  2. What series do you watch now? Why do you like it?
  3. Which film can you watch many times?
  4. Do you think films today are better than old films?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Boring or bored?

-ing describes the thing; -ed describes how you feel.

The film is boring. I am bored. The story is exciting. We are excited.

Recommending

Use should and It's about / It's with.

You should watch it. It's about a family. It's a film with Tom Hanks.

Block 5 review

Use the grammar from this block.

like + -ing (L21) · play / go / do, how often (L22)

Common mistakes: -ing / -ed and watch / see. ✗ The film is bored → The film is boring. ✗ I see series at home → I watch series at home.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. The film is
    .
  2. I'm
    with this series.
  3. It's a story
    a family.
  4. It's a film
    Tom Hanks.
  5. You
    this series.
  6. I
    series at home.
  7. he like thrillers?
  8. This documentary is very
    .
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. The film is bored. →
  2. I'm very bore. →
  3. She like comedies. →
  4. You should to watch it. →
  5. I see series at home. →
  6. Do he go to the cinema? →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer in detail. Use -ing and -ed adjectives and should.

  1. Recommend a film to me. What is it about?
  2. What series is popular in your country?
  3. Do you prefer comedies or thrillers?
  4. What film makes you laugh?
  5. How often do you go to the cinema?
  6. What do you do when a film is boring?
5

Which film for whom? and a short talk

8 min
5.1

Which film for whom?

Recommend a film or a series for each person. Say why. What would you watch with each of them?

Person 1

Sofia, 30

  • Loves funny stories
  • Is tired after work
  • Has only 30 minutes
  • Likes short episodes
Person 2

Danylo, 12

  • Loves animals
  • Likes drawn pictures
  • Watches with his sister
  • Goes to bed at nine
Person 3

Mr Bondar, 58

  • Likes real stories
  • Enjoys history and nature
  • Watches the news
  • Hates scary films
5.2

Mini-talk: a film or series I recommend

Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
  2. Part 1: what the film or series is and what it is about.
  3. Part 2: who is in it and what kind of film it is.
  4. Part 3: why people should watch it (use should, boring, exciting).
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. What film do you like?
  2. Do you watch series?
  3. Do you go to the cinema?
  4. Do you watch films with subtitles?
  5. How many episodes do you watch in a day?
  6. Who is your favourite actor?
  7. What kind of film is boring for you?
  8. What film do you want to see?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. What films do your parents watch?
  2. Who in your family loves cinema?
  3. What cartoons do children watch?
  4. Which series do your friends talk about?
  5. Do you watch films with friends?
  6. Who always tells you the end of the film?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Is the cinema better than watching at home?
  2. Are films today better than old films?
  3. Do films and series change how people think?
  4. Should children watch series?
  5. Why do people like scary films?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

At the cinema

You

Customer

You are at a cinema (your teacher works there). Buy tickets and ask questions:
  • ask what films are on today
  • choose a film and the time
  • buy two tickets
  • ask about the price
Speak for at least 2 minutes in total. Use should, -ing and -ed adjectives.
Your teacher

Cinema worker

Says things like:
  1. We have a comedy and a thriller today.
  2. The comedy starts at 7 p.m.
  3. Two tickets are 300 hryvnias.
  4. Enjoy the film!
7.2

Recommend a series

You

Friend

A friend (your teacher) wants a new series. Recommend one:
  • ask what kind of series your friend likes
  • say the name and what it is about
  • say who is in it
  • say why it is worth watching
You do most of the talking. Use: It's about... · It's worth seeing. · You should watch it.
Your teacher

Friend

Says things like:
  1. I'm bored. I need something to watch.
  2. I like funny stories.
  3. How many episodes are there?
  4. OK, I'll watch it tonight!
8

Homework

at home

Your homework score

Do all four exercises, then press Check all homework. Correct answers will appear next to your mistakes.

– / 30
H1

Complete with a word

ticketssubtitlescinemadocumentaryepisodeactorcartoonrecommend
  1. Can I have two for the film at six?
  2. My English is better when I watch with .
  3. There is a new in our town.
  4. I like watching a about nature.
  5. I'm on the third of the series.
  6. He is a famous from Ukraine.
  7. My daughter watches a every evening.
  8. Can you a good book?
H2

Block 5 review: choose the correct form

  1. This film is very .
  2. I'm after work.
  3. she like cartoons?
  4. You it.
  5. It's a story a dog.
  6. We films at home.
  7. He horror.
  8. I like series.
H3

Correct or incorrect? (Block 5 review)

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. This series is boring.
  2. I'm very bore.
  3. It's a film with a famous actor.
  4. You should to see it.
  5. She enjoys watching thrillers.
  6. Do he like comedies?
  7. The story is exciting.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. It's about
  2. It's a film with
  3. You should
  4. I don't like horror.
  5. Can you recommend
  6. This series is so good.
  7. What kind of films

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© Yevheniia Kolesnykova, Academy of Languages. All rights reserved. No copying or reuse without written permission.