Professional Documents
Culture Documents
English For Specific Purposes Workbook
English For Specific Purposes Workbook
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TOPIC
PAGE
Introduction
3-4
5-6
8-9
10-13
14-14
Workplace Romance
16
17-18
Scams
19
20-21
22-23
24
3
Introduction
If the main second language objective of the class is the development of Basic Interpersonal
Communication Skills (BICS) then I pick topics from pop culture. I also use more high touch
media rather than a high tech media when BICS are the main goal.
If the main second language objective of the class is the development of Cognitive Academic
Language Proficiency (CALP) then I use authentic academic materials. I also rely more on
hypermedia to communicate complex material in a fun and interesting way in which the pace
of comprehensible input is tightly controlled. I am also more likely to put an emphasis on
technology based communication projects.
In either case, I use prior research that I have done on what EFL students find interesting in
order to guide my lesson content decisions. In Fox (2004) the focus was just on student
interests. The follow up article Fox and Miller (2007) compared student interests with
textbook content and found there was a poor match. This packet is an attempt to provide
research based high interest topics that is superior to that of most textbooks. In my opinion,
effective second language teaching is the masterful synergy of message and media to create
optimal conditions for learning!
In all my lesson plans there will be both a BICS and CALP activity but I vary the ratio of
time spent on the BICS versus CALP objective depending on the level. The table below is an
approximation of the ratio of time this instructor will spend on BICS versus CALP activities
depending on the ESL level.
If the level of the students is very low then I might focus on the BICS activity and forego the
CALP activity altogether. On the other hand, even with a very high level class, I would never
neglect the BICS activity altogether. The BICS activity acts as a natural motivational warm
up activity that introduces the CALP activity even in the case of very high level ESL learners.
References
Fox, H. & Miller, A. (2007). What EFL Topics do Students find Interesting? Hwa Kang
Journal, 13, 99-110
Fox, H. (2004). A Study of ESL Teachers and Their Attitudes about Computer-Assisted
Language Learning Usage, Hwa Kang Journal of TEFL, 10. 37-56
6
81) Internet
Researcher
85) Licensed Day
Care Center
89) Massage
Therapist
93) Nanny Service
87) Locksmith
91) Medical
Transcriptionist
95) Organic Hair
Care Products Seller
99) Personal Chef
101) Personal
Shopper & Errand
Service
105) Pet Groomer
109) Picture
Framing
113) Professional
Organizer
117) Resume Writer
129) Tax
Accountant
133) TV Repair
137) Voice-Over
Professional
141) Wedding
Planner
114) Project
Manager
118) Roof Repair
107) Photo
Restoration Service
111) Pool Cleaning
and Maintenance
115) Proofreader
119) Sales
Consultant
123) Snow and Ice
Removal Service
127) Speech Writer
138) Wallpapering
131) Translation
Service Provider
135) Virtual
Assistant
139) Web Designer
142) Window
Cleaning
143) Wine
Consultant
7
List of Personality Adjectives - Antonyms
http://foxhugh.com/word-lists/list-of-personality-adjectives-2/
Adjective
Antonym
01) Aggressive
01) Passive
02) Ambitious
02) Laid-back
03) Amused
03) Bored
04) Brave
04) Cowardly
05) Bright
05) Stupid
06) Cruel
06) Kind
07) Combative
07) Peaceful
08) Co-operative
08) Difficult
09) Cowardly
09) Brave
10) Dangerous
10) Safe
11) Diligent
11) Lazy
12) Determined
12) Docile
13) Disagreeable
13) Agreeable
14) Evil
14) Good
15) Frank
15) Evasive
16) Fearless
16) Fearful
17) Generous
17) Miserly
18) Gifted
18) Talentless
19) Helpful
19) Useless
20) Harmonious
20) Hostile
21) Hesitant
21) Decisive
22) Instinctive
22) Learned
23) Jealous
23) Compersion
24) Knowledgeable
24) Ignorant
25) Loner
25) Sociable
26) Mysterious
26) Straightforward
27) Naughty
27) Well behaved
28) Pleasing
28) Displeasing
29) Placid
29) Excitable
30) Punctual
30) Unpunctual
31) Successful
31) Unsuccessful
32) Sedate
32) Exciting
33) Sincere
33) Deceitful
34) Selfish
34) Altruistic
35) Talented
35) Inept
36) Thrifty
36) Extravagant
37) Truculent
37) Amiable
38) Unbiased
38) Biased
39) Voracious
39) Content
40) Witty
40) Humorless
41) Wise
41) Foolish
42) Warm
42) Cold
43) Zany
43) Sober
8
Boiler Room - Literary Elements
http://foxhugh.com/tv-series-esl-discussion-questions/boiler-room-literary-elements/
A college dropout gets a job as a broker for a suburban investment firm, which puts him on
the fast track to success, but the job might not be as legitimate as it sounds.
1.0) What is the point of view of the movie?
2.0) What is the plot of the movie?
3.0) Describe the following characters using the Fox Character Analysis Pyramid which
includes name/title, physical appearance, personality, characters role, characters
problems/challenges, major accomplishments, cultural context, and world view.
3.1) Giovanni Ribisi as Seth
10
5.0) What is the setting of the movie? How important is the setting?
11
The Devil Wears Prada Literary Elements
http://foxhugh.com/tv-series-esl-discussion-questions/the-devil-wears-prada-literaryelements/
A naive young woman comes to New York and scores a job as the assistant to one of the
citys biggest magazine editors, the ruthless and cynical Miranda Priestly.
1.0) What is the point of view of the movie?
2.0) What is the plot of the movie?
Monomyth?
3.0) Describe the following characters using the Fox Character Analysis Pyramid which
includes name/title, physical appearance, personality, characters role, characters
problems/challenges, major accomplishments, cultural context, and world view.
3.1) Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly
12
13
6.0) What is the genre of the movie?
7.0) Does the movie have any cultural lessons?
7.1) Does the fashion industry sexualize overly young models?
7.2) Does the fashion industry lead to unhealthy eating habits?
7.3) Does the fashion industry have an abnormal obsession with eternal youth?
8.0) What are the literary conflicts of the movie?
14
Broadcast News - Literary Elements
http://foxhugh.com/tv-series-esl-discussion-questions/broadcast-news-literary-elements/
Take two rival TV reporters: one handsome, one talented, both male. Add one producer,
female. Mix well and watch the sparks fly.
1.0) What is the point of view of the movie?
3.0) Describe the following characters using the Fox Character Analysis Pyramid which
includes name/title, physical appearance, personality, characters role, characters
problems/challenges, major accomplishments, cultural context, and world view.
3.1) William Hurt as Tom Grunick
15
16
Workplace Romance
http://foxhugh.com/five-ws-lessons/workplace-romance/
1) Who engages in workplace romances?
17
3.0) Describe the following characters using the Fox Character Analysis Pyramid which
includes name/title, physical appearance, personality, characters role, characters
problems/challenges, major accomplishments, cultural context, and world view.
18
5.0) What is the setting of the movie? How important is the setting?
19
Scams
http://foxhugh.com/communication/scams/
1) 15 Online Scams You Might Get Fooled By
3) Ponzi Schemes
4) Top 10 Scams
20
500 Days of Summer
http://foxhugh.com/tv-series-esl-discussion-questions/500-days-of-summer/
Explain the title of the movie.
1.0) What is the point of view of the movie?
2.0) What is the plot of the movie?
2.1) What is a nonlinear narrative?
3.0) Describe the following characters using the Fox Character Analysis Pyramid which
includes name/title, physical appearance, personality, characters role, characters
problems/challenges, major accomplishments, cultural context, and world view.
3.1) Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Tom Hansen
3.2) Zooey Deschanel as Summer Finn
4.0) What is the theme of the movie?
5.0) What is the setting of the movie? How important is the setting?
6.0) What is the genre of the movie?
7.0) What does the movie teach us about love?
The student will be able to discuss (1) types of love, (2) components of love and (3) facts
about love.
7.1) Types of Love
What is philia?
What is storge?
What is eros?
What is agape?
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7.2) Triangular Theory of Love
What is passion?
What is intimacy?
What is commitment?
22
3.0) Describe the following characters using the Fox Character Analysis Pyramid which
includes name/title, physical appearance, personality, characters role, characters
problems/challenges, major accomplishments, cultural context, and world view.
3.1) Johnny Depp as John Dillinger
23
3.3) Marion Cotillard as Billie Frechette
5.0) What is the setting of the movie? How important is the setting?
24
Bank Robbery 5 Ws
http://foxhugh.com/five-ws-lessons/bank-robbery/
1) Who are some famous bank robbers?