Preview Activity (I) Fluentize, LLC. Copyright 2019. For use only with license.

Big Bang Theory - Sheldon & Penny Share Secrets (B1)

Work with a partner or group. Do the discussion and vocabulary activities below.

PART I Do the two speaking activities below.

TALKING POINT #1 TALKING POINT #2

Tell your teacher or another student an Tell your teacher or another student
interesting fact about yourself (a special about something you’ve always
skill, fact, ability, etc. about yourself). wanted to do and why.

Discussion topics...

1 Do you think it’s important to share personal information or

secrets about yourself to your friends?

2 Can you remember an important or meaningful conversation you had with a friend
or family member? Is it good to have deep conversations with your friends?

PART II Imagine your friend asks you, “What is something interesting about yourself?”

What are two things that are NOT interesting about you? That’s not
interesting!
1

PART III Write your own definition for the word “secret” below and give an example.

SECRET

EXAMPLE

PART IV Write a list of 3 famous people. Discuss and write one interesting or funny thing you
may know about each person.

PERSON INTERESTING / FUNNY FACT

1

What is one really interesting fact you know about a family member or friend you have?
Preview Activity (II) Fluentize, LLC. Copyright 2019. For use only with license.
Big Bang Theory - Sheldon & Penny Share Secrets (B1)

PART I Match the images to the words below in the box.

a. chess b. underpants c. to-go cup d. hug e. grave f. handshake

1 2 3

4 5 6

FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Have you ever played chess? Are you good?

What are three different situations that you would hug someone?
What are three different situations that you would give someone a handshake?

FOLLOW-UP WORD-BUILDING

Can you think of 3 other words that start with the word hand- as a prefix?

1 2 3

Can you think of 3 other words that start with under- as a prefix?

1 2 3

PART II Study the noun below that you will hear in the video.

WORD: revelation
MEANING: a surprising or interesting fact that is made known to people

EXAMPLE: The documentary shows you many shocking revelations about the politician’s
personal life.
Preview Activity (III) Fluentize, LLC. Copyright 2019. For use only with license.
Big Bang Theory - Sheldon & Penny Share Secrets (B1)

PART I Match the adjectives / adverbs with the definitions below the context examples.

1 On some beaches in Europe you can see topless women sunbathing.

2 The film was really low-budget but in the end it was successful.
3 I was ashamed to tell you that I didn’t have any money.
4 Thankfully Don helped me move out of my apartment, because nobody else had time.
5 It was upsetting to have my cash and passport stolen on my first day traveling.

1 topless a. not having so much money to spend on a project

2 low-budget b. without a top / shirt covering the breasts

3 ashamed c. used to express gratitude or being grateful for something

4 thankfully d. making you really sad or disappointed

5 upsetting e. feeling embarrassed or remorse for something you did / said

PART II Choose the correct definition for each phrasal verb below based on the context.

(1) I’ve been toying around with some new recipes in the kitchen recently.
If you toy around with something it means you...
a. don’t care about it b. do something in a lazy way c. experiment with
(2) I give up helping John with his marriage problems. He never listens to my advice.
If you give up, it means you...
a. forget to do b. continue doing c. stop or quit doing
(3) The new movie comes out next week in the cinema. Would you like to go see it?
If something comes out, it means it...
a. returns late b. is released publicly c. goes off the market soon

PART III What do you think the phrases mean below? Match the phrases with the meanings.

a. to feel relief after telling someone a secret

1 to be a big deal which has been troubling / bothering you
2 to treat a problem as if it were nothing b. used to say that you will forever hide a
secret or never tell anyone
3 to feel 10 pounds lighter
c. to interpret it how you wish
4 to take something to the grave
d. to be serious or an important matter
5 to make of it what you will e. to not care or take a problem seriously
6 to know better f. to be smart enough not to do something
The Big Bang Theory |
Fluentize, LLC. Copyright 2019. For use only with license.
Sheldon & Penny Share Secrets Big Bang Theory - Sheldon & Penny Share Secrets (B1)

Preview Discussion Question

• Do you use YouTube?

• What do you use it for?
• What types of videos do you watch?
• Have you ever produced YouTube videos?
Viewing Activity

PART I Choose the correct answer according to the information in the video.

0:01 (1) What does Sheldon bring Penny in the beginning?

a. a hot beverage b. a hug c. a chessboard as a gift

0:12 (2) What does Sheldon suggest to do in the beginning?

a. wear Penny’s underwear b. share secrets c. play chess

0:54 (3) How many pairs of underwear does Sheldon guess that Penny has?

a. 9 b. 1,000 c. none

PART II Write a short answer according to the information in the video.

0:28 1 Which fact does Sheldon tell Penny about himself, but she doesn’t think is interesting?

1:01 2 Which interesting fact does Penny tell Sheldon about herself? How did she feel about it?

1:38 3 What is Sheldon’s next secret? How does Sheldon feel after he tells Penny his secret?

PART III Can you explain what the following sentences mean?

2:17 1 TRUE FALSE Sheldon’s feelings are hurt because he feels like Penny doesn’t
care about his revelation.

2:36 2 TRUE FALSE Penny apologizes to Sheldon and then he accepts her apology.

2:42 3 TRUE FALSE Sheldon suggests hugging each other after her apology.

BONUS! In the beginning, why do you think Sheldon gives Penny a beverage in a to-go cup?
Post-Viewing Activity (I) Fluentize, LLC. Copyright 2019. For use only with license.
Big Bang Theory - Sheldon & Penny Share Secrets (B1)

PART I Vocabulary: Rewrite each full sentence using the vocabulary term used in the video.

1 Sheldon says that he has been experimenting with a new idea for “4D chess”.

2 Penny was an actor in a horror film which was produced at little cost. She was really
embarrassed about her role in the film. She said the film never was released publicly.

3 Sheldon says that it was really sad and disappointing that Penny doesn’t care about
his surprising or shocking fact that he told her about.

4 Sheldon tells Penny a fact about him that he thought he would never tell anyone.

5 Penny didn’t think it was so important or serious to Sheldon that she didn’t care
about his revelation.

6 Sheldon feels much relief after telling her his revelation about YouTube.

7 Sheldon is upset that Penny doesn’t seem to care about it.

PART II Grammar: Study how to use the past modal should + have + past participle.

After Sheldon becomes upset that

Penny hurt his feelings, she says... “You’re right. I’m sorry, I should have known better.”

To know better means to be smart enough not to say or do something.

*We use “should have + past participle” (e.g., ... should have known better) to say that we wish we
didn’t do or didn’t say something in the past. In general, we use this form SUBJECT + SHOULD + HAVE +
[PAST PARTICIPLE] to express regret, apologies, or advice for mistakes or things that happened in
the past. Something did (or didn’t) happen, but we wish it did (or didn’t).

ADVICE John told everybody your secret. You shouldn’t have told him.
REGRET I watched a horror film before bed and I couldn’t sleep. I shouldn’t have watched it!
APOLOGY I’m sorry I ate your pizza. I shouldn’t have eaten that without asking you first.
Post-Viewing Activity (II) Fluentize, LLC. Copyright 2019. For use only with license.
Big Bang Theory - Sheldon & Penny Share Secrets (B1)

EXERCISE I Fill in should / shouldn’t + have + past participle of the verb for each sentence.

1 I spent almost $500 on a TV, video game console, and entertainment system. Now I have
almost no more money. I (spend) so much money.

2 We brought our young daughter on the airplane, and she cried the whole time. She was
too young to fly. We (take) her on the airplane. We
(arrange) for someone else to take care of her.

3 My friend lent me his drone, but I didn’t know how to use it. He
(show) me how to use it before he gave it to me!

4 I gave my dog chocolate but then he got sick. I (give) him chocolate.

5 Our football team was number one in the league and we lost to the worst team in the
league! I can’t believe it. We (win) that match.

EXERCISE II Write a reaction to each sentence using should(n’t) + have + past participle.

1 I asked him to give me a ride to school 20 minutes before school started, but it was too late.

2 I walked alone late at night in a dangerous area of New York City. It was really risky.

3 I went to the beach without water and now I’m really thirsty.

4 I ate some chicken from the refrigerator, but it was a week old and I got sick after eating it.

5 I was extremely tired when I was driving and I almost fell asleep behind the wheel.

6 I had a lot of wine last night and today I have a really bad headache.

7 We went to Barcelona during the summer and we didn’t enjoy it. It was too crowded and hot.

EXERCISE III Think about a movie / TV show you’ve seen. Write a sentence in the past modal
about what a character from the movie or show should / shouldn’t have done
and why.
Quiz & Review Activity Fluentize, LLC. Copyright 2019. For use only with license.
Big Bang Theory - Sheldon & Penny Share Secrets (B1)

Work with a partner. Complete the quiz and review activities below.

PART I Summary. Give a summary of the video and the conversation between Sheldon and
Penny.

PART II Questions. Discuss the answers to the questions below.

1. What does Penny want to talk about with Sheldon? What does Sheldon start talking
about when she asks?
2. What are some “interesting” facts that Sheldon tells Penny about himself?
3. What is Penny’s secret?
4. How does Penny react to Sheldon’s secret feelings about YouTube’s rating system?
5. What does Penny do after Sheldon gets upset?

PART III Do you remember what Sheldon says after each of Penny’s lines?

1 “Let’s talk about our lives. Tell me something about you I don’t know.”
2 “Ok, that’s a good start, but I was thinking maybe something a little more personal.”
3 “When I first moved out to LA, I did a topless scene in a low-budget horror movie
about a killer gorilla. After I did it I felt so ashamed. Thankfully, it never came out!”
4 “Ok, you know what? I give up. I’m going to bed.”
5 “How about a hug?”

PART IV Grammar: Explain when to use should + have + past participle. Then write a reaction
to each sentence below using should(n’t) + have + past participle.

1 I took the public bus to get home from the city center, but it was crowded and noisy.

2 We left our home late and we were really late to the movie.

3 I put my wallet in my back pocket and it got stolen when I was walking in town.

4 Penny regretted taking the role in the horror movie because she was ashamed of it.

5 The police officer gave me a ticket for speeding, but I definitely wasn’t speeding!

PART V Bonus: Work with a partner or with your teacher. Take one role from the dialogue
between Sheldon and Penny. Watch the video again. Study your role in the dialogue on
the next page. Then perform the conversation in the video between Sheldon and Penny.
Study Part I and Part II separately and perform them separately.
Dialogue Activity Fluentize, LLC. Copyright 2019. For use only with license.
Big Bang Theory - Sheldon & Penny Share Secrets (B1)

Study your role in the dialogue. Perform the dialogue with a partner without this paper.

PART I
SHELDON: Here is a hot beverage to comfort you. It’s in a to-go cup. Make of that what you will
PENNY: Come one! It’s still early. Let’s do something.
SHELDON: Well, I have been toying around with an idea for 4D chess.
PENNY: How about we just talk?
SHELDON: Alright. In 4D chess...
PENNY: No!!! Let’s talk about our lives. Tell me something about you I don’t know.
SHELDON: I own 9 pairs of pants.
PENNY: Ok, that’s a good start, but I was thinking something maybe a little more personal.
SHELDON: I see. I own 9 pairs of underpants.
PENNY: How about I go first?
SHELDON: But I don’t want to know how many underpants you own. But based on the floor of your bed-
room, I’d say it’s a thousand.
PENNY: Ok, here’s something most people don’t know about me. When I first moved out to LA, I did a top-
less scene in a low-budget horror movie about a killer gorilla. After I did I felt so ashamed. Thankfully, that
thing never came out.
SHELDON: Oh, I’ve seen that! Serial Apist. Howard found it online the day we met you. It was literally the
moment you walked out the door. But I see the type of personal revelations you’re going for.

PART II
SHELDON: Here’s one I thought I’d take to the grave. A while back, YouTube changed its user interface from
a star-based rating system to a thumbs up rating system. I tell people I’m ok with it. But I’m really not.
PENNY: That’s your revelation?
SHELDON: Yes. Wow! I feel 10 pounds lighter.
PENNY: Ok you know what? I give up. I’m going to bed.
SHELDON: Ok, here’s something else you don’t know about me. You just hurt my feelings. I opened up and
shared something deeply upsetting me. And you treat it as if it were nothing.
PENNY: I didn’t think it was a big deal.
SHELDON: It is to me. That’s the point.
PENNY: Sheldon you are right. I’m really sorry, I should have known better.
SHELDON: Your apology is accepted.
PENNY: Thank you. How about a hug?
SHELDON: How about a hearty handshake?