The Valentine's Day Issue
Validation Short film
The History of Valentine's Day Video activity
The Look Of Love NPR Listening
Valentine’s Day Traditions Gap filling
Valentine’s Day Puzzle Game
Validation
Video activity – 16.24 minutes
Language -
Paying compliments in English
Watch a beautiful short film by director Kurt Kuenne to practise using
positive adjectives and paying compliments.
1. Pre-watching
discussion:
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2. Structures:
Learn the following structures for paying compliments or making positive
comments to people.
Be + so/ very / really + adjective
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Have
+ adjective + noun
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Item of clothing/ accessory/ color
+ suit/ match/ flatter
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That’s a + adjective + noun
Those are + adjective +noun
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“Tom, you’re so funny.”
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“Lucy, you have an amazing attitude.”
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“Jack, that teeshirt really suits you.”
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“Tim, that’s a great tie.”
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“Juana, you’re very elegant today.”
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“Serena, you have a great sense of humor.”
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“Cora, your necklace matches perfectly with your eyes.”
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“Ana, that’s a fantastic smile.”
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“Marianne, you’re really kind to everybody.”
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“Ricky, you have a wonderful laugh.”
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“Ingrid, red flatters you very much.”
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“Mario, those are awesome shoes.”
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Practice saying a few
positive comments of your own.
3. Watching
In this short film a parking attendant gives customers real validation*
-dispensing free parking and free compliments.
*Validation means approval.
Parking validation is free parking given by businesses to their
customers.
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PART 1
1a-Watch the first
segment (up to 04.00) of the movie and answer TRUE or FALSE.
A)Hugh validates parking for a shop.
B)A few people start coming to see him for compliments.
C)People are not buying, they just come to see him.
D)His boss is angry with him.
E)He compliments famous people.
F)There’s no one Hugh cannot make smile.
1b-Mini debate:
What will happen next?
Will Hugh live happily ever after validating people and parking?
What could go wrong?
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2a-Watch the second
segment (from 04.00 up to 07.37) of the movie and answer TRUE or FALSE.
G)Smiling in a driver’s license photo is not allowed.
H)He makes the photographer girl smile during her working hours.
I)Hugh is sad and thinks there’s no point in validating people anymore.
2b-Mini debate:
What will happen next?
Will Hugh live unhappily for the rest of his life?
What could brighten his days?
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3a-Watch the third segment (from
07.37 up to the end) of the movie and answer TRUE or FALSE.
J)He becomes a famous photographer.
K)One day he sees a driver’s license with a photo of Victoria.
L)She was fired from her job for smiling.
M)He finds her taking passport photos.
N)No one can smile in passport photos.
O)She didn’t smile for years because her mother did not smile either.
P)Victoria had looked for him but couldn’t find him.
Q)Someone told Hugh for the first time that he was amazing.
3b-Mini debate:
How did you like this film?
What is its message?
What could be the effect of complimenting people in a society?
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PART 2 – Re
arrange the words in each statement to make a few of Hugh’s compliments from
the film – other combinations may be possible.
Then, watch
again and/or check your work in the answer section.
e.g. awesome / ‘re / you = You’re
awesome.
A) an / face / have / amazing / you
B) features / you / powerful /
have
C) ‘re / amazing / you / cheekbones/ and/ great /have /
you
D) appreciate / people / have / much / other / life/ so / that / don’t/
you / experience
E) and / suit / you / fantastic / flatters / it / that / really / is / a
F) a / have / golf/ you / swing / great
G) have / moustache / you / a / fantastic
H) in/ are / shape / you / great
I) ‘re / and / so / you / ‘re / efficient / amazing / you
J) a/ name / ‘s / beautiful / that
K) seen / ‘ve / the / eyes / have / ever/ most / you / beautiful / I
L) great / ‘re / pet / you / a / owner
M) reason / you / to / smile / have / every
N) beautiful / ‘re / you / couple / a
O) and / dress / eyes / your / your / matches / are / gorgeous /your
The History of Valentine's Day
Video activity -
3.39 minutes
Do you know why Valentine’s day falls on February 14th?
How did this holiday originate? Where does it come from?
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Watch the clip
and choose the best option to the statements or questions below.
1The origin of this holiday can be traced back to
a)Greece b)Rome c)Ireland
2.Lupercalia was a festival
a)celebrated in mid February b)in honour of Romulus
c)in honor of a saint
3.The Roman god of fertility was
a)Pan b)Cupid c)Faunus
4.When was February 14th declared St. Valentine's Day to validate the
pagan festival?
a)in the 4th century b)in the 5th
century c)in the 15th century
5.There were several saints called Valentine.
6.Claudius, the emperor,...
a)banned marriages of soldiers b)wanted
his soldiers to be married c)wanted Father
Valentine to celebrate weddings
7.Valentine was sentenced to death because...
a)he was in love with the emperor's daughter b)he didn't obey the emperor's orders c)he didn't want to celebrate weddings
8.February 14th is the day when
a)Valentine was executed b)the
emperor died c)Valentine's girlfriend
died
9.The note “from your Valentine” was first witten...
a)by the emperor’s daughter b)by
Father Valentine c)by the Roman people
10.Cupid is described as...
a)the Greek god of love b)the lost
son of Venus c)the winged match-maker
11.How many roses are sold approximately on this day in the US?
a)180 million b)18 million c)1.8 million
12.How many heart-shaped boxes of candy are sold approximately on this
day in the US?
a)6 billion b)36 million c)16million
13.How much money do Americans spend during this holiday?
a)14 million dollars b)40 million
dollars c)14 billion dollars
14.According to the poets “Love...
a)...doesn’t need gifts” b)...is
really all you need” c)...grows
everywhere.”
The Look Of Love
Listening
activity – NPR – 3.44 minutes
Listen to the
fragment from the radio show and say whether the following statements are True,
False or Not Mentioned.- Studies show that our pupils become smaller when we feel strong emotions.
- Science can tell when your special someone reciprocates.
- The specialist is a neurologist from the University of Oslo.
- One of the commentators implies that maybe hosting a radio show causes stress.
- In the Middle Ages, women would put drops of belladonna to have brighter eyes.
- Valentine’s Day is a magical occasion to test these theories.
- According to some of the comments made by the hosts, if you look at the sun your pupils become smaller.
- All of them would like to stare at someone across the table on Valentine’s day.
Valentine’s Day Traditions
Language & Culture - Fill the Gaps Activity
Complete the text with one of the two options given :
Complete the text with one of the two options given :
Valentine's Day originated in Rome but is celebrated
in 1)..... (several/ lots) countries nowadays. After New Year's Day, it
is the most celebrated holiday 2)..... (in / on) Earth.
This is the day for sweethearts to express their love for
each other with 3)...... (inusual /unusual) gestures. Everybody 4)..... (send/sends)
cards, called “Valentines”, with romantic or sweet messages and it is common to
send or receive a card unsigned from a secret 5)..... (admiror/ admirer).
6)..... (Another/ Other) tradition on this day is that
men usually buy chocolates and give red roses to their girlfriends, wives or
significant others. Couples 7)..... (must / may) also go to a restaurant for a
nice dinner or plan something else romantic.
Many people 8)..... (thinks/think) that this holiday
is very commercial with companies that encourage the public to buy 9)..... (more
and more / more or less) every year. However a positive aspect is that in
recent times the festival has become much 10)..... (large/larger) and not exclusive
for lovers. People 11)..... (give/take) the opportunity this day, to wish
‘Happy Valentine's Day' to anyone they love or appreciate: father, mother,
teachers, siblings, friends, co-workers or just anyone special to 12)..... (them/him).
At schools, red and pink hearts decorate classrooms. Children
make or buy cards to give to their friends, and often have poems written 13).....
(in/on) them. One common poem is “Roses are red, violet are blue, sugar is
sweet and so are you.”
Most consider this a fun day. Sending a Valentine’s
card or gift can be a good ice-breaker if there is 14)..... (no one/ someone)
special you wanted to meet...
Valentine’s Day Puzzle
Try a game to check your knowledge on love words
Across
1. The symbol of love.
3. Cards and gifts exchanged on February 14th.
4. A typical Valentine's
Day treat.
9. Valentine's Day is the date for ... love letters.
10. The month of Valentine's Day.
13. What a poet writes (plural).
14. Go on a ... with your boyfriend or girlfriend.
15. To have a ..., to like
someone. A way of beeing interested in someone.
17. Roses are red, violets are blue, ... is sweet, and so are you.
Down
2. A secret ... is
someone who likes someone, but doesn’t tell.
4. Angel, simbol of Valentine.
5. St. Valentine is
considered the patron saint of ...
6. Valentine's Day ... on February 14th.
7. What cupid shoots to make men fall in love.
8. Sweet, sugary treats for
eating. Often given as a gift at Valentines.
11. The traditional color of this holiday.
12. Cupid’s mother.
16. The most common flowers given on this day.
Answers - The Valentine's Day Issue
Validation
PART 1
A)T B)F (A lot of people) C) T
D) F E)T F)F (he cannot make Victoria smile) G)T
H)F I)T J)F
K)F (a photo taken by Victoria)
L)T M)T N) F
O)T P)T Q)T
PART 2
A)You have an amazing face.
B)You have powerful features.
C)You’re great and you have amazing cheekbones,
D)You have so much life experience that other people don’t appreciate.
E)That is a fantastic suit and it really flatters you.
F)You have a great golf swing.
G)You have a fantastic moustache.
H)You are in great shape.
I)You’re amazing and you’re so efficient.
J)That’s a beautiful name.
K)You have the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen.
L)You’re a great pet owner.
M)You have every reason to smile.
N)You’re a beautiful couple.
O)Your eyes are gorgeous and your dress matches your eyes.
The History of Valentine's Day
1.b / 2.a
/ 3.c / 4.b /
5.a / 6.a / 7.b / 8.a / 9.b/ 10.c
/ 11.a / 12.a / 13.b /
14.b
The Look Of Love
1.F (bigger) 2.F
(science may be able to help) 3.F (he’s a psychologist) 4.T 5.F (to have bigger eyes) 6.NM
7.T 8.F (someone says it’s creepy)
Valentine’s Day Traditions
1.several
2.on 3.unusual 4.sends
5.admirer 6.another 7.may
8.think 9.more and more 10.larger
11.take 12.them 13.on
14.someone
Valentine’s Day Puzzle
Across
1. heart 3.valentines 4.chocolate
9.exchanging 10.February 13.poems
14.date 15.crush 17.sugar
Down
2.admirer 4.cupid 5.lovers
6.falls 7.arrows 8.candy 11.red 12.Venus
16.roses
How About A New Calendar?
NPR News: Listening Activity, discussion & vocabulary
A Year’s Worth Of Idioms
Vocabulary
Ancient & Modern Calendars
Reading Comprehension Activity
The Calendar Puzzle
Crossword, vocabulary
How About A New Calendar?
NPR News: Listening Activity
1.Pre-Listening
Task
Discuss the following questions.
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VOCABULARY:
Read the seven examples below. Find the meaning of the underlined terms
in the chart:
1. When we were kids, in winter, we were bundled
up in clothes.
2. The crowds hailed the soccer champions.
3. Our math teacher demands accuracy
in all problem details.
4. The house needs cleaning. We can’t live in this messiness.
5. After the storm we saw a couple of boats drifting away.
6. It’s hard to follow a diet and be on track when everybody
around is eating fast food and pastries.
7. I like how the garden looks so much streamlined now. It seemed
a rainforest before.
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1. Bundled
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a. Disorder, confusion.
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2. Hailed
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b.Without
a specific route or order; carried away.
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3. Accuracy
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c. Put
together, tied up like a package.
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4. Messiness
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d.
Following the right course or route.
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5. Drifting
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e. Saluted, recognized.
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6. On track
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f. Precision, correctness.
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7. Streamlined
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g.
Simplified; without anything unnecessary.
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2.Listening Task
Scientists at
John Hopkins University think they can come up with a better system for an
improved calendar.
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Complete each of the sentences with the words given. Then, listen to the
news audio to check your work.
- Four hundred and 30 years ......, Pope Gregory XIII ...... the West a calendar, which ...... 365 days into what ...... to be ...... a year.
( called – gave
– divided – ago - was )
- ...... 12 months ...... seven days bundled ...... so-called weeks, the Gregorian calendar was hailed ...... a marvel ...... medieval accuracy.
( into – with –
and -
of - as )
- We use it ......, despite its ...... messiness - drifting ......, leap ...... and 28-day .......
(
days – months – today – years - occasional )
- But now ...... researchers at Johns Hopkins University have devised a different ...... to count ...... days with a leap week ...... few years to keep the calendar on .......
(
every – track - some – our - way )
- Holidays, ...... Christmas and New Year's Day, would always ...... on a Sunday. It ...... neat and streamlined for our modern ......, ...... maybe to those of us who work on Sundays.
( fall – seems
– like – except - age )
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