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McFarland, USA

Learn English in this 'McFarland, USA' movie ESL lesson

Date: Feb 27 2015

Themes: Celebrity, News, Pop Culture, Sports

Grammar: Count and Noncount Nouns

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Intro

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2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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It’s not an unusual plot. A teacher comes into a school whose students are fighting adversity. The teacher finds a way to build a relationship with the students, to encourage them to be successful, and to shed some light on how they’re special. It may sound like a typical feel-good movie, but is it possible that “McFarland, USA” is more than just a cheesy story?

While it might sound like a hokey film about helping the underdog, “McFarland, USA” has a bigger message. In a world where many immigrants move to new countries to be safer or find better jobs, this movie could help us to talk about finding ways to accept each other. After all, we all need the same basic things, and everyone wants to be part of a community.

Brian and Marni disagree about “McFarland, USA” and how good it will be. Learn their opinions in today’s English lesson about a new movie.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Marni

Brian

Marni: Gosh. You know what? I just watched this preview for this new movie, “McFarland, USA.”

Brian: The new Disney movie.

Marni: Yes.

Brian: Doesn’t that look like the new feel-good film of 2015?

Marni: I’m not so sure about that. If you mean, the new, cheesy, feel-good movie where the white person comes and saves the immigrants. I don’t know.

Brian: Yeah, I’m sure it might be very hokey. But don’t you think it’s nice that it could shed some light on immigration, and maybe encourage at least a dialog?

Marni: I would certainly hope that is was what would happen. But my fear is people will just overlook that whole thing, and just look at it as this sports movie where this white guy comes and saves the kids and they run really fast…

Brian: Come on. It’s people dealing with adversity. An underdog story. What’s not to love there?

Marni: I love that you see all these positive elements in it. I just can’t escape the cheesy aspect of it.

Brian: If you’re crying by the end of the movie, you have to buy the popcorn.

Marni: OK. It’s a deal.

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

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Marni and Brian are talking about the new movie, “McFarland, USA.” Marni doesn’t like that it seems to tell the story of a white man coming into a small town of immigrants and making their lives better. She thinks that it’s wrong to make a film with that message.

Brian hopes that people will see past the fact that “McFarland, USA” isn’t very original. He likes that the movie is about working through difficult situations, and he hopes that it will start more conversations about people living in the US who came from other countries. Brian believes that everyone loves a good movie about an underdog, and he thinks that Marni’s going to like it, too.

Will you see “McFarland, USA”? What do you think is the message of the movie?

Comments

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Hepapad

United Kingdom

The best movies 2015
The hobbit 3 http://q.gs/7134308/the-hobbit-3?
LUCY Blu-ray http://adf.ly/7134308/lucy-blu-ray-in-january
Chappie 2015 http://q.gs/7134308/chappie-2015
cinderella 2015 http://q.gs/7134308/cinderella-13032015
The Avengers: Age of Ultron http://j.gs/7134308/the-avengers-age-of-ultron

Yemeni4u

Yemen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74eJaVQFybI

this link about this film … Hope to see it later

Sojin

United States

I am not so sure. Adversity that most of real immigrants have could be much more complicated that this movie can offer. It is not an easy issue to talk about.

makin02

Algeria

Hello friends i want learn english language with you uuuuu

makin02

Algeria

Hello friends i want learn english language with you uuuuu

ola33

Japan

As for immigrants. Love the country you came to, speak its language, respect its people, learn the new culture but don’t lose yours, don’t hold the grudge on anyone, move on and you’ll be accepted.

ola33

Japan

I see, S&W, and teachers from my experience don’t usually pay attention on underdogs. Well, it’s good that Hollywood made a movie about the teacher as should be. May somebody will watch and get something. Is it Kevin Costner starring in there. I like him as an actor.

S&W

China

Ola33,Your experience let me reminds mine. I was a student with poor grade .Every parent’s meeting teacher would save sometime to get together parents with poor grade children like me for a private talk .The content always describe how much attentions she paid on us and the result is obviously not equal to her hard work .you know it is a hint that we should paid much for her beyond attention.Actually ,she didn’t do anything at all.

ola33

Japan

I’ve come across with this situation in real by paying less then the other parents and the treatment of my child was exactly equal the money I’ve paid. Horrible! Probably that’s why I’m sceptical about teachers.

ola33

Japan

Yes, it’s bad. And if the money is not given, the poor student is doomed to fail.

S&W

China

Usually we sent flower and card on Teacher’s day,right?Maybe some teachers like or ask for money in a obscure way.

ola33

Japan

Immoral like what?

S&W

China

@ola33,Study with a good teacher definitely a happiness thing in life.Both the student and teacher can improve in a very pleasure way.like a partership.When i mentioned Compromise refers to teacher themself behave in a immoral way which may bring bad influence on their students.

ola33

Japan

S@W why not to compromise if you’re a good teacher – to find that happy medium to make his students educated and happy. Imagine, the teacher will be stubborn as donkey and what will be achieved- nothing! The students leave or just lose their interest for studying. Heart should speak first, not ego- I’m a teacher and don’t tell me what to do. That’s a good test!

S&W

China

@shoba I have the same reason with you to watch this movie,I always put my depressive feelings into a movie and have a good cry.Maybe all i want is to find a good reason to cry.hahaha

@scienceboy,No burden,no improvement.

@ola33I agreed with you,a teacher must be respect,however,respect doesn’t mean compromise.After all,Some teachers were unconscious and using this noble position for self-profit even worse is crime.

Jordana Brasileira

Brazil

I haven’t heard about this movie until today. I’ve just saw the trailer, and it didn’t capt my attention you know, I’m not going to watch. The story seems interesting. I don’t think that this Disney movie will encourage a big discussion in USA about the immigrant’s rights , far from it. But at least, shed some light on this topic.

aquinocg

Brazil

I think that the cinematographic industry needs more ideas.

ScienceBoy

Turkey

Ola33, thank you :) But please don’t say sorry. You misundersood I guess. I agree with you on your comment :)

ola33

Japan

Scienceboy, sorry, I’m pretty sure you’re not only a teacher but also have got a kind and loving heart!

ScienceBoy

Turkey

@Ola33,

Yes, you don’t have to be a teacher to help people, but teachers have a great role in our lives. As a teacher, I have a great effect on my students. And it’s actually a burden. Like you said, there are teachers who do more harm than help. How pity. Parents trust teachers with their childreen and the rest is up to teachers’ conscience.

If I love science, it’s because of my wonderful biology teacher. And I still feel shy among people with my physical appearence thanks to my elementary school teacher who used to call me “fatty potato”.