A New Life

Friday, May 19^th (nineteenth) 2017

Before & After: A New Life!

              Today’s document is a scene from the first episode of the series “Breaking Bad”.

              THe first scene took place in the doctor’s office. The patient looked sad / in shock / lost, because he just learned that he was sick. He had / has cancer.

              In the second scene, the patient / Mr White spoke with his ex-student. Mr White was curious about the ‘activity’ / ‘hobby’ of his ex-student: the drug business!

              HE wanted to cooperate with his ex-student to sell drugs because “he knows the chemistry”.

              It’s not just a simple offer! It’s blackmail because Mr White proposed  a sort of deal to the student, but if the student refused, Mr White would call the police…

              Mr white USED TO have a normal / boring life.

              He USED TO be a chemistry teacher.

              He USED TO be like everybody.

              Not anymore!...

Hmm.. Hmm… Friday, May 19^th (nineteenth) 2017

Strange Blackmail…

Today’s document is a teaser / trailer for the TV series ‘Breaking Bad”.

THe first scene took place in the doctor’s office. We saw a doctor and a patient. The patient, Mr White, Looked totally absent / ‘lost’ because the doctor told Mr White he had a lung cancer. Mr White was in shock…

Before this devastating news, Mr White USED TO be a chemistry teacher. He USED TO have a normal / basic life. He USED TO be a good man, etc.

Mr White went to see his ex student. He wanted to begin a partnership with him. He proposed / offered to work him to sell drugs, because he needed money.

“You know the business. And I know the chemistry.”

But this isn’t a simple offer, it’s blackmail!

If the ex student refuses, Mr White will call the police!

         

The American Sniper Controversy

Friday, May 5^th (fifth) 2x1000+17=2017

American Sniper : Hero or Villain ?

Today's document is the trailer for a movie about an American Sniper. The scene probably took place in Afghanistan or Iraq and it must be / it must take place nowadays because we know there is a war in Aghanistan right now...

His job is to watch terrorists and, if necessary, shoot / kill them.

What WOULD you HAVE DONE in his place ?

Arthur WOULD HAVE SHOT the kid because he had a bomb and he ran towards the soldiers.

Maelie, euh, WOULD NOT HAVE KILLED the child because he's just a kid.

So, is this man a hero or a killer ?

For Arnaud, this man is a hero because he saved a lot of people...

For Vincent, on the one hand he protected / defended his comrades / his friends, but on the other hand he killed a lot of people. So Vincent has mixed feelings about this man...

For Gregory, American Sniper is a movie with a lot of action, a tense / stressful atmosphere. Bradley Cooper is a great actor. Greggi thinks all the SPCL students SHOULD watch this film. (CONSEIL = SHOULD)

→ Pour imaginer ce qu'on FERAIT (à la place de qqn)

WOULD + VB

Ex : If I were you, I would not do this.

→ Pour imaginer ce qu'on AURAIT FAIT...

WOULD HAVE + Participe Passé

Ex : If I had been in the sniper's position, I WOULD NOT HAVE SHOT / KILLED the kid.

Videos for the Physics / Chemistry Class

Here are the 2 videos for Mr Willot's lessons!

A House on Fire

Friday, April 28^th 2017

A House on Fire !

A man called Levi WAS WALKING to university when he SAW a house on fire. He immediately called the firemen but he HEARD a woman who WAS SCREAMING « Help ! Help ! ».

He RAN in the house, he avoided the flames and he TOOK / CARRIED the woman outside.

Without him, the woman WOULD HAVE DIED.

Without Levi, she probably WOULD HAVE SUFFOCATED...

→ Pour parler de ce qui ETAIT EN TRAIN DE SE PASSER à un moment précis du passé :

BE au passé + VB-ING

Ex : Yesterday at 3Pm Axel WAS PLAYING with marbles in physics.

→ Pour parler de ce qui SE SERAIT PASSE :

WOULD HAVE + PARTICIPE PASSE

Ex : If Paris had a second goal in Barcelona, they WOULD HAVE QUALIFIED...

The Clinging Woman + Miracle on the Hudson

Friday, March 17^th 2017

→ It's Saint Patrick's Day !

A Modest Hero

The scene took place on a balcony. A girl was hanging from the balcony of her apartment.

Lea thought the girl might be a Yamakasi !

Grefffory believed she MIGHT HAVE WANTED to catch her glasses but she fell.

Arnaud thought she MUST HAVE WANTED to die. She MIGHT HAVE BEEN depressed...

→ Pour faire des hypothèses / suppositions à propos du passé on utilise :

MIGHT

MAY

COULD + HAVE + Participe Passé

MUST

A man saw the woman. He called the firemen / the police and they rescued her. He became a hero for his neighbours, but he didn't think he was a hero.

2 weeks later, the woman rang the man's doorbell. She wanted to thank him.

But he just said, « oh, it's nothing... »

Without the man's intervention, she WOULD / COULD HAVE DIED.

Friday, March 24^th 2017

A Crazy Landing... in the Hudson River !

The plane took off from LaGuardia Airport and flew A FEW minutes, but it had a problem and it crashed in / landed in the Hudson River.

It was a miracle because everybody survived.

Without this pilot, the plane WOULD / COULD HAVE CRASHED !

People WOULD / COULD HAVE DIED !

For Axel, without this pilot, the plane WOULD / COULD not HAVE TAKEN OFF ! (#LOL)

→ Pour parler de ce qui se serait passé :

WOULD HAVE + PP

→ Pour parler de ce qui aurait pu se passer :

COULD HAVE + PP

Ex : Arthur COULD HAVE HAD 20 in French if he had worked.

Friday, March 24^th 2017

The Hudson River Miracle

 and the Hero Pilot

8 years ago a plane took off from LaGuardia airport in New York City. It flew for a few minutes, but the pilot understood there was a problem, so the plane landed / crashed in the Hudson River.

It was a miracle !

Without this fantastic pilot, the plane WOULD / COULD HAVE CRASHED and the passengers WOULD / COULD HAVE DIED.

→ Pour parler de ce qui se serait passé :

WOULD HAVE + PP

→ Pour parler de ce qui aurait pu se passer :

COULD HAVE + PP

Ex : With another teacher, Arthur COULD HAVE HAD at least (= minimum) 12/20 !

Movie Posters & Maps - PT* & PT

The Clinging Woman

Friday, March 17^th 2017

→ It's Saint Patrick's Day !

A Modest Hero

The scene took place on a balcony. 

A girl was hanging from the balcony of her apartment.

Lea thought the girl might be a Yamakasi !

Grefffory believed she MIGHT HAVE WANTED to catch her glasses but she fell.

Arnaud thought she MUST HAVE WANTED to die. She MIGHT HAVE BEEN depressed...

→ Pour faire des hypothèses / suppositions à propos du passé on utilise :

MIGHT

MAY

COULD + HAVE + Participe Passé

MUST

Game of Thrones: An Impossible Dilemma

Friday, March 10^th 2017

The King and Ned

This document is the first episode of the TV series Game of Thrones. The scene takes / took place in a castle. It MUST take place in the middle ages because there are knights and horses.

The big fat man MUST be the king because the family kneels when he arrives / comes.

The king has a double request for Ned.

The king wants Ned to become his « right hand » to help him fight.

The king also wants his son and Ned's daughter to marry.

→ Pour parler de ce qu'on veut que qqn FASSE, on utilise WANT somebody TO + VB

Ex : Mr Tetard wants the SPCL to participate !

Friday, March 10^th 2017

The King's Requests

This document is an extract / a scene from the first episode of the TV series « Game of THrones ». 
The scene MUST take place in the middle ages because we can see knights, a King and a castle.

The big fat man MUST be the King (even if he doesn't have a crown!) because all the subjects kneel in front of him.

The King and the family MUST be friends because he hugs them and they laugh together.

The King wants Ned TO help him.

The King wants Ned to become his « right hand ».

The King wants his son and Ned's daughter to marry.

→ Pour parler de ce qu'on veut que qqn fasse, on utilise : WANT somebody TO + VB

Ex : Mr Tetard doesn't want Arthur and Gregory TO spoil his lesson.

Friday, March 10^th 2017

The Ultimate Choice:

“Should I stay or should I go?”

The scene takes place in a room of the Stark Family’s castle.

Ned’s wife is sad / depressed / desperate / devastated because Ned accepted the King’s proposition.

Ned said he didn’t have a choice.

He explained to his wife that he had to go.

His wife thought Ned HAD a choice.

She wanted Ned to stay with her and their family.

Ms Gharbi believes Ned is a coward because he abandons his family.

Mr Masselot disagrees, he thinks Ned is a hero because he risks his life for the King…

It is an impossible / difficult choice.

Bondi Beach Hero

Friday, March 3^rd 2017

Local Surfer Saves the Day !

Gregory thought the document MIGHT be about an apartment on fire.

Marc-Antoine believed the document COULD be about a flood / a heavy rain.

Rihann thought the scene could take place at the beach, because she heard the waves.

In fact, this document is an article from an Australian newspaper.

The scene took place on Bondi Beach, in Sydney in 2015 / one and a half year ago.

What happened ?

A swimmer was drowning, a surfer heard the swimmer scream « help ! Help ! Help! », so the surfer ran to the beach, he grabbed / caught the man and he swam to the beach.

Lea thinks the surfer is a hero because he saved the man.

The surfer said « I'm not a hero, I just did the right thing ! ».

→ Pour faire des hypothèses, on peut utiliser les modaux suivants :

MIGHT < MAY < COULD < MUST +VB

Ex : Paris might win the Champions' League. 

What Makes a Hero?

Friday, February 10^th 2017

What is a hero ?

For Maelie, a hero HAS TO be tall, muscular / athletic and handsome / attractive / gorgeous.

For Lisa, a superhero HAS / WEARS a tight costume, with his underwear on top of the costume / outfit.

In terms of personality, Gwendoline thinks that a superhero HAS TO be crafty because he / she faces difficult situations and he / she HAS TO solve problems and he / she HAS TO beat / defeat enemies.

For Arnaud, a superhero HAS TO run fast, maybe fly and he saveS / rescueS people in danger.

He / she is charismatic and he / she never giveS up / never surrenderS.

He / She fightS for peace and justice.

He / She defends « what's right ».

→ Pour parler d'une vérité générale, d'une habitude, on utilise le Présent Simple.

On n'oublie pas le « S » avec he / she / it.

→ Pour l'obligation : MUST + VB ou HAVE TO +VB

Ex : He HAS TO be brave / courageous !

VOCABULARY

# give up = surrender : abandonner, se rendre

# humble = modest : /

# nasty / evil : méchant / maléfique

# a villain : un méchant

# clever / smart : intelligent, malin

# crafty : malin

# tight : serré (moulant)

# big-headed : « gros-têté »

Friday, February 10^th 2017

→ Gregory is very excited because he is going to go to Lille to « drink ».

Heroes and more...

For Ms Penet, a hero lookS strong / powerful / muscular / athletic. He is tall and dynamic and sometimes he has got a cape and gadgets / devices.

In terms of personality Ms Gharbi (a.k.a. « SheepGirl ») thinks a hero must be / has to be brave / courageous because sometimes he / she saveS people / the world and he / she is ready to risk his / her life, he is ready to sacrifice himself.

He doesn't surrender, he never gives up. He always fights even if the situation looks without hope / hopeless.

A hero defendS / protectS peace and justice. He fights villains / bad guys who are evil and who want to destroy the world...

VOCABULARY

# a helmet : un casque

# high / low : haut / bas

# a sheep : un mouton

# on the one hand... on the other hand :

d'un côté... de l'autre...

# save / rescue : sauver / secourir

# surrender / give up : abandonner, se rendre

# behave : se comporter

# behaviour : le comportement

# evil : 1) le mal 2) maléfique

# a terrorist attack : un attentat 

Worst Ever Food Experience

The Diet Debates

Crazy Food Experiments!

Best Cooking TV Shows

Friday, January 13^th 2017

The Best Cooking TV Shows !

Marc- Antoine likeS the « Great Bake-Off» show . 

It is a French cooking show. On this programme, contestants HAVE TO make cakes and they HAVE TO cook very quickly.

Rihann preferS « Kitchen Nightmare ». 

On this show, contestants HAVE TO listen to Gordon Ramsay and they HAVE TO follow his instructions OTHERWISE he becomes crazy / mad / furious and he shoutS at them. They HAVE TO change everything in their restaurant !

Greg's cooking show WOULD be super strict.

The contestants WOULD HAVE TO respect the rules, OTHERWISE he WOULD break their legs !

→ Pour parler de ce qu'on FERAIT (si...), on utilise WOULD + VB

Ex : If I were you, I WOULD say the truth.

→ Pour exprimer une obligation, on peut utiliser MUST + VB ou HAVE TO + VB

Ex : You HAVE TO clean your restaurant !!!!!!!!!!!

→ Pour imaginer ce que l'on aurait à faire / devrait faire (si...)

WOULD HAVE TO + VB

Ex : If I lost my phone, I WOULD HAVE TO buy a new one..

The Biggest Loser: Ups & Downs

Friday, January 6^th 2017

The Biggest Loser : After the Show

The « Biggest Loser » is an American reality TV show. 
In this show, the goal of the contestants is to lose weight.

The contestants HAVE TO push their limits : they HAVE TO train hard, they HAVE TO run, etc.

Does it work ? Yes and no.

At the end of the show, the people lost weight but SINCE the show they HAVE REGAINED a lot of weight. They HAVEN'T STABILIZED their weight. They HAVE HAD difficulty fighting obesity.

→ Pour faire un bilan Passé → Présent, on utilise le Present Perfect. Cela se construit avec HAVE et le Participe Passé :

Ex : Arthur HAS SEEN the new Star Wars movie !

-> Pour exprimer une obligation, on peut bien sûr utiliser MUST + VB, on peut aussi avoir recours à HAVE TO + VB.
Ex: You HAVE TO work hard to improve your skills!