This lesson is designed around a video and a short film called Table 7 by Marko Slavnic, and the themes of arguments and forgiveness. Students watch a video and short film, write a dialogue, role-play an argument and speak about arguments and forgiveness.
Language level: Upper Intermediate (B2) – Advanced (C1)
Learner type: Teens and adults
Time: 90 minutes
Activity: Watching a video and short film, writing a dialogue, role-playing an argument and speaking
Topic: Arguments and forgiveness
Language: Vocabulary and expressions related to arguments
Materials: Video, short film and expressions used in arguments
Downloadable materials: table 7 lesson instructions expressions used in arguments foregivesness quotes
Step 1
Ask your students the following question:
What do couples usually argue about?
Put students in pairs and ask them to discuss the question.
Step 2
Ask your students if they know any expressions which people might use to express strong disagreement in an argument. Write any useful expressions students come up with on the board and discuss them.
Step 3
Give students the document with expressions used in arguments. Go through the expressions.
Step 4
Tell your students they are going to watch a short video in which a couple are having an argument, but that they are not going to hear the argument. They have to imagine what the couple are arguing about and what they are saying. Show the video and pause at 1:30.
Step 5
Ask students what they think the couple are arguing about.
Step 6
Put your students into pairs and tell them that you would like them to write a dialogue for the argument between the man and the woman. Encourage them to use some of the expressions and interjections the have seen in Step 3. Show the video again and pause at each stage of the argument to give students time to discuss and then write their dialogue.
Step 7
When students have finished their arguments ask a strong pair to come to the front of the class. Ask the student playing the role of the man to stand to the right of the screen and the student playing the role of the woman to the left of the screen. Tell the pair that they have to act out their dialogue as you play the video again. Ask more pairs to come to the front of the class to do the same. Vote on the best and funniest dialogues.
Step 8
Now show the video with the sound on. Students will probably find it funny as there is no dialogue, only music (Beethoven’s 5th Symphony).
Step 9
Tell your students they are going to watch the start of a short film in which a couple are having an argument, but they are not going to hear the dialogue and have to imagine what the couple are talking about. Show the film until 00:27 and then pause. Get feedback from the students.
Step 10
Show the start of the film again, but this time with the sound on. Ask students if their predictions were correct.
Step 11
Ask students what they think is going to happen next in the film. Show the film until 02:15. Ask students the following questions:
Were your predictions correct?
What is the man in the basement doing?
What do you think is going to happen next?
Step 12
Show the rest of the film and ask them if their predictions were correct. Ask them the following questions:
Did you like the film?
How did it make you feel?
Does the film have a message?
Step 13
Write the 2 proverbs in the fortune cookies on the board:
“A simple sorry between lovers can prevent life-long regrets.”
“To blame is Human, but to forgive is Divine.”
Ask students to discuss the proverbs.
Step 14
Give students the quotes about forgiveness and ask them to discuss them in small groups.
I hope you enjoy the lesson.
Love your website! It´s very helpful, thanks for all the ideas.
Thanks a lot, Marta. Great to know you like the site so much.
All the best,
Kieran
The lesson sounds very interesting, however, I can’t watch the other film on my PC. What should I do?
Can anybody help?
Thanks a lot.
Jannet
Hi Janet,
Try it in another browser or just refresh the page.
Cheers,
Kieran
I will definitely use this lesson it looks great!!!! thanks Kieran
Hi Antonella,
Thanks for commenting. Ihope your students enjoy it.
All the best,
Kieran
Wow – what a wonderful lesson! Not only does it provide interesting and useful vocabulary and the means to utilize it but, in the process, it also offers lessons on becoming a healthier and and happier person through the process of forgiveness. Absolutely brilliant. Can’t wait to use it in class – thanks so much.
Hi John,
Thanks so much for your kind words, I really appreciate them. Please let me know how it goes with your students.
All the best,
Kieran
Hi Kieran,
“Table Seven” is so thoughtfully and thoroughly laid out for teachers that the entire lesson literally breathes a life of its own in the classroom. Like so many of your Film Lessons, “Table 7″ seems to effortlessly reach students on a multitude of levels – speaking, listening, writing, vocabulary building – and it’s a great deal of fun. My students eagerly discussed the vocabulary and often added choice phrases of their own. A frenzy of speculation then followed the first showing of the “Argument to Beethoven,” and the groups debated sometime over what the crux of the argument could be. The natural breaks in the argument were clearly evident, but a limit of three sentences for each break was decided on for writing the dialogue as so much time had been spent debating the probable nature of the argument. The entire class was surprised and delighted to hear Beethoven’s 5th playing in place of the expected heated exchanges. Prior to learning this, the groups had acted out their drama in front of the class using the stage directions you’d suggested, and their efforts proved even more entertaining than the film itself. Your suggestions were also closely followed when showing “Table 7,” and the intrigue over what was actually happening lent an air of absorbing mystery to the exercise and once again sent the class off on a flurry of wild speculation. It was great to see such enthusiasm among the students, and this certainly helped to make the lesson an absolute joy. There wasn’t enough time to discuss the marvellous quotes, so students were asked to pick their favourites and then add one of their own for discussion the following week. “Table 7″ is, without a doubt, one of my all-time favourite lessons. Thanks so very much.
Hi John,
Thanks so much for your kind words. The way you’ve used the and adapted the lesson sounds fantastic,; I’m really happy your students were so engaged.
All the best,
Kieran
Thank you so much for all your hard work putting together stuff like this for us to use. Whenever I’m stuck for something interesting and motivating I have a look on your website. I can’t wait to try this out with my students tomorrow – I didn’t have the heart to do it today – on Valentine’s Day!! Thanks again!
Hi Sally,
It’s a pleasure. I’m really happy that you find the site so interesting and inspiring, I’m flattered.
All the best,
Kieran
One of the best classes I have ever given!!!!!!! Thanks to you and your wonderful ideas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amazing material.. wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Daniel,
Thanks a lot for taking the time to comment and for your kind words. I’m really happy that you like the site so much
All the best,
Kieran
Hi,
I just want to thank you for all the hard work that you put into preparing this beautiful teaching resource
Hi Lynda,
Thanks a lot for taking the time to comment and for your kind words about the site, I really appreciate them.
All the best,
Kieran