AUDIOVISUAL LABORATORY COURSE 8

Level: INTERMEDIATE
Aim: To identify the use of future, present and past forms in a documentary when talking
about predictions, facts and hypothetic events in order to report the main ideas grasped
in an oral or witten dissertation.
Resources: Video retrieved form www.whatyououghtotknow.com - Documentary “Life after
people” produced by History Channel – Worksheet – DVD player – TV set.
Lenght: 50 minutes
Language focus: Future forms – LIKE for descriptions and comparisons
Interaction: Pair work
Topic: Making predictions
PROCEDURES

1. Watch a 4-minute video about future predictions related to natural disasters.

a. What’s the most frequent expression the man mentions?_______________________
b. Who does he refer to with “those all miserable American mystic”?________________
c. Which are the four main theats the presenter suggest?_______________________,
_____________________, _________________________, and ________________.
d. Withdraw from the video at least 3 complete sentences that are said with WILL or
GOING TO (different from the expression in point a.)

2. Now, discuss with your partner what you think the next video is about, based on
the next introduction:

“What would happen if every human being on Earth dissapeared? At some point in the
future this could be the fate of our planet. This is the story of how life bashed, this is
the story of what happens to the world we leave behind.”

3. Watch the video and take notes about what will happen to Earth one day after
people dissapear. Be precise and accurate, focusing on relevant information and
correct use of future forms.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

4. Now match the events with the estimated time after people dissapearence:
10 days __________ a. plants will start covering the surface of towns
6 months_________ b. there will be plenty of fires
1 year ___________ c. domestic dogs will probably die
5 years __________ d. energy generators will shut down
20 years _________ e. Earth will be totally covered by nature
f. some animals will become wilder
h. some places will be dry and others will be flooded
i. concrete buildings will become to crumble

5. Mention why each of the above events will happen and where all these events have
already ocurred. What happened there? (Use the back of this worksheet).