UNIT 4

Film and Media

In this unit film and media are presented as a motivating and

enjoyable framework to acquire fluency and intercultural knowledge.
In the first part of the unit we will tackle the media since the
topics encountered can convey general knowledge about politics,
migration, art, music, etc.
In the second part of the unit, we will explore the possibilities
that the cinema offers as a resource, since it covers interesting
intercultural, social and linguistic aspects. As an example,
we will analyse an English film which is a mirror of todays
society in the sense that it reflects different cultures and how
they intermingle.

Lesson 1. The Media

Task 4.1.1.

Here are the web sites of some of

the most important newspapers and
periodicals in English. Choose five
of them, check their contents.

www.ananova.com
The Press Association web site, top headlines and quirkies, strange or unexpected stories.
www.news.bbc.co.uk
The BBCs main page, which contains brief summaries of the major issues of the day.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/Americas/default.stm
The American section of the BBC.
www.cbsnews.com
A broadcasting companys site. The home page offers sections other than news, such
as sport, entertainment, etc.
www.channel4news.co.uk
Channel 4 television news is an independent terrestrial broadcasting company. You
can either read the headlines or see the video clips. It also includes ITN News, the
other main terrestrial TV rival to the BBC.
www.cnn.com
CNN is a major American news provider that offers coverage of both American national
news and international news.
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 http://dailynews.yahoo.com
Yahoo has a news section which draws on major news providers and is continuously
updated as news comes in.
www.economist.com
The Economist is an authoritative weekly magazine focusing on international politics
and business.
www.englishclub.com/listening/news.htm
Easy news for students; you can listen to them and do related activities.
www.guardian.co.uk
The Guardian is the main rival to The Times. Politically biased towards the left. It is
well-known for its regular weekly job supplements.
www.guardianweekly.com
It offers a truly international view of events and includes a monthly supplement for
learning English.
www.hello-magazine.co.uk
News and pictures from the world of celebrity, royalty, entertainment Fashion
trends and videos; health and beauty tips.
www.independent.co.uk
It is a British broadsheet daily newspaper. It is liberal in tone.
www.msnbc.com/news/NEWS_Front.asp
NBCs international news coverage which breaks down in global sections.
www.nandotimes.com
24-Hour American news and some specialized servers in topics such as sports.
www.nbc.com
The Network Broadcasting Companys site that provides national news coverage.
http://news.bbc.co.uk
This site is updated as news comes in, and offers audio and video clips, as well as
a low-graphics version. It has specific sections for UK news and politics, as well as
specific sections for other parts of the world. You can also find archive material and
links to related articles and sites elsewhere.
www.newsdirectory.com
A directory of American local newspapers, with links to national newspapers and
other periodicals from abroad.
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 www.niss.ac.uk/cr/uknews.html
Links to many local and national newspapers in the United Kingdom.
www.niss.ac.uk/cr/worldnews.html
Links to the most important international newspapers and TV channels, in English
and other languages.
www.nytimes.com
New York Times, you have to register.
www.reuters.com
Reuters provides the main headlines for the issues of the day as news breaks, and
supplies information to newspapers. Straightforward text, no gimmicks.
www.sky.com
Sky news, the online version of the satellite television channels. British based. News
comes in text, video or audio format.
www.sunday-times.co.uk
The Times in its Sunday version.
www.telegraph.co.uk
The Daily Telegraph is a more down market version of The Times. You have to register
on your first visit, but it is free.
www.thesun.co.uk
The Sun is a daily tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and Ireland with
the highest circulation of any daily English-language newspaper in the world. It relies
heavily on stories and scandals involving celebrities and the entertainment industry.
www.the-times.co.uk
The Times is Britains best known broadsheet daily newspaper, with a page of breaking
news updated as it comes in. It is biased towards the right. You have to register on
your first visit, but it is free.
www.time.com
Time is a prestigious American newsmagazine which covers politics, worldnews,
photos, video, tech reviews, health, science, and entertainment news. Free archive
of Time since 1923.
www.usatoday.com
Coverage of American news and issues of interest to the American reader.
www.washingtonpost.com
The Washington Post, you can explore its archives.
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Task 4.1.2.
After having analysed the web sites that you selected, choose an interesting article of
200-300 words. Do not forget to write its corresponding headline and the URL where you
have found it. Then, follow these steps:

Underline the words you do not know. Can you infer their meaning from their
context?
Look up only the words that you do not know and seem to be essential. Do not
look up the words whose meaning you can imagine.
Select:
1. Five words that seem to be important to the article.
2. Five words you consider very formal.
3. Words or expressions that you think show you the writers point of view.
Now summarize the article in no more than 60 or 70 words.

Summary
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Task 4.1.3.
Listen to the television or radio news in English. A good starting point is, for example,
www.englishclub.com/listening/news.htm.
Now fill in the chart below:
Subject of the story
1.
2.
3.
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People involved

Location

A. How much (%) of the news extracts did you understand?

75-100%
50-75%
25-50%
0-25%
Piece of news no. 1: ______
Piece of news no. 2:______
Piece of news no. 3: ______
B. How much (%) of your understanding came from:
the pictures?
the spoken word (dialogue or commentary)?

Task 4.1.4.
Vocabulary
A. When dealing with the press you will notice the use of special vocabulary, especially
in headlines. Now try to find the item that will match with the headline words below
(use the dictionary if necessary):
(Check the answers in the key)
1. aid

A. explosion

2. back

B. fire

3. boom

C. policeman

4. drive

D. increase

5. toll

E. campaign

6. cop

F. support

7. blaze

G. number of people killed

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8. ban

H. prohibition

9. peril

I.

help

10. blast

J.

danger

Now match:
1. _________

6. __________

2. _________

7. __________

3. _________

8. __________

4. _________

9. __________

5. _________

10. __________

B. Look for a suitable word to fill the gaps in this exercise. Choose from the words below:
(Check the answers in the key)
coverage

editorial

correspondent

tabloids

1. Small-format newspapers are known as

.
.

2. There is a good report in the newspaper from their Spanish

3. A newspaper expresses its opinions about the news in its
4. I prefer The Guardian because it has excellent

Task 4.1.5.
Headlines
Try to find out which headlines match with the pieces of news below:
(Check the answers in the key)

STUDY LINK: See Appendix IV, section 5, Headlines.

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.
of the arts.

1. West Bank: Slowly, determinedly, settlers bid to build new town.

2. Gordon Browns hospital eye tests raise health fears.
3. Jobs wanted, any jobs at all.
4. For presidency in search of success, Nobel adds a twist.
5. The gift of life, and its price.
6. Blasts kill dozens in Ramadi.
7. Hillary Clinton hails special relationship.
8. America is a toxic dump.
9. Rescue from quake rubble lifts spirits in Sumatra.
10. Obama: Olympics lost, joblessness up.

A.

I have no doubt that it was the strongest bid possible, the president said of
his adopted home-towns failed bid for the 16 games, and I was proud that I
was able to come in and make that case in person

Source: The Chicago Tribune, September 2, 2009.

B.

In the first of a series of exclusive reports examining settlements in the

West Bank and their role in the Middle East peace process, Rory McCarthy
meets a group of Israelis who want to redeem a patch of land near the
Palestinian town of Beit Sahour.

Source: The Guardian, August 23, 2009.

C.

Two young women pulled from ruins of a school in Padang but Indonesian
officials say 3,000 still buried. In the first of a series of exclusive reports
examining settlements in the West.

Source: The Times, September 2, 2009.

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D.

The US is one of the worlds leading garbage producers. Our unnecessary

wastefulness is creating a deadly brew.

Source: The Guardian, October 2, 2009.

E.

Armed with journalism degrees, Kristy and Katie Barry, twins from Ohio, moved
to New York in search of a job. More than a year later, theyre still looking.

Source: The New York Times, October 10, 2009.

F.

Hillary Clinton hailed the historic special relationship between Britain and
America today as she flew into London on a whirlwind visit to consult on the
war in Afghanistan and the Iranian nuclear threat and to lend her support to
the peace process in Northern Ireland.

Source: The Sunday Times, October 11, 2009.

G.

An increasing number of babies born using fertility treatments are twins,

and they carry special risks often overlooked in the desire to produce
new families.

Source: The New York Times, October 11, 2009.

Audio material: Listen to track n. 7 in CD (extracts A-F).

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H.

The Prime Minister visited Moorfields in London, one of the worlds bestknown eye hospitals, after surgeons found two small tears in his retina.

Source: The Daily Telegraph, October 10, 2009.

I.

President Obama spoke after winning the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday.
But when Mr. Obama walked into the Rose Garden on Friday morning, having
just been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize an honour that would normally
be a moment of high celebration, if not the culmination of a lifes work
he was humble and self-deprecatory, popping a hole in the balloon of his
own accomplishment.

Source: The New York Times, October 10, 2009.

J.

At least 25 dead, scores wounded in explosions at government headquarters,

police station in Iraq.

Source: The Washington Post, October 11, 2009.

Audio material: Listen to track n. 8 in CD (extracts G-J).

Task 4.1.6.
Writing a report
Choose four or five photographs from newspapers related to the same piece of news and
write a report. Follow these steps to organise it in a clear way:

Firstly, briefly summarize the piece of news you have chosen.

Secondly, write an account of the events in the order in which they occurred.
Finally, refer to the comments made by the people who witnessed or were involved
in the incident or event.
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Example
Sumatra Tsunami Hitting Thailand

Photograph 1

Photograph 2

Photograph 3

Photograph 4

Photograph 5

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_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Task 4.1.7.
Interviewing a celebrity. Choose a famous person that you would like to interview and
prepare some questions (five or six) to ask him/her.
Famous person that I have chosen:

_________________________________________________________________
Questions that I would like to ask:
A.

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________ ?
B.

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________ ?
C.

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________ ?
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D.

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________ ?
E.

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________ ?
F. (Optional)

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________ ?
Now search the Internet for information and try to answer the questions above:
Answers:
A.

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
B.

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
C.

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
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D.

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
E.

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
F. (Optional)

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

Task 4.1.8.
Agony Aunt
The following are real letters that people have sent to an Agony Aunt section or Agony
column 1 in a newspaper. As you will see, the letters in such a section are typically
about relationships.
Now read through the letters:

Letter 1.
Time to compromise
I have been with my boyfriend for three years. Recently we suddenly have to go
everywhere with an old friend of his who has come home from staying in Cornwall.
Now we have to go out all the time with him. Its driving me mad. He even comes
shopping with us!

A magazine or newspaper feature in which advice is offered to readers who have sent in letters about their
personal problems.

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Letter 2.
Internet proposal
Im a student. Recently I met a friend in an Internet chat room. He is actually a
very good friend. We used to chat for a couple of months and I really used to enjoy
chatting with him. A few days back he proposed and said he wanted to marry me.
What shall I do?

Letter 3.
Coping with jealousy
I have a boyfriend at the moment that I love so much. My problem is that whenever
he talks or has anything to do with other women I get jealous. This jealousy makes
me argue with him. This situation is tearing us apart and I wondered if you could
give any advice.

Letter 4.
An incurable romantic
I fall in love easily. Ive had my heart broken many times. I feel lost if Im not in
a relationship.

Letter 5.
A desperate wife
My husband is an ambulance man. I sometimes wish he wasnt. His irregular
working life and the stress of the job make family life difficult.
Tonight will be the same as other nights. The phone will ring It will probably
be between midnight and 4 am. The children will wake up and wont go to
sleep again. He may well come home close to tears after some particularly
terrible accident.
All this for such a low salary! He does it because he loves to help people.

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Letter 6.
Marriage on the rocks
When I married, I expected to find love and harmony. However, a few years later
my husband and I started to live separate lives, which has resulted in a lot of
tension, arguments and battles lately. We dont seem to be able to talk without
shouting at each other. Sometimes I think I should accept the situation and just
split up, but what example would it be to our children? What message would it
give? When things get difficult, you can just quit?

Letter 7.
Cheating at college
One of my friends at college has been copying lots of his final coursework from
Internet sites. I think hell get good grades, probably better than mine. Im angry
with this and wonder if I should tell the teacher.

Letter 8.
First Love
I was 18 when I met my ex, 21 when we split up. Im now 23 and I still think about
him daily. I don t know what is going on with his life, but I know he doesnt live
at his mothers any more.
Id like to contact him again, but I only have his old address. Should I write to him
and tell him that I still think about him? Maybe he still thinks about me? I was
stupid to let him go. I was young and I didnt understand love and relationships. Do
I contact him and risk upsetting him or myself?

Audio material: Listen to track n. 9 in CD.

Choose the letter you would like to consider, discuss the problem and suggest solutions.
Write a reply letter (minimum 120 words). Use some of the expressions in the language
box to help you.

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Language Box

First Step: Sympathize

The first thing I/we felt when I/we read your letter was that
I/we realize this puts you in a difficult position. You have got to be brave and
I/we dont know the details of However, I/we do know that
Second Step: Make the person reflect
You have to ask yourself/Ask yourself
You already sound doubtful about
Problems are never solved if the people concerned dont
If you really feel, then
There is no point ining.
Third Step: What the person involved should do

It is always very difficult to However, if you dont you will never

be able to
Go slowly and make sure that
The first thing you have to do and very soon is
I/we really feel (that) you need to/I/we really feel (that) you should
Perhaps you could/It might be a good idea

Advice to Letter

_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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Lesson 2. Film

Films often reflect society and introduce important sociocultural elements. As an example
we have chosen a film, East is East, which deals with topics such as racial discrimination,
immigration, multiculturalism, mistreatment, and arranged marriages.
In many places in the United Kingdom such as Salford, England, where the action of the
film takes place, we find a micro multicultural society within a multicultural Britain.
After World War II Britain encouraged immigration from its former colonies to benefit
the labour market. The immigrants decided to bring over their families and settle in
Britain. After establishing their own communities, mainly Asian people were very keen
on preserving their culture and customs.

East is East
Task 4.2.1.
Read the following information about the film:
Director: Damien ODonnell.
Script: Ayub Khandin.
Kind of film: comedy and drama.
Cast: Om Puri (George Khan), Linda Bassett (Ella Khan), Jordan Routlege (Sajid Khan),
Archie Panjabi (Meenah Khan), Emil Marwa (Meneer Khan) Chriss Bisson (Saleem
Khan), Jimi Mistry (Tariq Khan), Raji James (Abdul Khan), Ian Aspinall (Nazir Khan)
and Lesley Nicol (Aunt Annie).

Summary
ODonnels film is about a father that tries to keep the family traditions. He is from
Pakistan and he owns a fish and chips shop. He is married to an English woman and tries
to educate his children according to his Pakistani cultural traditions. The action takes
place in Salford, England, in 1971.

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Task 4.2.2.
Activity before watching the film
Search the Internet for information about Pakistan and its culture and write about four or
five traditions that have caught your attention.

_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Task 4.2.3.
Watch the film

Task 4.2.4.
Activities after watching the film
A. Describe Salford, the place where the action takes place.

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
B. Choose one of the main characters. Firstly describe his or her external features such as
age, appearance, etc. and, after that, his or her way of talking and behaving.

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
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C. Search the Internet for some information about Pakistani immigrants in the UK.

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
D. Look for other films that deal with the subject of multicultural societies and list
some of them:
1. _________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________
4. _________________________________________________

Task 4.2.5.
A scene of the film
Chosen scene

The conversation between Tariq and George Khan.

Suggested activities

A. Look for these expressions and try to write a definition:

To be fed up with ____________________________________________________

To warn ____________________________________________________________
To bring someone up _________________________________________________
To get married to ____________________________________________________

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B. This is a transcription of the dialogue in the scene but it is not in the correct order.
Watch the scene again and rewrite the dialogue in the correct order below it.
Tariq: I will get married to a Pakistani and now doing that,
Ill get married to a fucking English woman as well just like my dad.
George Khan: Bastard, I tell you dont go too far with me.
Bastard, youll do what I tell you.
You understand?
You understand me?
You understand me?
Tariq: I understand you.
I understand you.
Ill do what you want.
George Khan: Good.
Tariq: I am not Pakistani.
I was born here I speak English no Urdu.
Tariq: Im not saying its not, dad.
I just think Ive got the right to choose the one I marry to.
George Khan: You want to choose like Nazir?
To lose everything?
You want a bloody English girl. They are no good, drink alcohol, no look care.
Tariq: If English female are so bad, why did you marry mum?
George Khan: Son you dont understand, of course you dont listen to me.
I am trying to show you a good way to live.
You are not English.
English people are never accepting you.
In Islam everyone is equal.
No black men no white men all Muslims, a special community.
Tariq: Look Dad,
We are all fed up of being told what to do and where to go.

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George Khan: Im warning you, mister.

Im not bringing you up to give me no respect.
Pakistani sons always show respect.
Transcription in the correct order

(See transcription of scene in the key)

_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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C. Answer the following questions about the text:

1. What is the main topic of the conversation between father and son?

_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
2. What does Tariq want to convey to his father?

_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
3. What opinion has George Khan of the attitude of English people towards
Pakistani people?

_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
4. According to George Khan, what are English women like?

_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
5. Does George convince Tariq?

_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Task 4.2.6.
Write a short composition on the advantages and disadvantages of these topics (not more
than 120 words):
A.

Arranged marriages.

B.

Multicultural societies.

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STUDY LINK: See Appendix III, sections 5 (Structuring), section 6 (Adding

information), section 7 (Listing advantages and disadvantages), section 8
(Expressing cause), section 9 (Expressing contrast), section 10 (Expressing
effect/cause/consequences), section 11 (Expressing purpose) and section 12
(Summarizing information).

_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

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Extension work
4.A. Think of the type of newspapers and magazines you usually buy or enjoy
reading. In a group discussion, plan and compose the kind of newspaper
or magazine you would like to read (maximum 10 pages).
4.B. Read a piece of news written on different newspapers. Collect the
information, organise it and write again about the incident again (expand:
who?, what?, when?, where?, how?). Once you have written it, compare it
with the other versions.

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
4.C. Choose a film that deals with the topic of immigration and then complete
the following tasks:
A. Write a summary of the film (maximum 100 words).
B. Choose a scene you like and explain the reason why you like that
particular scene. After that, try to transcribe part of it.
Summary

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

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Chosen Scene

I like it because

_______________________________________

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Transcription of Scene

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

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