Wednesday, July 31, 2019

What Is Cinema For?





Audio Time: 9 min 54 sec

Level: Upper intermediate

Vocabulary:  To help learners fully understand the audio and transcript, most vocabulary that might be unknown for this lesson’s level is provided. Vocab in bold is more useful for learners at the lesson’s target level. Try to choose 8 to 10 new words to learn from the story (in general, it’s best to try to learn no more than 8-10 new words a day).

Definitions are written with the help of various sources including Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary

Astonishing: causing a feeling of great surprise or wonder; amazing.

To induce: to cause (something) to happen or exist.

To weep: (somewhat formal) to cry because you are very sad or are feeling some other strong emotion.

Downcast: not happy confident, or hopeful.

Strenuous: requiring or showing great energy and effort.

Profound: having or showing great knowledge or understanding.

Flick: (informal): movie.

To conceive: to think of or create (something) in the mind.

Predecessor: a person who had a job or position before someone else.

Self-righteousness: having or showing a strong belief that your own actions, opinions, etc., are right and other people's are wrong.

Conscience: the part of the mind that makes you aware of your actions as being either morally right or wrong.

Compensate: to provide something good as a balance against something bad or undesirable: to make up for some defect or weakness.

Prone: likely to do, have, or suffer from something — usually + to.

To grind down: to make (something hard) smaller and smoother by gradually rubbing off tiny bits.

Solemn: very serious or formal in manner, behavior, or expression.

Outlook: a set of conditions that will probably exist in the future: the future of someone or something.

Brittle: easily broken or cracked.

To restore: to return (something) to an earlier or original condition by repairing it, cleaning it, etc.

To edge: always followed by an adverb or preposition: to move slowly or with small movements in a specified direction.

Trauma: a very difficult or unpleasant experience that causes someone to have mental or emotional problems usually for a long time.

Lustful: feeling or showing strong desire; usually sexual desire.

To spiral: to greatly increase, decrease, or get worse in a continuous and usually fast and uncontrolled way.

To speed up: to become faster or to make (something or someone) faster.

To erode: to gradually destroy (something) or to be gradually destroyed by natural forces (such as water, wind, or ice).

Vindictive: having or showing a desire to hurt someone who has hurt or caused problems for you.

To crush: to defeat (a person or group that opposes you) by using a lot of force.

To witness: to see something happen.

Forthright: honest and direct: providing answers or information in a very clear and direct way.

To head off: to prevent (something) from happening.

Inclined: not used before a noun: wanting to do something or likely to do something.

Deserving: having good qualities that deserve praise, support, etc.

Swank: very fashionable and expensive.

Glamour: a very exciting and attractive quality.

To eject: to force (someone) to leave — often + from

Bizarre: very unusual or strange.

Appeal: a quality that causes people to like someone or something.

Obvious: easy to see or notice.

Timidity: feeling or showing a lack of courage or confidence.

Victory: success in defeating an opponent or enemy.

Ruthless: having no pity: cruel and without mercy.

Outwit: to defeat or trick someone by being more intelligent or cleaver: outsmart.

Awe: a strong feeling of fear or respect and also wonder.

Daring: willing to do dangerous or difficult things.

Immaturity: acting in a childish way: having or showing a lack of emotional development.

Bearable: able to be accepted or to be able to exist in the same state or condition.

Bully: someone who frightens, hurts, or threatens smaller or weaker people.

Potent: very effective or strong.

To swear: to use offensive words when you speak.

Tentative: not done with confidence: uncertain or hesitant.

Acknowledgement: the act of showing that you know, admit, or accept that something exists or is true.

Subtle: hard to notice or see: not obvious.

Merely: only, just—used to say that someone or something is small, unimportant.

Folly: Not having good sense or judgment: foolishness.

Vice: bad or immoral behavior or habits; a bad habit or weakness.


Discussion questions:

1. According to the video, why is film important?
2. Can you think of any other reasons film is important that the video didn’t discuss?
3. Can you think of a film that helped you with one of the problems mentioned?
4. Do you agree that film can be a type of therapy for problems in life? How so?
5. What do you think of the idea in the video of giving ratings for films according to how they can help people with different problems in life?