Curated and contributed by: Ayumi Morimoto (Set 1) and Joe Michaloski (set 2), TESOL, Hawaii Pacific University
Gru, a super-villain, adopts three girls from an orphanage and Vector, a rival of Gru, steals the Great Pyramid of Giza. When Gru learns of Vector's heist, he plans an even greater heist. Gru successfully shrinks and steals the Moon.
Gru: Come on now, it's bedtime. Did you brush your teeth? Let me smell. Let me smell. You did not! Put on your PGs. Hold still. Okay, seriously! Seriously! This is beddie-bye time, right now. I'm not kidding around. I mean it!
Edith: But we're not tired!
Gru: Well, I am tired.
Agnes: Will you read us a bedtime story?
Gru: No.
Agnes: Pretty please?
Gru: The physical appearance of the please makes no difference. It is still no, so go to sleep.
Edith: We can’t...
Margo: and without a bedtime story, we’ll just keep getting up and bugging you…
Gru: Oh… fine… alright.
1. How did Agnes make her request to Mr. Gru? Fill in the blank with one word to complete it.
____ you read us a bedtime story?
2. Did Mr. Gru agree to do the requested action right away?
3. What did Agnes say to repeat her request? Fill in the blank with what she says:
_____________________
4. Did Mr. Gru agree after Agnes's repetition of her request?
5. What did Agnes and Margo say to continue their request? Fill in the blank with their words.
____________________________________
6. Did Mr. Gru finally agree?
7. Were Agnes and Margo successful in their request?
8. What strategies did they use?
1. Form pairs.
2. One student makes three requests to the other student in English. The other student must refuse the request for at least 2 times so the requester needs to use strategies to succeed.
3. Switch roles.
4. Perform your best request scene in front of the class.
Clip Synopsis:
Harry Potter, who recently discovered that he's a wizard, has been accepted into Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. In this clip, Hagrid gives him his ticket to catch the train to Hogwarts but then leaves before Harry knows how to find the platform. He makes a full request to a train station worker who rebuffs him. He continues on after hearing the word "muggles" and watches a few wizards run through a wall before interrupting and requesting instruction on how to get to the platform.
Hagrid: What're you looking at? Blimey, is that the time? Sorry, Harry, I'm gonna have to leave you. Dumbledore'll be wanting his- well, he'll be wanting to see me. Now, uh, your train leaves in 10 minutes. Here's your ticket. Stick to it, Harry that's very important. Stick to your ticket.
Harry: Platform 9¾? But, Hagrid, there must be a mistake. This says Platform 9¾. There's no such thing...is there?
Man: Sorry.
Harry: Excuse me, excuse me.
Guard: Right on your left, ma'am.
Harry: Excuse me, sir. Can you tell me where I might find Platform 9¾?
Guard: 9¾? Think you're being funny, do ya?
Mrs. Weasley: It's the same year after year. Always packed with Muggles, of course.
Harry: Muggles?
Mrs. Weasley: Come on. Platform 9¾ this way! All right, Percy, you first.
Mrs. Weasley: Fred, you next.
George: He's not Fred, I am!
Fred: Honestly, woman, you call yourself our mother.
Mrs. Weasley: Oh, I'm sorry, George.
Fred: I'm only joking. I am Fred.
Harry: Excuse me! C-could you tell me how to-
Mrs. Weasley: How to get on the platform? Yes, not to worry, dear. It's Ron's first time to Hogwarts as well. Now, all you've got to do is walk straight at the wall between platforms 9 and 10. Best do it at a bit of a run if you're nervous.
Ginny: Good luck.
What words does Harry use to initiate his requests? ___________________________.
What other words do you think could be used? ______________________________.
How did the response differ between the train station worker and Mrs. Weasley? _______________________.
How do you think Mrs. Weasley knew what Harry's request was? ______________________.
What's a different sentence Harry could have used to request Mrs. Weasley's help? ____________________________.
How could you change Harry's question to Hagrid into a request? (But, Hagrid, there must be a mistake. This says Platform 9¾. There's no such thing...is there?) --> ___________________________________________________________________________________.
Part 1:
In pairs, choose a situation where you would use requests. For example: finding your way in a new city, ordering food at a restaurant, ordering pizza over the phone, borrowing something from a friend, etc.)
Have one person make requests of the other, and have the other person respond to the requests. Change places after exchanging several sentences.
Some situations may require both people to make requests, see if both people can make a request of the other.
Part 2:
Split the classroom into groups, each group brainstorms some ideas of things they would like in the classroom.
Each group chooses 1-2 of the things they would like the most and creates a request out of them.
Have each group request to their teacher something that they would like in the classroom.
Ex: Would you let us choose our own seats?
Have the teacher respond to the requests. This can be with an answer or their own request.
Ex: If I let you choose your own seats, could I assign more homework?