This end of year DVD activity is based on the popular Mr Bean TV series and as there is virtually no spoken English, it can be used for all levels. The episode is called 'Merry Christmas Mr Bean' and lasts about 30 minutes.
Level: Pre-intermediate and below
Brainstorm words connected with Christmas. Explain the words in the checklist using pictures or demonstrations. Students watch the episode and mark the items which appear.
Post DVD activity depends of students' language resources.
Level: Intermediate and above
Preparation:
Make sure that you have enough photocopies of the worksheet so that each student in the class has a copy. Set up the DVD and TV before the students arrive and make sure that you are familiar with the controls. If teaching private students, the DVD can be watched on a computer screen if you have a DVD player and the appropriate software (I use Nero).
Reading activity (30 mins.):
Ask the students to read the text the text underlining any words they don't understand or don't know how to pronounce (I ask them to underline pronunciation problems in red and meaning in blue).
Deal with vocab./ pronunciation problems.
Check comprehension using the list of words in the table on page 2. With monolingual classes you can ask for the translation of the words, with multilingual classes, ask students to read out loud the section where the vocab. is mentioned.
Christmas in England DVD activity
Post DVD activity:
Students talk about how each of the items on the check list appeared in the DVD and/or ask students to talk about Christmas in their country