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Part 1 – sample questions
Cinema
- Do you like watching films/movies?
- What kinds of films do you enjoy?
- Do you prefer watching films at home or at the cinema?
- Is it easy to get to a cinema where you live?
- How often do you watch films / go the cinema?
- Have you seen any good films recently?
- What kind of movies did you like to watch when you were a child?
- Has your taste in films changed as you've got older?
Television
- How much television do you watch per day/week?
- What time of time do you usually watch TV?
- Who do you normally watch TV with?
- What kind of TV programmes do you like the most?
- Do you have a favourite TV programme at the moment?
- What TV programmes do you remember from your childhood?
- How often do you watch the news on TV?
Part 2 – sample task card
Describe a film you found interesting.
You should say:
- when you saw this film
- why you decided to see this film
- what happened in the film
and explain why you found this film interesting.
Part 3 – sample questions
- Is cinema a popular form of entertainment in your country?
- How has the cinema experience changed in recent years?
- Do you think that films should always have an educational value?
- Is it important for governments to support film-making in their countries?
- Do you think the Internet has had a big impact on the entertainment industry?
- In what ways do you think that entertainment media may develop in the future?
Useful Vocabulary
Advantages of going to the cinema
- the thrill of watching something on the big-screen
- more exciting/intense atmosphere
- surround sound system brings the characters to life / enhances the special effects
- able to appreciate the cinematography
- can enjoy a night out with friends
- the excitement of watching a premiere screening
Advantages of watching TV
- can sit in the comfort of your own home
- can choose what you want to watch
- can play back your favourite parts
- can pause it if you want to stop watching
- can flick through the channels
- can invite your friends round
- can watch a variety of programmes at your own convenience
- can switch it off if you get bored
Film-making
- social responsibility to make educational/informative films
- good media for reaching wide audiences
- has high impact on the public
- can get worldwide recognition
- can deliver social and cultural messages
- can bring widespread attention to social/world problems
Technology & Entertainment
- online gaming / games / gambling
- downloading films / videos
- downloading music
- computer game consoles
- social networking / network sites
- instant chat/photo feeds
Useful linkers for giving more exact information
- in (actual) fact…
- actually…
- as a matter of fact…
- to be more exact…
- to be more precise…
Sample Answer
Do you think that films shown in cinemas should have an educational value?
No, I don’t think that it’s necessary for all films to be educational. In fact, I think people go to the cinema because they simply want to be entertained, not always educated. Watching a film on the big screen is a form of escapism and so people want adventure, romance or fantasy. As far as I’m concerned, if I’m looking to be educated I would choose to read a book or watch a documentary, although actually I do also enjoy historical films which teach me something about the past.
