Comedy for ELT - The Essay
[To download a free worksheet (+ KEY + Script) just click here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByC3...] How do you mark students' essays? You start by looking at the content -- the ideas, right? Then come questions of organization / structure and finally we look at language -- systematic errors, careless mistakes etc... In this fantastic clip which I believe should be compulsory viewing for all language teachers, the student (T. Suitor) has found himself in hot water as his progress has been 'disappointing'... The Headmaster pulls no punches as he gives him a good talking to... Level: C1 -- C2 Topic: Education Taken from the BBC Series 'Not the Nine O'clock News' [NB: I do not own the copyright to this video clip. I have uploaded it here for educational purposes]. SCRIPT [H: Headmaster, S: Suitor] H: Suitor, when you first came to this school, we took you on account of a most entertaining essay you wrote about a parrot that belonged to your aunt. S: Ah, yes, sir. H: Since then, your progress has been ... disappointing. I have here your exam papers from this year. Let's take a look at the general paper, shall we? Question 1 was "Write an essay about 'Perseverance'". S: Yes, sir. H: Do you remember how you began this essay, Suitor? S: Eer, no, sir. H: Read this, it'll help. S: [Reads]: "General Paper, Final Exam. T. Suitor. Autumn 1980, Subject: "Perseverance". H: Yes, get on with it. S: [Reads]: "My aunt, who I live with, has a parrot called 'Perseverance'. * One day.... H: Yes, and you proceeded to tell exactly the same story you told when you arrived at this school. * S: Yes, sir. H: Here's a slightly different one: History, Question 5. S: [Reads] "What was notable about the late 50's?" H: And your answer? [Reads] "My aunt, who I live with, used to have a parrot called '50's' * who is now dead. The most notable thing about ... the late 50's... was his enormous appetite.." * And Question 7. S: [Reads]: "Describe the South Sea Bubble, and its effect on investment". H: Go on. S: [Reads]: "The 'South Sea Bubble' was a large goldfish * and its effect on 'Investment' which was a parrot owned by my aunt, * who I live with... H: SUITOR!! Do you think I am some sort of cretin?? Do you think I haven't noticed?? * It's "WITH WHOM I LIVE"!! ** "My aunt WITH WHOM I LIVE" - not "who I live with"....
