Tech Unit: Project Prototype and Reviews

Activity 2

Activity 3

Reading & Listening to Tech Reviews 

a. Choose one review to share, summarize, and respond to:

1st- On your Blog, write the product name and link to the review

2nd- in Japanese, summarize the product: the basics (the maker, the release date, past versions/models), its parts & features, its use, etc.

3rd- in Japanese, summarize the review. Does the writer like it? Explain. (design, use, function, performance, cost etc.)

4th- in English, give your opinion (2-4 sentences). Do you want it? Do you think it is cool? Why or why not?

b. Later, we will read and respond to what classmates' shared.

Tech - class two

Review your Movie Review assignment and your next assignment (due in 2 weeks)

1. Vocabulary Review -  Survey

2. Reading and/or Listening to Reviews
    (post will be published soon) 

Technology

1. Project (due June 10th): write a review of a new product
(app, program, communication technology, device)

Paragraph one: summarize the product basics (the maker, the release date, past versions/models), its parts & features, its use, etc.

Paragraph two: your use, your opinion (attractive design? user friendly? useful? affordable? etc.)

Grading Points: follow the above model, be critical (say good and weak points), try to use vocabulary we studied

My example:

___________________________________________________________

Hewlett Packard (HP) has released many TouchSmart computers since 2007.  The TouchSmart was one of the first desktops to use the touch screen. Since it has a touch screen and the hard drive is built into the screen, it is kind of like a giant tablet. However, like a desktop, you can use the (wireless) mouse and keyboard, and it has a bigger screen (my version is about 50cm wide). Its operating system uses Windows, but it features some HP interface and apps, a television tuner, and a camera.

I bought my version of the desktop in 2009, and I've used it ever since for work and for my daily needs such as web surfing, watching videos, and editing family photos. Even though my Touchsmart is old and some of the programs are obsolete, it is still working wonderfully. I've never had any major problems or last any data. Since I have my research and family photos saved on it, this is extremely important and valuable or me.  Another great thing is that the screen is so huge that I don't even need a tv. Because of this and because there is no external hard drive, I can save a lot of space in my house. The design is attractive and sleek, even though my model is outdated. There are a few weak points; the HP apps are pretty useless and mouse quickly runs out of batteries. However, overall I very happy I decided to buy my HP Touchsmart.

______________________________________________________________

2. Vocabulary for describing technology

3. Choose one:
 - Technology objects game

 - ELLLO Technology (conversations about technology)

 - EnglishCentral Technology

- TED Lectures/Speeches- Technology
Try turning off subtitles first > Check English > Check Japanese

May 20th

1. Share your movie review
- read the reviews from the students in your group
- write a comment (Have you seen this? If so, do you agree ? If not, do you want to see? Explain.

2. Start unit on technology

Find the mistakes

I edited the following plot summary from Common Sense about the movie Frozen. Find the MISTAKE!

(If you can't guess and/or don't know the movie, read the plot on Japanese Wikipedia.)

"In a Scandinavian-like kingdom, elder sister Elsa has magical power to make ice, so she creates a winter wonderland for her adoring little sister, Anna. But when Elsa accidentally hurts Anna with her magic, their royal parents decide to hide Elsa away from the kingdom. The sisters grow up separate from society -- and each other. Years later after the king and queen die in a shipwreck, Elsa must be crowned queen. During the festivities, Anna falls in love with Prince Hans who immediately proposes marriage. But when they ask Elsa for her blessing, she gets angry, loses control of her powers, runs up a mountain, and sends the kingdom into an eternal summer. Anna sets out to find Elsa with the help of her new friends -- a ice harvester and his reindeer...."

The answer (highlight to see) >>> winter >>> summer

Assignment:
1. Find a famous movie on Common Sense
2. Copy & paste the plot (Click "What's the story?).
3. Change one thing from the plot. (Change something that classmates might guess.)
4. Say "I edited the following review from Common Sense. Find the mistakes"
5. You can write the answer (change it to white font OR write it in the comments section)
Optional: If you have time, make a link to Japanese Wikipedia and add the movie poster.

Later, check other blogs' in your group and guess the mistakes.

Watching movie previews & writing reviews

Movie review reading

1. Search Common Sense Media for the movie you want to see.

2. Read the professional review (click "is it any good") and read below "what parents and kids say" for user reviews

3. Copy and paste the key points of the review on your blog post and the person's name.

4. Use quotation marks (" ") around the copied words. Use 3 or 4 dots (...) to cut boring or difficult parts out. Instead of quotes, you can use synonyms 　（同義語 --  "hilarious" >> very funny）

5. React to the comments: Do you still want to see the movie? Why or why not? (Try to summarize the users' opinion.)

You can add a photo of the movie poster. 

(Class Number 3) May 9th

Please take 2 or 3 surveys from this list!

Hayfever, High Heels, Body Piercing, Student Life, Japanese Traditional Food

Movies (continued)

1. Movie unit project due in 2 weeks: publish a movie review on your blog
(extra points to those who publish on IMDb.com). Choose a movie you recently saw (if you haven't seen one lately, check A12, the library, or Video One), or introduce a movie that you think other's would like but might not know about.

1st paragraph:

-The film title, setting (where & when), and key characters

-The conflict (the problem the character faces)

-The ending is NOT given.

2nd paragraph:

-Critically evaluate the movie. (Say good things AND bad things about it.)

-Use at least 4 vocabulary words

-Overall, should we see this movie? Why?

Example:

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape is one of the best movies of small-town America. Even though he hates his job and his town, 25-year old Gilbert, played by Johnny Depp, feels responsibility to stay home to take care of his mentally-handicapped brother (Leonardo Dicaprio) and his overweight mother. However, when the free-spirited Becky comes through town, she catches Gilbert's curiosity in both her and the world outside....

This is a must-see film. The plot is unique and unpredictable, and the setting and characters are very realistic. Though Gilbert is has many problems, viewers are drawn into the movie because they can identify with his love of his family yet the dream of escaping and finding a more exciting life. The performances are amazing all around, especially by Depp and Dicaprio. 

2. Movie listening activities on EnglishCentral and ELLLO

3. Reading movie reviews