docusoaps

docusoaps


BBC Learning English – Keep your English Up to Date Docusoaps

You are going to listen to a short talk given by Professor David Crystal about language change and new developments in English.

SPEAKING 1. If you are working with a fellow student, discuss these questions: a. How often do you watch TV? b. What kinds of programmes do you watch? the news / cartoons / music shows / documentaries / dramas / chat shows / comedy shows / the weather / crime dramas c. Do you watch soap operas? Why do you think they are so popular?

VOCABULARY 2. Match these words and phrases to their definitions
 * a blend || a maker or producer of something ||
 * a sponsor || a type or kind of film or programme ||
 * fiction || situation or context ||
 * a manufacturer || an imagined story, not fact ||
 * a genre || someone who gives financial support to something ||
 * circumstance || a mixture of two or more different things ||
 * click on the mp3 file below to hear the talk**



LISTENING SECTION 1 3. Now, listen to Professor Crystal talking about a new genre of TV programme and answer these questions. a. What is the name for the new programme genre? b. Which two TV genres does this new one mix together?

4. Listen again and decide which is the best definition of a docusoap. a. These programmes show the everyday lives of celebrities b. These programmes show normal people doing incredible things c. These programmes show normal people doing normal things

LISTENING SECTION 2 5. Why do you think some TV dramas are called soap operas? a. Because the characters sing during the drama b. Because the characters often wash during the drama c. Because soap companies originally paid for the shows d. Because many of the actors also appeared in soap adverts

6. Which two of the following three blend words are real? docudrama faction fictumentary

Listen to Section 2 of the talk and check your ideas for questions 5 and 6. Were you correct? 7. Are the following sentences true or false a. The soap companies sponsored the programmes more than fifty years ago b. These early programmes were dramas about everyday life c. A docudrama is a story based on imaginary events d. Faction is a type of TV programme Listen again to check your answers.

EXTRA WORK VOCABULARY 1: Look at the tape script and find words or phrases that mean the following. a. to be shown on television b. half true, half imaginary c. making the separation between two things less clear

LANGUAGE 1: Docusoap, docudrama and faction are all blend words. a. What are the original words that they come from? b. Look at these blend words. What do you think are the original words? brunch is _blended with _ smog is _ blended with _ infomercial is _ blended with _ advertainment is _ blended with _ camcorder is _ blended with _ liger is _ blended with _

2: What do you think are the blend words? a. Spanish blended with English is b. A goat blended with a sheep is a _ c. Microprocessor blended with software is _ d. dance blended with exercise is _

3: Can you think of some new blend words for English? a. Think about new animals produced from two existing animals b. Think about new languages, new meals, new sports, new ways of living

The tapescript and key can be found in the pdf below.



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