CHRISTMAS FILMS IN ENGLISH FOR THE HOLIDAYS

 Starting the Christmas holidays today, remember that a good way to practice English is watching films. Here's a list of Christmas films you can enjoy during the holidays...

"THE HOLIDAY" TURNS 18

A film I always offered to see in my 1st BAC classes each year at the end of this term before the Christmas holidays used to be "THE HOLIDAYS". Well, this year it turns 18, just another anniversary... if you'd like to watch it and practice your English, here's the trailer...

Video trailer "THE HOLIDAY":

A CHRISTMAS FILM: "LOVE ACTUALLY" OR "THE HOLIDAY"?

 

Searching for a film to watch in English with English subtitles in class before Christmas holidays. Here are the two films proposed:

- They both have something to do with Christmas, as they take place totally in or around the Christmas season. 

- You're not intended to understand everything, but to see how English is used in "real" everyday life situations. Context will help you understand, and you'll be able to check or learn new vocabulary, pronunciation and entonation.

Read the synopsis to each film and watch each of the trailers first and later choose which one you'd like to watch.

Love Actually (2003) is a British romantic comedy film, written and directed by Richard Curtis. The screenplay sees into different aspects of love as shown through ten separate stories involving a wide variety of individuals, many of whom are shown to be interlinked as their tales progress. The ensemble cast is composed of predominantly British actors.
The film begins five weeks before Christmas and is played out during a week-by-week countdown until the holiday, with an epilogue that takes place one month later.

The film begins with a voiceover from David (Hugh Grant) commenting that whenever he gets gloomy with the state of the world he thinks about the arrivals terminal at Heathrow Airport, and the pure uncomplicated love felt as friends and families welcome their arriving loved ones. David's voiceover also relates that all the known messages left by the people who died on the 9/11 planes were messages of love and not hate. It's the 20th anniversary of the film this year.

The Holiday is a 2006 American romantic comedy film written, produced and directed by Nancy Meyers. Starring Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet as two lovelorn women from opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean, who temporarily exchange homes to escape heartbreak during the holiday season. Jude Law and Jack Black co-star.

The story is about two women who trade homes "only to find that a change of address can change their lives." Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz) is a workaholic who owns a company that produces movie trailers in Los Angeles. Iris Simpkins (Kate Winslet) is a society column editor for The Daily Telegraph in London

WHICH WOULD YOU PREFER TO WATCH?

See both trailers and decide:

- "LOVE ACTUALLY" trailer:

- THE HOLIDAY" trailer:

WHICH FILM TO SEE BEFORE CHRISTMAS?

Searching for a film to watch in English with English subtitles in class before Christmas holidays. Here are the four films proposed:

- They all have something to do with Christmas, as they take place totally in or around the Christmas season. 
- You're not intended to understand everything, but to see how English is used in "real" everyday life situations. Context will help you understand, and you'll be able to check or learn new vocabulary, pronunciation and entonation.

Read the synopsis to each film and watch each of the trailers first and later choose which one you'd like to watch. The explanation of how to vote for the film is explained at the end of this post.

Stepmom is a 1998 comedy-drama directed by Chris Columbus and starring Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon, and Ed Harris.

Jackie and Luke Harrison (Susan Sarandon and Ed Harris) are a divorced New York couple that are struggling to help their children Anna and Ben be happy with this sudden change of lifestyle. This is far from easy, as Luke, an attorney, is living with his new girlfriend, Isabel Kelly (Julia Roberts), an NYU alumna and a successful fashion photographer several years his junior. Isabel tries very hard to make Anna and Ben feel comfortable and happy with her, but Anna repeatedly rejects her overtures while Ben, who loves Isabel (not as much as his actual mother), adds extra complication with his mischievous nature. Isabel behaves with contempt tempered by caution around Jackie, believing she overcompensates for her divorce by spoiling her children.

- Video trailer for "STEPMOM":

Peter's Friends (1992) is a British comedy-drama film. Starring Hugh Laurie, Alphonsia Emmanuel, Imelda Staunton, Stephen Fry, Rita Rudner, Tony Slattery, Phyllida Law, Alex Lowe, Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh.

It's New Year's weekend and Peter's friends gather at his newly inherited country house. 10 years ago, they all acted together in a Cambridge University student comedy troupe, but it's less clear how much they have in common now. Peter's friends are Andrew, now a writer in Hollywood; married jingle writers Roger and Mary; glamorous costume designer Sarah; and eccentric Maggie, who works in publishing.
Although the film is primarily a comedy, serious overtones are present from the beginning. Peter's father has died, and Peter plans to sell the house after this last party. While Andrew and Carol's troubled marriage is played mainly for laughs, Roger and Mary are recovering from a devastating personal tragedy only slowly revealed to the audience. A lonely Maggie arrives determined to persuade Peter they should be more than just friends and Sarah's not as happy with her life as she appears.
The film deals with themes of friendship, marriage, fidelity, materialism, and coping with death and loss.

- Video trailer for "PETER'S FRIENDS":

Love Actually (2004) is a British romantic comedy film, written and directed by Richard Curtis. The screenplay sees into different aspects of love as shown through ten separate stories involving a wide variety of individuals, many of whom are shown to be interlinked as their tales progress. The ensemble cast is composed of predominantly British actors.
The film begins five weeks before Christmas and is played out during a week-by-week countdown until the holiday, with an epilogue that takes place one month later.

The film begins with a voiceover from David (Hugh Grant) commenting that whenever he gets gloomy with the state of the world he thinks about the arrivals terminal at Heathrow Airport, and the pure uncomplicated love felt as friends and families welcome their arriving loved ones. David's voiceover also relates that all the known messages left by the people who died on the 9/11 planes were messages of love and not hate. 

- Video trailer for "LOVE ACTUALLY":

The Holiday is a 2006 American romantic comedy film written, produced and directed by Nancy Meyers. Starring Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet as two lovelorn women from opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean, who temporarily exchange homes to escape heartbreak during the holiday season. Jude Law and Jack Black co-star.

The story is about two women who trade homes "only to find that a change of address can change their lives." Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz) is a workaholic who owns a company that produces movie trailers in Los Angeles. Iris Simpkins (Kate Winslet) is a society column editor for The Daily Telegraph in London.

- Video trailer for "THE HOLIDAY":

How to vote for the film you would like to watch. 

Which one do you prefer to watch?

Vote by leaving a comment below:

1- Your complete name

2- class-group 

3- film you prefer to watch & give a reason why in English.

To watch a film in class, half+1 of the class must vote.

Votes must be in BEFORE Sunday December 15th at 20:00h for 1ºBac-A 
& BEFORE Tuesday December 18th at 20:00h for my group of 1ºBac-B

1ºBAC-A final update 16th-Dec: 19 votes. A film has won with 8 votes.
1ºBAC-B Update 16th-Dec: 5 votes so far. Not half the class+1 have voted yet.

AND THE FILM CHOSEN BY 1st-BAC-B IS...

1ºBAC-B votes (in voting order)

José Paz: "'The Holiday', I like Cameron Diaz".

Cata Mir: "'The Holiday', because I like Cameron Diaz. She is a good actress and the film is very interesting".

Michael Sandoz: "I prefer to see 'The Holiday', because I love Jack Black".

Lucía Varela: "I want to see 'Love Actually', because I think it is funny".

Luís Otero: "My vote is for 'Love Actually', because it's the only film that catches my attention".

Axel Rodríguez: "'Love Actually', because I like comedies and I want to relax before Christmas".

Uxía Queijeiro: "'Love Actually', because I like love and Christmas".

Daniela Valenzuela: "I vote for  'The Holiday', because I like Cameron Diaz".

and so there's a tie for the WINNING FILM between:

 "THE HOLIDAY" & "LOVE ACTUALLY" (4 votes each)
THE TEACHER BREAKS THE TIE DECIDING FOR:

AND THE FILM CHOSEN BY 1st-BAC-A IS...

1st BAC-A votes (in voting order)

19 students have voted (half the class+4), here are their votes and reasons:

Javier Esmorís: "I would like to see the film 'Love Actually', because I prefer comedy films and I've seen movies with these actors and they are funny".

Carolina Grela: "I would like to see 'The Holiday', because I like the actors, the trailer and I think it is a great movie".

Jacqueline Ferrín: "I want to watch 'Stepmom', because I think that it could be very interesting and beautiful".

Amanda Trujillo: "I prefer 'The Holiday', because I like the actress Kate Winslet.

Eva Soldán:  "'Love Actually', because I like the plot".

Marta Souto: "I want to see 'Stepmom', because it caught my attention, I want to know what happens in the end".

Oliver Vaamonde: "I vote in favour of 'Stepmom', because the trailer convinced me".

Mauricio Rosa: "I want to watch 'The Holiday', because it seems intereseting and a comedy film. I like this type of films a lot".

Mauro López: "My vote is for 'Love Actually', because I think it will be an interesting film to watch, specially because its trailer if funny".

Rodrigo Rama: "My vote is for 'Peter's Friends', because it seems an interesting and fun movie that can make us have a good time".

Zeltia Mira: "I vote 'Love Actually', because I like love stories and the film 'Notting Hill' starring Hugh Grant".

Emma Zas: 'The Holiday', because it is a funny movie".

David Sandoz: 'The Holiday', because I love this movie".

Adrián Infante: "I vote for 'The Holiday', because it seems fun and interesting".

Paula Varela: "'The Holiday', because I think it's the most interesting film".

Mario Valderas: "I will choose 'Peter's Friends', because I am suffering the pressure of that deadline date of yours, so I prefer to vote now for one film I don't really love instead of losing the oppotunity to decide. I know that it's a poor reason, but i don't have any better.  Thanks and good night".

Adrián Riveiro: "'Love Actually', because I want to see the famous actor Rowan Atkinson".

Raquel Torres:  "The film I prefer to watch is 'The Holiday', because I think that house exchanges are an interesting and original topic".

Jennifer Vaamonde: "I vote for 'Stepmom', because the trailer is very interesting".

and so the WINNING FILM is:

 "THE HOLIDAY" (8 votes)

('Love Actually' 5, 'Stepmom' 4 & 'Peter's Friends' 2)

WATCHING FILMS & TV SERIES IN ENGLISH

SCENES FROM "LOVE ACTUALLY" & "THE HOLIDAY"

So we've watched the films you chose in English previous to the Christmas holidays. You could see that you have understood quite a lot.

Once again reminding you that it's a good way to practice listening, pronunciation, entonation vocabulary & everyday expressions in context. Watching films or TV series is one of the funniest, chepeast and most efficient ways to learn English. Obviously watching them in English with English subtitles.

Here are some help tips:

- Choose a film. If possible one you've already seen, so you won't miss the plot.

- Play it in English with English subtitles. As time goes by try watching without them to check if you are able to understand it .

- Don't do it as a marathon. It's a fun way to learn. It shouldn't be boring so it's better to watch half or an hour of an English film a day.

- Write down each word you don't understand and look it up in the dictionary. Each and every new word you don't understand. It may seem tiring, but you'll be thankful. Revise them days later.

- Practice pronunciation. Try repeating some of the actor's lines, imitating their entonation.

Choose a film that you like. Here's a possible list by levels:
- Beginners: "Harry Potter", "Indiana Jones", "E.T."
- Intermediate: "Notting Hill", "Grease", "Casablanca"
-  Advanced: "The King's Speech", "My Fair Lady", "Billy Elliot"

To end, let's remember two scenes from the films we've just seen:
Video "Mark & Juliet's scenes/Christmas Cards for Juliet" from "Love Actually":

Video: "Mr Napkin Head & The Tent Scenes" from "The Holiday":




So why don't you watch a film or two in English during these holidays? Good practice.

SO YOU VOTED FOR...

1ºBAC-A results: 13 votes (half the class+4)
Winner film: "LOVE ACTUALLY" (5 votes)
("Stepmom" 4 / "The Holiday" 3 / "Peter's friends" 1)

Eva Menéndez: "I want to see 'Stepmom' because I like how Julia Roberts acts and I think it will be a very good film".

Vera Iglesias: "I want to see 'Love Actually' because I really like its actors and it is a great film that mixes romance with comedy".

Ana Amigo: "I want to see 'Love Actually' because there are very famous actors and it looks very funny".

Francisco Espiñeira: "I want to see 'Love Actually' because I think it will be entertaining".

Rodrigo Folgueira: "I want to see 'Stepmom' because I think it's a very original film and it can be funny and interesting".

Iulia Izabela: I want to see 'The Holiday' because I love Cameron Diaz and also because I saw the trailer and I think it could be a very interesting film".

Álvaro Vázquez: "I want to see 'The Holiday' because it's going to be a funny film".

Marina Saez: "I want to see 'Peter's Friends' because I think it is the funniest".

David Santiago: "I want to see 'Love Actually' because I think it's a funny film and I'll like it".

Antonio Díaz: "I want to see 'Love Actually' because I think it can be interesting and funny".

Paula Fernández: "I want to see 'Stepmom' because I think it will be a very good film".

Sara Calderón: "I prefer 'The Holiday' because I think it's the funniest film".

Pablo Rodríguez: "I want to see 'Stepmom' because I think it can be funny"

1ºBAC-B results: 12 votes. (Half of the class+2)
Winning film: "THE HOLIDAY" (10 votes)

Lorena Martínez: "I want to see 'The Holiday' because it is a funny film and I like the actors".

Eva Vecilla: "I want to see 'The Holiday' because it looks funny"

Daniel Fernández Pavón: "I would like to see 'The Holiday' because I find it funny"

Antón Ochoa: "I don't care what film..."

Marta Parga: "I would like to see "The Holiday" because it seems interesting and funny".

Silvia Vijande: "I would like to see "The Holiday" because I think Kate Winslet is a fantastic actress and the film looks great".

Álvaro Santiso: "I want to see "The Holiday", I think it is the funniest film."

Marta Mallo: ·I want to see "The Holiday" because people say that it's funny"

Andrea Iglesias: "I want to see "The Holiday" beecause it's interesting."

Noemi Zubieta: "I want to see "Stepmom" because I saw it and I think it's very funny"

Sergio Ríos: "I'd rather watch "The Holiday" because it looks funnier than the others".

David Mourenza: "I would like to see "The Holiday". Reason why??

SO YOU'VE DECIDED TO WATCH...

The deadline has arrived (Saturday, 14th December at 22:00h), the votes have been counted and here are the results of the voting to choose which film to watch in class before the Christmas holidays. Your comments have been included and corrected, the game has been between two films "Love Actually" and "The Holiday". In one of the classes, the draw continues...

1ºBAC-A's results: 

14 students voted (exactly half the class)

There's a draw between the two films (7/7), tie-breaking vote cast by teacher for "Love Actually".

Brais Martinez, "Love Actually", because it is the funniest film

Diego Caamaño "The Holiday" Because I like Cameron Díaz.

Sergio Cobas I prefer "Love Actually" because it looks like a funny film. The actors are very famous and I like them.

Lucia Canalda "The Holiday", because I really like how Cameron Diaz acts.

Francisco Pérez "Love Actually". I vote this film because i like the plot of the movie

Daniela García  I prefer " The Holiday" because the film is funny and the actresses are very.

Nerea Martín I prefer "The Holiday" because I think that this film is the most interesting and funny.

María Romero, I choose "The Holiday" because I saw it before and its actors are very famous, you can laugh a lot with them, it´s a very funny film

Marcos Domínguez "Love Actually" because I saw it at home and it was very funny. It also has a lot of famous actors. 

Clide Enríquez "Love Actually" because it has got famous actors and it is funny

Borja Dono "Love Actually", because I've heard about it and I liked it. There are many famous actors. and it looks entertaining

Alejandro Freire  I prefer "Love Actually" because the trailer was very funny, the story is really interesting because it is not only a simple story with an end and that makes the movie funnier.

Laura del Monte I like "The Holiday" because Cameron Diaz is my favorite actress

Lucía Grandío I like "The Holiday" because I think it is entertaining and Cameron Diaz is the best actress

1ºBAC-B's results:

14 students voted (half the class+2)

The winning film: "The Holiday" (7 votes) 

to 6 for "Love Actually" and one that doesn't mind.

María Ramos "The Holiday" because i think the trailer was very funny and its actors are very famous too

Ani Poghosyan "The Holiday" or "Love Actually".I saw "The Holiday" one year ago and I really like that film "Love Actually" looks like a good movie, so i don't know what movie I prefer. I don't mind!

Sara Romero I would like to watch "Love Actually". It's not that I love that movie, but I think it's interesting since it has various side stories in the plot. I've also seen it twice at home. I'm not going to lie, it's kind of exciting because in the the cast there's Martin Freeman. Although he doesn't appear really much, I really like how he does appear. I mean, it's suprinsingly hilarious! Also, that kid in the cast acts really, really good!

Andrea Morano  "The Holiday" because I think the trailer was very funny

Alba Novo I chose "The Holiday" because I really like it

Óscar Pedreira I like "Love Actually" because it looks fun

Marín Rama I decide "The Holiday" because it's the least bad

Andrea Primoy I chose "The Holiday" because the trailer was very funny and I've never seen this film .

Miguel Duque I prefer "Love Actually" because Hugh Grant is a very good actor

Victoria Fuciños "The Holiday" because it is an interesting movie and the actors are good.

Alejandro Rey I vote for "Love Actually", because I've already seen "The Holiday" and I´m not keen on "Peter´s Friends".

Iria García I prefer to watch "The Holiday" because I like the actors in this film and I've wanted to watch it before.

Carmen Rodríguez I prefer "Love Actually" because I love romantic films and I like comedies and this film has both.

Xurxo Prieto I prefer ``Love Actually`` because it's the funniest.

1ºBAC-C's results:

14 students voted (half the class+3)

The winning film: "The Holiday" (11 votes)

2 for "Love Actually" and 1 for "Peter's Friends"

Ana Figueiras I prefer "The Holiday" because I love comedy movies and I think it's the funniest.

Tania Martínez Grobas I'm going to choose "The Holiday" because I love how Cameron Diaz acts and I've also found this film interesting and peculiar.

Yolanda Señarís I choose "Love Actually" , I've never seen it and my friends told me that it´s a very good film and also the actors are very famous so I think that probably it can be a very good film to see in class

Alejandra Toledano "The Holiday" because the trailer was very funny so I've decided to see it in class.

Paula Méndez I prefer to see'' The Holiday'' because I like Cameron Diaz, and I think it's an entertaining film

Nuria Freire Well, I chose ''The Holiday'' because I saw it and I like the actors and the story of the movie.

Rita Blanco I chose "Peter's Friends" because it's the only one I haven't seen.

Ruth Castro I vote for "The Holiday" because I've never seen this film and it looks funny

Diego Viera "The Holiday". Because I've seen the other movies

Tamara Ramos "The Holiday" because I haven't seen this film

Sergio Piñeiro "The Holiday". Because I watched this film when I was in 3 of ESO and it's funny.

Joel Pérez "The Holiday" because it's the funniest film.

Paula García I chose "Love Actually" because I have already seen the other two

Lorena Muradas I chose "The Holiday" because I think it's a funny and entertaining film.