Put it all together

Writing exercise

So, are you a fan of Stranger Things? This TV series is set in the 80’s and if you watch it, you can see many references from that time. When you watch a movie or a TV series like this, you can also learn history from another country. Nowadays, it’s also very easy to find out more facts with the Internet. So when you see or hear something interesting, go online and look for information that makes you learn more. Start trying to look for websites or videos where you can see the use of English and write down the words you learn. For instance, here you have some interesting facts about the 80’s.

Complete the following text with the correct form of the verb to be in past.

Back to the Future, ET, Jaws, The return of the Jedi, Top Gun, Indiana Jones and Alien were some of the most famous movies back at the movie theater, actually, this was the era of Blockbuster. A blockbuster is a Hollywood movie that becomes super successful and brings too much money. In this decade, there weren’t any DVD or Blu-Ray players, but there were VCR players so people rented them in video rental stores.

Compared to other decades in which they could listen to music on the radio, or through vinyl records, the creation of MTV and other inventions changed the experience of listening to music. Let’s explore a teenager bedroom at that time:

  • For sure there were cassettes.
  • Probably, there was a walkman.
  • It’s possible that there was a Boombox.
  • In the late 80’s there were CD’s.
  • There were posters on most of these bedroom walls.

After the creation of MTV, the pop star era began and mega stars were born out of singers like Michael Jackson and Madonna.

A mega star was born

Read the following text which is missing some words. Read the words between parentheses and do some research on the internet to complete it with words.

mj

Michael Jackson was an American (nationality) singer, songwriter, and dancer (occupation) who became a superstar when he started his solo career. He was (verb) born in (preposition) 1958 (year) in the United States (Country). He was a fashion pioneer and had many hairstyles, in the picture we can see he had short curly hair. His most famous songs were Beat it, Billie Jean, Thriller, Bad and Black or White (Two colors).

Did you know Billie Jean was the first music video from an African American artist that MTV (A famous Music Network) showed?

Remember that a way to learn a language is through songs because you can listen to different accents and learn structures and vocabulary. We advise you to visit webpages like Llyricstraining where you can complete the lyrics of songs. Don’t forget to sing along as it can help you improve your pronunciation. Here’s the link to practice English with the song “Billie Jean”. Enjoy it!

Self evaluation

Read the sentences and see if you need more practice or not.

Self evaluation Self evaluation Self evaluation
I am an expert NOW in this topic! I think I need to practice a bit more. I am starting to believe I need to start over again.
I can easily identify vocabulary related to characteristics of people, places, weather, and things
Excellent!
Try to check this section: Now and then
Try to check this section: Now and then
I can express when I did some activities in the past by using proper time expressions
Very well!
Try to check this section: 10 years ago / Now
Try to check this section: 10 years ago / Now
I can effortlessly describe a person from the past and include information like his/her achievements, nationality, age, personality, occupation and physical appearance.
Wonderful!
Try to check this section: My Childhood
Try to check this section: My Childhood
I can easily identify when and where a person was born.
Wow! We are glad to know that!
Try to check this section: Be born
Try to check this section: Be born
I can efficiently understand a text where they talk about existence in the past.
Awesome!
I can clearly understand the pronunciation of “was” and “were” in its affirmative, negative and interrogative forms.
Excellent!
Try to check this section: How do you pronounce it?
Try to check this section: How do you pronounce it?
I can efficiently understand a text where they talk about existence of things in the past.
Very well!
Try to check this section: Life before the Internet
Try to check this section: Life before the Internet
I can easily understand orally ideas related to existence in the past.
Awesome!
Try to check this section: Childhood memories
Try to check this section: Childhood memories