a. obsessed (adjective) - having one's mind excessively preoccupied with a particular thing or idea
b. disuade (ver
Exploring the Beauty of Simplicity in Theater
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📝 Vocabulary
📚 Word Bank
b) - to convince someone not to do something
c. excess (noun) - an amount more than is necessary, usual, or desirable
d. plunge (verb) - to dive or jump into something forcefully
e. categorizing (verb) - to classify or organize into categories
f. premise (noun) - a statement or idea that forms the basis for a theory or argument
g. imitation (noun) - copying or reproducing something
h. theoretical (adjective) - based on theory rather than experience or practice
c. excess (noun) - an amount more than is necessary, usual, or desirable
d. plunge (verb) - to dive or jump into something forcefully
e. categorizing (verb) - to classify or organize into categories
f. premise (noun) - a statement or idea that forms the basis for a theory or argument
g. imitation (noun) - copying or reproducing something
h. theoretical (adjective) - based on theory rather than experience or practice
🔤 Fill-in-the-gap Exercise
🔤 Grammar
a. [Blank] I never have been and I try to say this to [blank] any young director who [blank] you are who believes this and believes that you're there.
b. I started with a love of trying out everything and [blank] life and [blank] the theater [blank] and I plunged into excess.
c. I [blank] every known Scenic musical staging device known and as I [blank] that over the years but it's a long long process my God you know.
d. I came to Broadway, I [blank] musicals, I [blank] always [blank] the snobbery of categorizing and nobody said to me ah your way your theory of Simplicity.
e. Gradually I began to see well we don't need that, we [blank] need that and as you saw just now on the screen in this we're down to a few color chairs.
b. I started with a love of trying out everything and [blank] life and [blank] the theater [blank] and I plunged into excess.
c. I [blank] every known Scenic musical staging device known and as I [blank] that over the years but it's a long long process my God you know.
d. I came to Broadway, I [blank] musicals, I [blank] always [blank] the snobbery of categorizing and nobody said to me ah your way your theory of Simplicity.
e. Gradually I began to see well we don't need that, we [blank] need that and as you saw just now on the screen in this we're down to a few color chairs.
👂 Listening
a. What advice does the speaker have for young directors?
b. How did the speaker's love for trying out everything lead to excess?
c. How did the speaker's views on Simplicity change over time?
d. What is the premise of the television program being discussed?
e. How does the speaker describe imitation in his field?
b. How did the speaker's love for trying out everything lead to excess?
c. How did the speaker's views on Simplicity change over time?
d. What is the premise of the television program being discussed?
e. How does the speaker describe imitation in his field?
🎯 Activity
Students will work in pairs to create a minimalist scene for a short play. They will need to use their imagination and creativity to convey a story using minimal props and staging. They will then perform their scene for the class and discuss how they approached creating a minimalist scene.
📚 Homework
Students will write a short essay reflecting on the concept of simplicity in theater and how it applies to their own lives. They will also research a minimalist production and write a short review analyzing how the use of simplicity enhanced the overall experience.
✅ Assessment
a. Answer key for listening and grammar exercises:
a. disuade
b. in
c. believes
d. tried
e. avoided
f. used
g. gradually
h. don't
b. Evaluation criteria for activity:
- Creativity and originality in creating a minimalist scene
- Understanding and application of the concept of simplicity in theater
- Collaboration and communication with partner
- Presentation and performance skills
c. Evaluation criteria for homework:
- Reflection on the concept of simplicity and its relevance to the student's life
- Analysis of a minimalist production and its impact on the overall experience
- Grammar and vocabulary usage
- Coherence and organization of essay
a. disuade
b. in
c. believes
d. tried
e. avoided
f. used
g. gradually
h. don't
b. Evaluation criteria for activity:
- Creativity and originality in creating a minimalist scene
- Understanding and application of the concept of simplicity in theater
- Collaboration and communication with partner
- Presentation and performance skills
c. Evaluation criteria for homework:
- Reflection on the concept of simplicity and its relevance to the student's life
- Analysis of a minimalist production and its impact on the overall experience
- Grammar and vocabulary usage
- Coherence and organization of essay
🔚 Closing
In this lesson, we explored the idea of simplicity in theater and how it can enhance the overall experience for both the audience and the performers. We also discussed the importance of trial and error in discovering the beauty of simplicity. As a final reflection, think about how you can apply this concept of simplicity in your own life and how it can lead to a more fulfilling and meaningful experience.
📄 Complete Lesson Content
1. TITLE: Exploring the Beauty of Simplicity in Theater
2. LEVEL: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
3. VOCABULARY:
a. obsessed (adjective) - having one's mind excessively preoccupied with a particular thing or idea
b. disuade (verb) - to convince someone not to do something
c. excess (noun) - an amount more than is necessary, usual, or desirable
d. plunge (verb) - to dive or jump into something forcefully
e. categorizing (verb) - to classify or organize into categories
f. premise (noun) - a statement or idea that forms the basis for a theory or argument
g. imitation (noun) - copying or reproducing something
h. theoretical (adjective) - based on theory rather than experience or practice
4. LISTENING:
a. What advice does the speaker have for young directors?
b. How did the speaker's love for trying out everything lead to excess?
c. How did the speaker's views on Simplicity change over time?
d. What is the premise of the television program being discussed?
e. How does the speaker describe imitation in his field?
5. GRAMMAR:
a. [Blank] I never have been and I try to say this to [blank] any young director who [blank] you are who believes this and believes that you're there.
b. I started with a love of trying out everything and [blank] life and [blank] the theater [blank] and I plunged into excess.
c. I [blank] every known Scenic musical staging device known and as I [blank] that over the years but it's a long long process my God you know.
d. I came to Broadway, I [blank] musicals, I [blank] always [blank] the snobbery of categorizing and nobody said to me ah your way your theory of Simplicity.
e. Gradually I began to see well we don't need that, we [blank] need that and as you saw just now on the screen in this we're down to a few color chairs.
6. ACTIVITY: Students will work in pairs to create a minimalist scene for a short play. They will need to use their imagination and creativity to convey a story using minimal props and staging. They will then perform their scene for the class and discuss how they approached creating a minimalist scene.
7. HOMEWORK: Students will write a short essay reflecting on the concept of simplicity in theater and how it applies to their own lives. They will also research a minimalist production and write a short review analyzing how the use of simplicity enhanced the overall experience.
8. ASSESSMENT:
a. Answer key for listening and grammar exercises:
a. disuade
b. in
c. believes
d. tried
e. avoided
f. used
g. gradually
h. don't
b. Evaluation criteria for activity:
- Creativity and originality in creating a minimalist scene
- Understanding and application of the concept of simplicity in theater
- Collaboration and communication with partner
- Presentation and performance skills
c. Evaluation criteria for homework:
- Reflection on the concept of simplicity and its relevance to the student's life
- Analysis of a minimalist production and its impact on the overall experience
- Grammar and vocabulary usage
- Coherence and organization of essay
9. CLOSING: In this lesson, we explored the idea of simplicity in theater and how it can enhance the overall experience for both the audience and the performers. We also discussed the importance of trial and error in discovering the beauty of simplicity. As a final reflection, think about how you can apply this concept of simplicity in your own life and how it can lead to a more fulfilling and meaningful experience.
2. LEVEL: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
3. VOCABULARY:
a. obsessed (adjective) - having one's mind excessively preoccupied with a particular thing or idea
b. disuade (verb) - to convince someone not to do something
c. excess (noun) - an amount more than is necessary, usual, or desirable
d. plunge (verb) - to dive or jump into something forcefully
e. categorizing (verb) - to classify or organize into categories
f. premise (noun) - a statement or idea that forms the basis for a theory or argument
g. imitation (noun) - copying or reproducing something
h. theoretical (adjective) - based on theory rather than experience or practice
4. LISTENING:
a. What advice does the speaker have for young directors?
b. How did the speaker's love for trying out everything lead to excess?
c. How did the speaker's views on Simplicity change over time?
d. What is the premise of the television program being discussed?
e. How does the speaker describe imitation in his field?
5. GRAMMAR:
a. [Blank] I never have been and I try to say this to [blank] any young director who [blank] you are who believes this and believes that you're there.
b. I started with a love of trying out everything and [blank] life and [blank] the theater [blank] and I plunged into excess.
c. I [blank] every known Scenic musical staging device known and as I [blank] that over the years but it's a long long process my God you know.
d. I came to Broadway, I [blank] musicals, I [blank] always [blank] the snobbery of categorizing and nobody said to me ah your way your theory of Simplicity.
e. Gradually I began to see well we don't need that, we [blank] need that and as you saw just now on the screen in this we're down to a few color chairs.
6. ACTIVITY: Students will work in pairs to create a minimalist scene for a short play. They will need to use their imagination and creativity to convey a story using minimal props and staging. They will then perform their scene for the class and discuss how they approached creating a minimalist scene.
7. HOMEWORK: Students will write a short essay reflecting on the concept of simplicity in theater and how it applies to their own lives. They will also research a minimalist production and write a short review analyzing how the use of simplicity enhanced the overall experience.
8. ASSESSMENT:
a. Answer key for listening and grammar exercises:
a. disuade
b. in
c. believes
d. tried
e. avoided
f. used
g. gradually
h. don't
b. Evaluation criteria for activity:
- Creativity and originality in creating a minimalist scene
- Understanding and application of the concept of simplicity in theater
- Collaboration and communication with partner
- Presentation and performance skills
c. Evaluation criteria for homework:
- Reflection on the concept of simplicity and its relevance to the student's life
- Analysis of a minimalist production and its impact on the overall experience
- Grammar and vocabulary usage
- Coherence and organization of essay
9. CLOSING: In this lesson, we explored the idea of simplicity in theater and how it can enhance the overall experience for both the audience and the performers. We also discussed the importance of trial and error in discovering the beauty of simplicity. As a final reflection, think about how you can apply this concept of simplicity in your own life and how it can lead to a more fulfilling and meaningful experience.