Hibiscus Teach · Movies
Akeelah and the Bee
Help Me Practise, Not Panic
Ask for useful coaching, agree a practice plan and respond constructively to fear of failure.
Created by Denis M., British English teacher.
Asking for another chance
In this story, the selected scene focuses on asking for another chance.
Watch for: What does each person promise to do?
Clip A quiz · 6 questions
Answer about this clip only. Choose one answer for each question.
1–2 minGrammar in a minuteB2 · Emphatic do before lexical have
“Well, I do have summer school”
Clip 1, quotation excerpt
Do adds emphasis to have meaning attend or have scheduled. It can qualify the proposed timetable without denying the wish to train. It is not the perfect auxiliary have.
Useful English
Could you help me make a realistic practice plan?
I will prepare before we meet and arrive on time.
Keep talking · 3 questions
Say your answer before opening the support. Take turns with a partner, or speak aloud on your own.
What makes a coach helpful?
Support and one possible answer
A good coach…
A good coach notices specific problems and gives a clear way to practise them.
Which part of a practice plan is easiest to forget?
Support and one possible answer
People sometimes forget…
People sometimes forget to choose a regular time and a way to check progress.
Ask for feedback on a skill.
Support and one possible answer
Could you tell me…?
Could you tell me which part of my explanation was unclear and give me one example?
Her mother offers support
In this story, the selected scene focuses on her mother offers support.
Watch for: How does the mother change her approach?
Clip B quiz · 6 questions
Answer about this clip only. Choose one answer for each question.
1–2 minGrammar in a minuteB1 · The understood subject after want + person + to
“I didn't want you to be one of those losers”
Clip 2, quotation excerpt
Want you to be makes you the person in the proposed situation, while I names the person with the preference. Not wanting that outcome does not establish that the competition was lost.
Useful English
One difficult result does not tell me everything I can do.
You do not have to prepare on your own.
Keep talking · 3 questions
Say your answer before opening the support. Take turns with a partner, or speak aloud on your own.
How can support reduce pressure?
Support and one possible answer
It can help by…
It can help by turning a large worry into a small, clear action.
What is a better response than telling someone not to worry?
Support and one possible answer
We could say…
We could say, Let's practise the first part together and see what needs work.
Encourage someone after a disappointing practice.
Support and one possible answer
Today was… but…
Today was difficult, but you explained the first part clearly. Let's work on the ending next.
Mastery: use your English
Apply language from both clips to new situations.
Mastery · 6 questions
Use the English in new situations. Choose one answer for each question.
Put it all together — speaking
Use English from both clips. For the last conversation, take a role each. On your own, practise both roles.
How is coaching different from taking over?
Support and one possible answer
A coach helps the learner…
A coach helps the learner improve; taking over removes the learner's chance to practise.
What links Akeelah's uncertainty with her mother's story?
Support and one possible answer
Both need to separate…
Both need to separate fear of failure from a decision about whether to keep trying.
Can you create a supportive one-week practice plan?
Role A
You need to give a two-minute introduction next week. You are nervous and only have ten minutes a day to practise.
Role B
Be the practice partner. Agree one achievable goal, a specific feedback method and a short retry after feedback.
Support
Choose a goal, agree a time, request feedback and plan a retry.
Check your conversation
- Complete the communication goal on both role cards.
- Use language from both clips naturally, with at least three target items overall.
- Ask a relevant question and respond to your partner, rather than delivering two unrelated speeches.
- Finish with a clear decision, next step or summary; repeat one part after feedback.
One possible conversation, after your attempt
A: I am worried that I will forget everything. B: Let us start with the first thirty seconds. A: Could you tell me whether my main point is clear? B: Yes. Practise it each evening, and we will meet on Friday. A: Then I can try it again after your feedback.
I will practise a short introduction each evening. On Friday, please tell me whether my main point was clear.
Try again: After feedback, repeat the most difficult exchange. Improve one language point and one communication point; do not memorise the example.
1–2 minGrammar masteryB2 · Were to: a remote proposal
“if you and I were to prepare for that”
Clip 1, quotation excerpt
If + subject + were to + verb presents a hypothetical proposal. A corresponding result normally uses would or could.