Kung Fu Panda · How Do You Learn Best?

← More film and television lessons

Hibiscus Teach · Cartoons

Kung Fu Panda

How Do You Learn Best?

Explain a learning method and encourage someone to practise.

B1 English60-minute tutor lesson

Created by , British English teacher.

Content note: A playful food contest using chopsticks, and disappointment.

A different kind of lesson

Shifu turns lunch into a final training challenge.

Watch for: How does Po's response change?

Original source

Clip A quiz · 6 questions

Choose one answer for each question. Check your answers, then read the feedback.

1. What does Shifu offer Po?
2. What happens when Po first tries to eat?
3. What do they use during the contest?
4. How many dumplings remain near the end?
5. Who succeeds in getting the last dumpling?
6. What does Po do with it?

1–2 minGrammar in a minuteB1 · Perfect passive with a present result
“you have been trained”

Clip 1, quotation excerpt

Have been trained presents completed training with a result now. You receives the training; the trainer is omitted.

New practice based on the quote: New practice: keep the passive and its present perfect tense.

Useful English

Original practice phrases.

This method works better for me.

Explain a learning preference.

Let me try again in a different way.

Ask for another attempt.

Keep talking · 3 questions

Say your answer aloud before opening the support. With a partner, take turns and ask a follow-up question.

  1. What method helps you remember new language?

    Support and one possible answer

    I remember it better when…

    I remember new language better when I use it in a conversation.

  2. How can a difficult task become a useful challenge?

    Support and one possible answer

    It helps when…

    It helps when the task is difficult but I can see what to improve.

  3. Encourage someone after an unsuccessful attempt.

    Support and one possible answer

    Try… You could…

    Try again with a smaller task. You could practise the first part slowly.

An unexpected explanation

Po expects a special secret. His father gives a different answer.

Watch for: What does Po discover?

Original source

Clip B quiz · 6 questions

Choose one answer for each question. Check your answers, then read the feedback.

1. What secret does Mr Ping offer to explain?
2. What is the secret ingredient?
3. What does Po ask about after this answer?
4. What does Mr Ping say can make something special?
05. What does Po call the soup after hearing the secret?
06. Where are Po and Mr Ping talking?

1–2 minGrammar in a minuteB2 · An overdue advisable action
“something I should have told you a long time ago”

Clip 2, quotation excerpt

Should have told evaluates an earlier opportunity: telling was advisable then, but was not done. The speaker now introduces what was left unsaid.

New practice based on the quote: Which new version retains regret about not saying it earlier?

Useful English

Original practice phrases.

I expected something more complicated.

Contrast an expectation with reality.

You can believe in yourself and still keep practising.

Connect confidence with effort.

Keep talking · 3 questions

Say your answer aloud before opening the support. With a partner, take turns and ask a follow-up question.

  1. When have you expected an answer to be more complicated? You may invent an example.

    Support and one possible answer

    I expected… but…

    I expected a complicated repair, but the cable was loose.

  2. What is the difference between confidence and already having a skill?

    Support and one possible answer

    Confidence… A skill…

    Confidence helps me try. A skill develops when I practise and learn.

  3. Give realistic encouragement to a learner.

    Support and one possible answer

    You can… and…

    You can improve, and you still need time to practise the difficult parts.

Mastery quiz

Use language from both clips in new situations.

Mastery · 6 questions

Choose one answer for each question. Check your answers, then read the feedback.

1. A way of learning that you use regularly is a ___.
2. You repeat a conversation to get better. You ___.
3. Flour is one ___ in bread.
4. You thought the answer would be difficult. You ___ something complicated.
5. Which sentence explains a learning preference?
6. Which encouragement combines confidence with effort?

Put it all together — speaking

Speak first, then use the support if you need it. For the final conversation, take a role each or practise both roles alone.

  1. How do the two clips challenge Po's expectations?

    Support and one possible answer

    In the training… In the conversation…

    Training does not follow the method he expects. The soup's secret is not an extra ingredient.

  2. How would you balance encouragement and useful feedback?

    Support and one possible answer

    I would…

    I would recognise what the learner did well and suggest one specific thing to practise.

  3. Can you design a better practice plan for a frustrated learner?

    Support and one possible answer

    Explain a method, choose a small challenge and encourage a retry.

    This method may work better for you. Practise a short dialogue, then change one detail. You can improve, and we can check the difficult part together.

Role A

You keep forgetting new words and think you cannot improve. Explain the method you currently use.

Role B

Suggest one different method and a small practice challenge. Encourage without promising instant success.

Check your conversation

  • Describe one learning difficulty.
  • Explain a realistic method and practice step.
  • Use three target items and allow a retry.

Try again: Repeat the final interaction once. Improve one expression and one response to your partner.

1–2 minGrammar masteryB2 · Present perfect passive to active
“you have been trained”

Clip 1, quotation excerpt

Have been trained is present perfect passive. An active version keeps have/has + past participle and restores the trainer as subject.

Which active version keeps the original tense and you as the receiver of the training?

Original teaching activities: Hibiscus Teach. Film and television clips belong to their respective owners.