Learn English with Notting Hill

More film and television lessons

Hibiscus Teach · Movies

Notting Hill

Let Me Correct That Impression

Ask without assuming, correct a mistaken role and repair an awkward exchange tactfully.

B2 English target60-minute lesson target

Adult-oriented romance. Sexual references may occur around the cuts; review exact boundaries and keep practice focused on social clarification.

Created by , British English teacher.

What Do You Do?

At dinner, Bernie asks Anna about her work without realising how famous she is.

Watch for: Which assumption does Anna’s answer overturn?

Original source

Clip A quiz: 6 questions

Answer about this clip. Replay when you need to. Choose one answer for each question.

1. What does Bernie ask Anna about?
2. What work does Anna say she does?
3. What field does Bernie say he works in?
4. What does Bernie initially assume about actors’ earnings?
5. What kind of acting does Anna mainly do?
6. What surprises Bernie?

Useful English

What sort of work do you do?

You say: Ask a new acquaintance about their work.

One possible response

What sort of work do you do?

I may have made the wrong assumption.

You say: Acknowledge that you underestimated someone’s experience.

One possible response

I may have made the wrong assumption about your experience.

Keep talking: 3 questions

Speak before opening the help or example. With a partner, ask a follow-up. On your own, say your answer aloud.

  1. Which work questions are comfortable, and which may feel too personal?

    Help me start

    I would ask…

    Show an example

    I would ask what someone enjoys about their work before asking about earnings.

  2. How can someone correct an assumption without humiliating the speaker?

    Help me start

    Keep the answer…

    Show an example

    Keep the answer factual and give the speaker room to respond.

  3. Correct a mistaken assumption about your experience.

    Help me start

    Actually…

    Show an example

    Actually, I have worked on this type of project before, although not in this company.

Questions & Apologies

William is mistaken for a journalist during Anna’s press interviews and tries to manage the awkward situation.

Watch for: How does the supposed interview keep becoming a personal conversation?

Original source

Clip B quiz: 6 questions

Answer about this clip. Replay when you need to. Choose one answer for each question.

1. What role is William expected to perform?
2. Where is Anna’s next film set?
3. What subject does he awkwardly try to connect with the film?
4. Why is that topic a poor fit for the current film?
5. What personal matter interrupts the interview performance?
6. What happens when staff return?

Useful English

I think there has been a misunderstanding about why I am here.

You say: Explain that you are a guest, not the presenter.

One possible response

I think there has been a misunderstanding; I am a guest, not the presenter.

Let me explain what I meant.

You say: Clarify a question that sounded different from your intention.

One possible response

Let me explain what I meant by that question.

Keep talking: 3 questions

Speak before opening the help or example. With a partner, ask a follow-up. On your own, say your answer aloud.

  1. What is a harmless misunderstanding you could clarify immediately?

    Help me start

    You might say…

    Show an example

    You might say you are attending the meeting rather than chairing it.

  2. Why can improvising make a misunderstanding grow?

    Help me start

    A new claim…

    Show an example

    A new claim may create expectations that need further explanations.

  3. You are introduced as an expert in a subject you only study. Clarify your role.

    Help me start

    I should clarify…

    Show an example

    I should clarify that I am still studying the subject, not teaching it.

Mastery: use your English

Apply language and ideas from both clips in new situations.

Mastery: 6 questions

Use the English in a new situation. Choose one answer for each question.

1. Which opening asks about work without assuming status or income?
2. You discover you underestimated someone’s experience. Which response acknowledges it?
3. You are mistaken for the presenter. Which sentence clarifies your role?
4. Which phrase repairs an unclear question?
5. A question feels too personal. Which response sets a tactful boundary?
6. Which summary distinguishes a misunderstanding from deliberate misconduct?

Put it all together: speaking

Use English from both clips. Start with the two short questions, then take a private role each. On your own, practise both roles.

  1. How do the clips show the cost of assumptions?

    Help me start

    One assumption…

    Show an example

    One assumption embarrasses the questioner; another makes someone perform a role he does not hold.

  2. Which is easier: correcting a small misunderstanding early or explaining it later?

    Help me start

    Usually…

    Show an example

    Usually correcting it early prevents more expectations from being built on it.

  3. Can you reach a workable outcome together using the two private role cards?

    Private Role A

    You are invited to attend a community workshop as a participant. The organiser introduces you as the guest speaker because your name resembles another guest’s. Clarify without embarrassing them.

    Private Role B

    You organise the workshop. The real speaker is ten minutes late. Once the misunderstanding is corrected, you can lead introductions or ask the participant to share a brief optional example.

    Open only your own role card. Share its information by speaking, without showing the card.

    Help me start

    Discover the missing information; explain your constraint; respond to your partner; agree on a practical next step. Use language from both clips.

    Check your conversation

    • Complete the practical goal on both role cards.
    • Use at least three target items naturally, including language from each clip.
    • Ask a relevant follow-up and respond to information you did not know.
    • End with a clear agreement, next step or summary.
    Show an example

    A: I think there has been a misunderstanding. I am here as a participant. B: I am sorry; I confused two names. A: No problem. Is the speaker still coming? B: Yes, in ten minutes. I will lead the introductions while we wait.

    Try again: The participant does not want to speak publicly. Agree another way to use the waiting time.

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