(10-15 minutes) Warm-Up:​ Let’s Talk About Movies!

LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE 
Hobbies and Interests: ​Watching Movies 
 
Have a conversation with your teacher using the questions below as a guideline: 

● What is your favorite movie?

● Are there any kinds of movies you dislike?
○ If so, what kinds?
○ Why do you dislike them?
● Do you like to watch horror movies?
● Do you prefer fiction or nonfiction movies?
● Do you usually watch movies at home or at
a movie theater?
● Have you ever seen the same movie more
than once?
○ If yes, name it (or them).

● What was the last movie that you watched? What did you like about it?

● Can you remember the name of the first movie you saw that made you cry?

● Which do you like better, action movies or comedy movies?

(15-20 minutes) Listening Practice 
Instructions: Listen carefully to the audio file while answering the exercise. 
 
American Movie Theaters Expect to Reopen Slowly 
 
Fill in the blanks.  
 
American  ________  ________  operators  hope  to  fully  reopen  their  businesses  across  the  United  States  by  late  July.  The 
theaters were forced to close last month to slow the ______________ spread. 
________  are  planning  for  a  slow  reopening.  They  aim  to  open  some  theaters  in  parts  of the U.S. where ________ numbers are 
dropping. 
The  limited  business  could  begin  as  early  as________,  said  Patrick  Corcoran,  spokesman  for  the  National  Association  of 
Theater  Owners.  However,  he  said  the  timing  of  the  reopening  is  not  decided  yet  and  will  depend  on  _________  from 
___________. 
Hollywood  production  companies  are  unlikely  to  release  ________  films  during  a  limited  reopening  of  theaters.  ​Blockbusters 
such  as  Walt  Disney  Company’s  Mulan  and Wonder Woman 1984 from Warner Brothers are currently planned for ___________ 
release in late July and August. 
 
Will the public return? 
One issue the movie industry faces is whether the public will feel safe and at ease about returning to theaters. 
“There  are  ________  of  thought,”  Corcoran  said.  “People  will  be  very  tense  and  careful  and  nervous,  or  people  will  just  be 
desperate ​to get out of the house. It’s going to probably be a mixture.” 
During  their  early  weeks  back  in  __________,  theaters  likely  will  show  old  movies,  or  films  that  were  playing  in  March  when 
theaters closed, Corcoran said. 
That  could  mean  showing  a  ___________  such  as  Grease  or  a  series  of  movies  like  Back  to  the  Future  or  Harry  Potter,  said 
Brock  Bagby,  a  top  official  with  B&B  Theatres.  The  Missouri-based  company  operates  theaters  in  seven  states.  Movie 
theater  companies  are  considering  _________  to  get  people  back  into  theater  seats.  Ideas  include  ​audience  costume 
_____________  linked  to  Harry  Potter  or  serving  butterbeer,  Potter’s  favorite  drink,  at  theaters,  Bagby  said.  But,  he  added  “sad 
or very heavy d
​ ramas​” are not part of the plan. 
“We want the movies we bring back to bring _______ to people,” Bagby said. 
_________  also  are  debating  how  to  demonstrate  new  safety  measures  they  establish  for  reopening,  such  as  increased 
cleaning.  Corcoran  questions  if  seeing  the  _________  in  action  will  make  the  public  more  at  ease  or  less.  He  also  said 
___________ may differ among theaters depending on local guidance. 
Bagby  said  B&B  Theaters  will  establish  _____________  rules  if  health  officials  advise  it.  Several  days  before  closing  in  March, 
the  company  cut  the  number  of  permitted  theater  visitors  by  50  percent.  Bagby  said  the  theaters  had  no  problems  carrying 
the measure out. He said some showtimes sold out at half-full. 
 
Difficult financial situation 
During  the  __________,  theater  companies  and  independent  operators  have  been  seeking  government  aid  or  loans  to  avoid 
______________. Cinemark Holdings Inc., for example, said on Monday that it had raised $250 million through a sale of debt. 
However,  a  return  to  usual  for  _________  movie  releases  will  involve  more  than  the  U.S.  Studios  will  need  sales  from  around 
the  world  to  support  their  costliest  films,  said  Chris  Aronson,  president  of  Domestic  Film  Distribution  at  ViacomCBS  Inc.’s 
Paramount  Pictures.  Paramount  currently  plans  to  release  the  family  film,  Sponge  Bob:  Sponge  on  the  Run  on  July  31.  The 
studio moved another expected ___________ ​blockbuster​, Top Gun: Maverick, to December. 
China,  the  world’s  __________ movie market, reopened theaters in March after an extended closure. Two weeks later, however, 
China closed them again without explanation. 
“If  there  is  great  uncertainty  in  major  parts of the world,” Aronson said, “I think there are going to be issues opening _________ 
films.”  I’m  Caty  Weaver. Reuters news _________ reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario 
Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 
 
   
(10 minutes) Pronunciation Practice 

Read the story aloud. 

 
American  movie  theater  operators  hope  to  fully  reopen  their  businesses  across  the  United  States  by  late  July.  The 
theaters were forced to close last month to slow the coronavirus spread. 

Operators  are  planning  for  a  slow  reopening.  They  aim  to  open  some  theaters  in  parts  of  the  U.S.  where  infection 
numbers  are dropping. The limited business could begin as early as mid-June, said Patrick Corcoran, spokesman for 
the  National  Association  of Theater Owners. However, he said the timing of the reopening is not decided yet and will 
depend on guidance from health officials. 

Hollywood  production  companies  are  unlikely  to  release  big-budget  films  during  a  limited  reopening  of  theaters. 
Blockbusters  such  as  Walt  Disney  Company’s  Mulan  and  Wonder  Woman  1984  from  Warner  Brothers  are  currently 
planned for nationwide release in late July and August. 

Play with it again 

One issue the movie industry faces is whether the public will feel safe and at ease about returning to theaters.

“There are two schools of thought,” Corcoran said. “People will be very tense and careful and nervous, or people will
just be desperate to get out of the house. It’s going to probably be a mixture.”

During their early weeks back in business, theaters likely will show old movies, or films that were playing in March
when theaters closed, Corcoran said. That could mean showing a beloved musical such as Grease or a series of
movies like Back to the Future or Harry Potter, said Brock Bagby, a top official with B&B Theatres. The
Missouri-based company operates theaters in seven states.
Movie theater companies are considering special efforts to get people back into theater seats. Ideas include
audience costume competitions linked to Harry Potter or serving butterbeer, Potter’s favorite drink, at theaters,
Bagby said. But, he added “sad or very heavy dramas” are not part of the plan.

“We want the movies we bring back to bring joy to people,” Bagby said. Operators also are debating how to
demonstrate new safety measures they establish for reopening, such as increased cleaning. Corcoran questions if
seeing the measures in action will make the public more at ease or less. He also said safety measures may differ
among theaters depending on local guidance.

Bagby said B&B Theaters will establish social distancing rules if health officials advise it. Several days before
closing in March, the company cut the number of permitted theater visitors by 50 percent. Bagby said the theaters
had no problems carrying the measure out. He said some showtimes sold out at half-full.

(5-10 minutes) V
​ ocabulary Building 

1. blockbuster​ –n. something that is very large, costly, or successful​ 

 
2. desperate​ –adj. involving or employing extreme measures in an attempt to escape defeat or frustration​ 
 
3. audience  –n.  a  group  of  people  who  gather  together  to  listen  to  something  (such  as  a  concert)  or  watch 
something (such as a movie or play) : the people who attend a performance​ 
 
4. costume  –n.  the  clothes  that  are  worn  by  someone  (such  as  an  actor)  who  is  trying  to  look  like  a  different 
person or thing​ 
 
5. drama  –n.  a  play,  movie,  television  show,  or  radio  show  that  is  about  a  serious  subject  and  is  not  meant  to 
make the audience laugh 
 
(5-10 minutes) Discussion Questions: 
 
1. Why were the American theaters forced to close last month? 

2. What are the blockbusters that are currently planned for nationwide release in late July and August? 

3. What issue is the movie industry facing? 

4. What are the operators debating about the establishment of reopening? 

5. Do you think people will go to the theater immediately when they reopen the American theaters? 

6.  Do  you  believe  Corcoran's  statement  when  he  said  “People  will  be  very  tense  and  careful  and  nervous,  or  people 

will just be desperate to get out of the house? If so, why? 

7. Do you think theaters/TV shows are beneficial to us? Explain your answer. 

(5 minutes) Wrap Up & Quick Review 

Share what you have learned in today’s lesson. Please let us know if you have any questions or comments. 

 
Thank you for attending today’s lesson! See you next time! :)