4. Do you know of anyone who has ever turned down an award? If so, why did they reject it? Do you think declining an award is wholly inappropriate or perfectly acceptable?
5. Which of the following criteria do you think should juries take into account when presenting an award: making financial contributions to a project, outstanding achievement, excellence, being highly influential or quite famous? Can you think of any time when an award was given for the wrong reasons? Do you know of any awards that have been a cause for controversy?
B) Monologue
Partner A
1. Do you think awards can change the recipients of an award? Can they help them fulfil a lifelong ambition? Do they get a kick out of it? Do they normally feel absolutely elated? Do they sound extremely proud? Are they truly humbled?Do they seem deeply grateful? Do they often put the award down to their teams' hard work? Do you think the fact that someone has been awarded a prize can go to their head? Can they become extremely egotistical?
2. If you were to create a new award, what award would that be? Would it go to someone who might be fiercely ambitious? immensely talented? exceptionally gifted? extremely inspirational? highly original? Would you recognise and celebrate up-and-coming local talent?
3. Do you think that offering students awards may actually be somewhat counterproductive and could eventually backfire? Should awards be students' primary motivation?Partner B
1. Can, or should, a prize be awarded to two or three people at once? Can awards be given posthumously? Would that be totally unexpected? Would their friends and family find it intensely moving?
2. Do you feel absolutely gutted if one of your favourite films doesn't receive an award? or if your favourite actor is not up for an award? Can you think of other occasions during an awards ceremony on which you have not felt altogether happy?
3. Do you enjoy listening to extremely eloquent thank you speeches? Have they ever got you to look at life from a different angle? Have you ever been moved by a highly emotional speech delivered by a novice actor who has just made their debut? Do you think they were overawed by the occasion?
Pictures:
Hair dryer, Oscar statue (statuette), glove, peak (visera).
Questions:
Everyone who they met along the way got a kick out of their music in some way and many attended other gigs.
In the past few years Facebook’s users have skyrocketed as Facebook went mainstream. First among college students, then once it was open to the public, it blew the gates open as millions of new users young and old joined to check out this new social network. I think the Facebook team deserves an award.
She received a posthumous award for her outstanding contribution to…
He received an award for his outstanding achievement as an actor.
With that award he had fulfilled his lifelong ambition of becoming the best player in the world.
A sports award should be given taking into consideration a variety of factors including; effort and improvement; attitude and disposition; contribution to others and commitment towards the sport; sporting ‘role model’ and actual sporting achievement.
Go to somebody's head: (of success, praise, etc.) to make you feel too proud of yourself in a way that other people find annoying.
Have a good head on your shoulders: to be a sensible person
Pretentious: /prɪˈtenʃəs/ trying to appear important, intelligent, etc. in order to impress other people; trying to be something that you are not, in order to impress. E.g. It was just an ordinary house—nothing pretentious. He's so pretentious!
- Be humbled: made less proud, especially by awe or admiration, or by gratitude for help received, an undeserved advantage or honour, etc. Modest: E.g. The land is a perpetual gift; I am humbled like a stranger who is invited to dinner and fed the best food in the house.Read more about adverbs of degree here:
2. Should awards be based purely on talent and excellence, or do other factors like popularity and influence also matter?
3. Are awards ceremonies fair and credible, or are they often biased and influenced by politics or money?
Student A:
You know, I’ve been thinking about awards lately. Do you think they’re absolutely necessary in society?
Student B:
Hmm, that’s a good question. On the one hand, awards can fulfil people’s lifelong (1)_________________ and recognise outstanding achievement. On the other hand, I sometimes feel they can go to people’s (2)____________ and make them extremely egotistical.
Student A:
Yeah, I see what you mean, but I don’t entirely agree. For example, many recipients say they feel truly humbled and deeply grateful. Some even put the award (3)______________ to their team’s hard work rather than taking all the credit.
Student B:
Fair point. I suppose it depends on the person. By the way, did you know some people actually turn (4)_____________ awards?
Student A:
Really? No way! Who would do that?
Student B:
Well, I remember a novelist who declined a prestigious award (5)_______________ she believed the jury wasn’t totally independent. She said the decision was influenced by politics.
Student A:
That’s interesting, and I can actually understand her point of view. Some award decisions really are a cause for controversy. In fact, I think awards should be based on excellence rather (6)_______________ being highly influential or quite famous.
Student B:
Absolutely, I couldn’t agree more. Speaking of judging, what kind of people do you think juries should be composed of?
Student A:
Well, they should definitely be fully qualified and totally independent. (7)______________, the whole process loses credibility.
Student B:
Exactly. By the way, have you ever felt absolutely gutted when one of your favourite films didn’t win anything?
Student A:
Oh, definitely! When Blade Runner 2049 lost Best Picture, I was altogether unhappy with the results. (8)_______________, I did enjoy some extremely eloquent thank-you speeches that night.
Student B:
Same here. Actually, I find some speeches intensely moving, especially when they’re delivered by up-and-coming actors who seem overawed (9)______________ the occasion.
Student A:
Yeah, you can tell they get a real (10)______________ out of it, and that makes it genuinely emotional to watch.
Student B:
So, all things considered, would you say awards are positive or negative?
Student A:
Ultimately, they can be positive as (11)_______________ as they reward exceptional talent and immense effort rather than superficial popularity. Otherwise, the whole thing could backfire and become somewhat counterproductive.
Student B:
I totally agree. (12)___________________ awards are done properly, they can be highly inspirational.
KEY
1. ambitions
2. heads
3. down
4. down
5. because
6. than
7. otherwise
8. However
9. by
10. kick
11. long
12. When/Whenever/ If
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