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HomeCoursePalliative Care, Death & Dying ConversationsMedia Guide
Palliative Care, Death & Dying ConversationsL12
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Media Guide

Film and series guidance to extend the unit through authentic language exposure.

20 minC1c1media_guidepalliative-care-death-dying-conversationspalliative caremortalitygriefcausative verbs

Lesson objectives

  • Use authentic audiovisual material to deepen the unit theme.
  • Notice how advanced language works in real public media.
  • Extend vocabulary and discussion around palliative care, death & dying conversations through film and series.

Cine & Series — Palliative Care, Death & Dying Conversations

El uso de contenido audiovisual permite observar matices de registro y lenguaje emocional que los libros de texto no pueden replicar. Al estudiar temas sensibles como el final de la vida, desarrollarás la capacidad de manejar conversaciones complejas y empáticas, esenciales para el nivel C1.

Recommended title

  • Title: After Life (2019–2022), Netflix
  • Accent/dialect: British (specifically diverse UK accents, including standard RP and colloquial British English)
  • Why it's perfect for C1: This series deals with grief, mortality, and the practicalities of death through a mix of dark humour and profound emotional honesty. It is perfect for C1 because it forces the learner to navigate between highly informal, colloquial dialogue and deeply philosophical, sophisticated reflections on life and loss.
  • Episodes to start with: Season 1, Episodes 1–3.

Language focus

  1. "I just want to be left alone to deal with this."

    • Vocabulary note: To deal with /diːl wɪð/ (lidiar con / afrontar).
    • Grammar spotlight: This reflects a desire to let oneself process grief without interference. In a causative sense, we could say: "The situation made him let go of his old habits."

  2. "She didn't want to be kept in the dark about her condition."

    • Vocabulary note: To be kept in the dark /biː kept ɪn ðə dɑːk/ (estar en la ignorancia / no ser informado).
    • Grammar spotlight: This uses the passive causative structure. We use get/have something done to describe actions taken by others. Here, the patient wants to ensure they have the truth told to them directly.

  3. "It's hard to make sense of everything when someone is taken so suddenly."

    • Vocabulary note: To make sense of /meɪk sens əv/ (dar sentido a / comprender).
    • Grammar spotlight: This relates to how external circumstances make us feel or help us understand life's fragility. For example: "Losing a loved one makes you rethink your priorities."

Viewing task (active watching)

  1. Note down vocabulary: Keep a dedicated notebook and aim to write down at least 10 new words or idiomatic expressions per episode.
  2. Identify register shifts: Pay attention to how the protagonist speaks to his family (informal/emotional) versus how he might interact with doctors or strangers (formal/distanced).
  3. Spot Causative constructions: Listen specifically for verbs like make, let, help, get, or have. Try to identify if the subject is causing an action or if the action is being done to them (e.g., "He got himself to talk about his feelings").
  4. Summarise one scene in English: After an episode, choose one pivotal scene and write a 2–3 sentence summary. Focus on using the new vocabulary you have just learned.

Similar titles (2 alternatives)

  • The Fault in Our Stars (Film): A more romanticised take on terminal illness, excellent for practicing emotional vocabulary.
  • Away from Her (Film): A profound look at palliative care and memory loss, perfect for high-level discussions on dignity and ethics.