Media Guide
Film and series guidance to extend the unit through authentic language exposure.
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 economy, money & consumption through film and series.
Cine & Series — Economy, Money & Consumption
Utilizar contenido audiovisual es fundamental en el nivel C1 para entrenar el oído a diferentes velocidades y registros. Al ver producciones de alta calidad, no solo aprendes vocabulario específico, sino que comprendes los matices culturales que rodean al dinero y el poder.
Recommended title
- Title: Succession (HBO/Max)
- Accent/dialect: Primarily American (Standard American and various high-society regional accents).
- Why it's perfect for C1: The series is a masterclass in high-level business English, power dynamics, and sophisticated insults. It uses a dense mix of corporate jargon and colloquialisms, making it ideal for mastering register shifts.
- Episodes to start with: Season 1, Episodes 1–3.
Language focus
1. "The optics of this deal are disastrous; we need to pivot before the markets react." - Vocabulary note: Optics /ˈɒptɪks/ (The way an event or decision is perceived by the public). - Grammar spotlight: Nominalisation. Instead of saying "People will see this deal as bad," the character uses "The optics of this deal..." This turns a complex situation into a noun phrase, which is essential for professional C1-level discourse.
2. "We are looking at a massive liquidity crisis if we don't consolidate our assets." - Vocabulary note: Liquidity /lɪˈkwɪdɪti/ (The availability of liquid assets/cash to a company). - Grammar spotlight: Academic register. The use of "liquidity crisis" and "consolidate" demonstrates how technical nouns are used to discuss economic instability concisely.
3. "He's been leveraging his position to orchestrate a hostile takeover." - Vocabulary note: To leverage /ˈlevərɪdʒ/ (To use something to maximum advantage). - Grammar spotlight: Nominalisation. The process of "orchestrating a takeover" (using a gerund/noun form) allows for more complex sentence structures compared to simple verbs, typical of business reports and high-level debate.
Viewing task (active watching)
- Vocabulary Log: Note down at least 10 words or idiomatic expressions per episode (e.g., cutthroat, windfall, bottom line).
- Register Tracking: Identify moments where characters switch from "Boardroom English" (formal) to "Private/Family English" (informal/aggressive). Note how their word choice changes.
- Nominalisation Hunt: Listen for when characters turn actions into nouns (e.g., instead of "We decided to expand," they say "The decision to expand..."). Write down three examples.
- Oral Summary: After the episode, record yourself on your phone summarising the main conflict of the episode in 3 sentences using at least two new vocabulary words.
Similar titles
- The Big Short (2015): A fast-paced film about the 2008 crisis; perfect for learning rapid-fire financial terminology.
- Billions (Showtime): Similar to Succession but focuses more heavily on the intersection of hedge funds, law, and high-stakes gambling.