From Wikigogy

27 Dresses is a recent movie (2008) that works well for intermediate level ESL students who are in their first year at university. At first, I debated showing it because it was such light fare, but it has some great moments and it fit into two of the genres my students like, romance and comedy (they also like adventure). Also, it was fairly easy to understand and follow the plot, so I decided to show it. Before showing a movie, I usually get a plot summary and synopsis off the Internet (IMDB is a good source for this) which the class reads together as a reading activity. We go over any new words and I also call on students to read quotes from the movie. This engages students interest in the movie and prepares them to view it. We always watch it in English with English subtitles, which help students follow the dialogue better. Later, as we are watching the movie, they recognize bits of dialogue that we've practiced beforehand and it helps them understand it better. This can be very exciting for students who have not been able to understand a movie in English before.

I wrote my own summary for "27 Dresses" to make it easier for my students to understand. The summary on IMDB was much too long for this movie. Often we just have an open conversation about favorite scenes from the movie and students' responses to what they've seen. However, this time I wrote a couple of pages of related questions for students to discuss in small groups, which I've clipped in below the summary and quotes that follow. There is a keyword section on IMDB that is helpful as prompts to write questions. I will also use these questions for students to choose from for a writing assignment. Sometimes I put students into groups after watching a movie and ask them to write questions that they trade with students in other groups to answer.

Watching a movie together creates a shared real time experience that leads to authentic conversation. I also like showing current movies because students hear idioms and slang that are being used today in context. In this movie, students heard how people actually greet each other in the U.S., often saying, "Hey" instead of "Hi". The dating and wedding theme of this movie provides some cultural material for students to make cross-cultural comparisons about as well.

Let me know if you decide to use this material and how it goes with your students.

27 Dresses Plot Summary

A single woman who has served as a bridesmaid 27 times has a difficult time when her younger sister is getting married to her boss, who she has been hopelessly in love with for a long time. Jane (Katherine Heigl) has many friends because she is very helpful, but she is beginning to feel that she is missing out on something.

One night a local newspaper reporter, Kevin (James Marsden) sees Jane changing clothes in a taxi as she is racing between two wedding receptions. He doesn’t like writing about weddings, so he thinks that she has an interesting story that can move him up at the newspaper if he can get her to talk to him about her life. At first she thinks that he is a creep and doesn’t trust him.

This movie is about the relationship between the two sisters and how it changes as Jane learns to be honest with herself through some painful experiences that involve Kevin. We see Jane change her life and open to having her own love interest, as she starts to live her own life, and not just be available to help her friends.

Jane: I never do anything like this. Kevin: I know. Jane: You do? Kevin: Yes, you kept repeating that over and over last night - I never do anything like this... I *never* do anything like this... I never do *anything* like this...

Kevin: What about you? You don't have any needs? Jane: No. I'm Jesus.

Jane: Can you please find somebody else to be creepy with?

Kevin: Jane, can I have $50? Jane: No. Kevin: Jane, can I have $50? Jane: No. Kevin: Jane, I REALLY need $50, can i have the $50? Jane: [hesitant] ... No? Kevin: [laughing] See? That was good! [grabs Jane's drink] Kevin: Jane, can I have your drink? Jane: Sure.

Kevin: You'd rather focus on other people's Kodak moments than make memories of your own!

Kevin: Wait, what are those? Jane: Nothing. Kevin: Are those? Jane: NO. Kevin: Are they bridesmaid dresses? Jane: This is none of your business! Kevin: Ohhh... good God. What, you kept them all? You have a whole closet full, why? Jane: I have a lot of friends and I like to keep them. Kevin: Right. Well, that makes complete sense because they're... beautiful. Jane: Some of them are not that bad. Kevin: Not that bad? I'd like to see one of them that's not that bad.

Tess: You won't share that information with me about him. You wouldn't hurt a fly. Besides, I'm your sister. Jane: That was yesterday. Today you're just the bitch who broke my heart and cut up my mother's wedding dress.

Kevin: Love is patient, love is kind, love is slowly going out of your mind

Jane: I feel like I just found out my favorite love song was written about a sandwich.

Jane: I think you should just admit that you're a big softy. That this whole cynical thing is just an act so that you can seem wounded, and mysterious, and sexy. Kevin: [pause] . Woah, woah, woah. What was the last one? Jane: What? Kevin: Did you say sexy? Jane: What? Kevin: Do you think I'm sexy? Jane: No. Kevin: Its OK if you do. Jane: I don't.

Casey: [after Jane turns down a drink offer from George] He asks if you want a drink. You smile and say, 'Vodka soda.' If you already have a drink, you down it. Then there's some flirting, some interoffice sex, an accidental pregnancy, a shot gun wedding, and a life of bliss. How many times do we have to go over this?

Questions for Discussion or Writing Topics: 27 Dresses

What do you think of weddings? If you get married, do you want to have a big wedding? Have you thought about having a wedding and what you want it to be like?

Weddings are often a way for people to show off how successful they are and how much money they have. Do you agree or disagree? What do you think weddings should be like?

What do you think of the wedding industry in China? Do you think people spend too much money on their wedding?

“Marriage is the last legal form of slavery.” Do you agree or disagree?

Do you think Jane’s father was insensitive to her feelings when he gave their mother’s wedding dress to her sister?

What did you think of the staged proposal scene at the restaurant when the engagement ring was trotted in by the dog?

Do you think it was realistic when Jane did the slide show that broke up her sister’s engagement?

What do you think of people getting married soon after they have met each other? Does this ever happen in China?

How did your parents meet each other? What kind of wedding did they have?

Have you been to any weddings recently? Describe a wedding that you have attended. What part do you like best during the wedding or reception?

What do you think about the Western tradition of bridesmaids and groomsmen at weddings?

In the movie, Jane had a crush on her boss. Have you ever had a crush on someone? What happened? Did you tell them? Do you think unrequited love is common?

Do you think secretaries can act like wives to their bosses?

What do you think about vegetarianism (people who won’t eat meat)?

Would you like to have a dog like the big one in the movie?

Did you like Jane’s apartment in New York?

What do you think about her keeping all of those bridesmaid’s gowns in her closet? What did you think about her getting rid of all of them? Were there any dresses that you liked?

Have you ever gotten drunk? What did you do? If you got drunk, what song would you sing? Do you think you might have a good time if you get drunk, but maybe do something that would embarrass yourself that you might regret later?

What did you think of the way Jane quit her job?

Do you think her boss should have asked her to do his drycleaning or to knot his tie for him?

What was wrong with Tess paying Pedro to clean the apartment? Why didn’t Tess want her sister to know about it?