LEWM: "WAYNE’S WORLD" ESL LESSON

ARCENAL STUDIOS presents LEARNING ENGLISH WITH MOVIES: "WAYNE'S WORLD" (1992) - a video lesson for ESL students who would like to improve their English skills by using MOVIES as the main topic.

 "WAYNE’S WORLD"

In today’s video we will focus on the movie WAYNE’S WORLD and focus not just on some key English vocabulary used in the film, but also on some SLANG, IDIOMS, and EXPRESSIONS.

 

Wayne's World is a 1992 comedy directed by Penelope Spheeris, produced by Lorne Michaels and written by Mike Myers.

 

Based on the Saturday Night Live sketch, it stars Myers as Wayne Campbell and Dana Carvey as Garth Algar, a pair of rock fans who broadcast a public access TV show.

 

A critical and commercial success, it was one of the highest-grossing films of 1992 and it was followed by a sequel the following year.

 

The rock-filled soundtrack reached number one on the billboard charts thanks to Wayne World’s sing-along of QUEEN’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”.

 

The film also popularized a lot of sayings and catchphrases such as ‘Party on’, ‘That’s what she said’ and adding ‘NOT’ to the end of a sentence when meaning to say the opposite.

 

Keep in mind that WAYNE’S WORLD also uses slang uniquely created for comedic effect and is specific for the film.

 

Before we continue, let’s be clear what we mean with SLANG, IDIOMS and EXPRESSIONS.

 

SLANG is a type of language that consists of words and phrases that are regarded as very informal and are typically restricted to a particular context or group of people. In English for example, there is American slang, British slang, Australian slang, etc.

 

The movie WAYNE’S WORLD uses some popular AMERICAN SLANG.

 

Some examples of slang used in the movie are BABE, when they mean a beautiful woman, a BUD, short for BUDDY or best friend, SUCKS when they mention something horrible, etc.

 

An IDIOM is a phrase, saying, or a group of words with a metaphorical meaning.

 

For example…

 

TO BE WHISKED AWAY: To be transported quickly or suddenly.

 

EXPRESIONS are phrases used to convey a message the way the speaker wants it to be understood.

 

For example…

 

TO GIVE (SOMEONE) A SECOND CHANCE: To give another opportunity to someone.

 

Here are more examples of Slang, Idioms and Expressions used in the film…

 

BRING YOU UP TO SPEED: Bring you up to date.

 

WAY TO GO! : Used to express pleasure, approval, or excitement.

 

GOOD CALL: Good idea! Great suggestion.

 

STAT: A common medical abbreviation for urgent or rush. From the Latin word statim, meaning "immediately."

 

TO GET ACQUAINTED: To get to know. To be familiar with (a person).

 

TO GET OVER (SOMETHING): To recover (physically or emotionally) from something.

 

If you run something by someone, you tell them about it or mention it, to see if they think it is a good idea, or can understand it.

 

TO HOCK A LOOGIE: inhaling hard to force mucus to collect at the back of the throat, then spitting it out.

 

Now that you know some key vocabulary used in the film, go back and watch WAYNE’s WORLD and see how many more SLANG words, IDIOMS, and EXPRESSIONS you can find.

 

Remember that the key to improving your listening comprehension skills is to not just focus on the new VOCABULARY but the CONTEXT in which they are used. These may be influenced by the situation as well as cultural references.