Judge Judy helps You to Learn English

The use of popular tv series and film clips is a great way to engage your students.  By using extracted sections, whether they be emotional, thrilling or humorous, helps to visualize the content, therein, of let's say a grammar point or thematic consideration of a text.  This blog is designed to utilize theoretical considerations & lessons used by my colleague and myself in our preparatory English program to 14-15 year old students.  On the right of the blog you can see  a wealth of video archive materials that you are free and so welcome to use.  All we would ask is for a short (or long ) comment saying whether it worked for you :-)

The lesson described below is one that struck me as useful for legal terminology and phrases in an amusing context.  The fact that the judge, plaintiff and defendant use language that can be understood by your students, and the subject matter is ridiculous and crazy, could go some way to engaging students even from an elementary level.

Lets begin by giving some pre-vocabulary for the students:

 judge           bailiff         court(room)       court case         guilty          verdict    

 innocent      accuse        defend               reject               versus       judgement                       

It is important to inform your students that this is a special system in the USA used to settle small claims by people who are unable to go to the real court for whatever reason(s).

1. Why are the young women in Judge Judy's court?
2. How does Judge Judy feel about the case?
3. What are your first impressions of the judge (Judy), the plaintiff (Francesca) and the defendants (Kristen & Susan)?

1. What does the Susan say about Kristen's behavior at the time of the incident?
2. What did Susan tell her daughter to do?
3. How does Kristen respond to this claim?
4. What does Francesca say was the reason for Kristen moving out?
5. Why is Francesca's son not in the court room?
6. What reason does Kristen give for moving to Francesca's home?
7. Judge Judy replies to this by saying, "Baloney!" What do you think Baloney means?

1. What did Francesca say to Kristen when she told her she was in pain?
2. What did Susan say to her daughter when she told her she was in pain?
3. Why was Susan unable to help her daughter?
4. How does Judge Judy react when she hears this?
5. What does Susan go on to say about Francesca?

1. How much were the bills?
2. What does Kristen was the actual situation?
3. What does judge Judy tell Susan?

How do you think the people in this case will react after the verdict?

EQs: 

• Who do YOU think was right and wrong in this case?
• Why is it the responsibility of mothers to look after their children till 18?
• How do you feel about Susan's mental stability?
• Which evidence in this case proves that, blood is thicker than water?

There is also now a chance to look at some grammar from these videos.  
Once you have looked at the explanation, go back and watch each video and identify examples of the imperative

GRAMMAR: THE IMPERATIVE--

Imperatives are verbs used to give orders, commands and instructions. The form used is usually the same as the base form. It is one of the three moods of an English verb. Imperatives should be used carefully in English; to give firm orders or commands, but not as much when trying to be polite or show respect to the other person.

Judge Judy uses many imperatives in her court. In the first video her bailiff is the one who uses this grammar tool:

Bailiff: "Order! All Rise."

Now, look back at the other videos and identify as many as you can and share in class.

Video 2: at least 12 examples

Video 3: at least 3 examples

Video 4: at least 5 examples

Video 5: at least 2 examples