English for Psychology

A:

engaging and keeps me interested until the end.

Q: Have you ever been to a live concert? How was it?

Yes, I went to a Coldplay gig last year. It was breathtaking: the audience was

A:

singing along, and the lights and effects created a magical atmosphere.

Q: Do you think art and entertainment are important in people’s lives?

Why? 15

Yes, absolutely. Art and entertainment allow people to express emotions, to

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relax, and to escape from everyday life. For example, reading a good book or

listening to music can completely change your mood.

� Writing: mini-essay d’esempio

Write about the importance of art and entertainment in modern

Tema possibile:

life (140 words).

Art and entertainment play a very important role in modern society. They are

not only a source of fun but also a way to express emotions and ideas. For

example, music can bring people together during a gig, while films and books

can help us reflect on social issues. Art is also iconic because it represents

cultures and values: the Mona Lisa, for instance, is a symbol known all over the

world. Entertainment, on the other hand, allows us to relax after a stressful

day. A simple rehearsal for a school play can become an unforgettable

experience for students. In conclusion, art and entertainment enrich our lives,

they make us more creative and open-minded, and they will always be

essential parts of human culture.

� In sintesi

Il modulo Art & Entertainment ti prepara a:

descrivere film, libri, concerti e spettacoli;

 parlare delle tue preferenze artistiche e culturali;

 usare lessico specifico (audience, gig, plot, rehearsal…);

 sviluppare competenze di speaking e writing legate al mondo dell’arte e

 dello spettacolo.

� Traduzione e spiegazione estesa in italiano

Il tema di Art & Entertainment ci porta nel mondo dell’arte e dello

spettacolo, che comprende teatro, cinema, musica, televisione e forme di

intrattenimento culturale. In questo ambito troviamo molte parole chiave, che

non servono solo a descrivere oggetti o attività, ma anche emozioni e contesti

culturali.

Ad esempio, audience è il pubblico, cioè l’insieme di persone che assiste a un

evento artistico come un concerto o un film. Il pubblico è essenziale perché lo

spettacolo vive e prende senso nel momento in cui viene condiviso. Accanto

all’audience troviamo il termine spectator, che indica lo spettatore, più legato

16

a eventi sportivi o manifestazioni. In entrambi i casi si sottolinea il ruolo

partecipativo delle persone.

Molte parole rimandano al mondo del teatro e del cinema: plot è la trama di un

film o di un libro, lines sono le battute che gli attori devono recitare, mentre

prop è un oggetto utilizzato in scena. L’arte dello spettacolo richiede anche

prove e preparazione: rehearsal significa prova, cioè il momento in cui attori e

musicisti si allenano per perfezionare la performance. Il risultato finale può

ricevere rave reviews, ovvero recensioni entusiaste.

Un altro aspetto importante è il carattere emotivo. Alcuni spettacoli possono

essere moving, cioè commoventi, capaci di suscitare emozioni forti, mentre

altri possono risultare gripping, ossia avvincenti e capaci di catturare

completamente l’attenzione. In senso opposto troviamo parole come awful

(terribile) o boring (noioso), che descrivono esperienze negative.

L’intrattenimento non si limita a teatro e cinema, ma include anche luoghi tipici

come i pubs o gli speakeasy (i locali segreti dove, durante il Proibizionismo, si

vendevano alcolici illegalmente). Questi contesti mostrano come arte e svago

siano anche fenomeni sociali e culturali, che riflettono la storia e le abitudini

dei popoli. Ad esempio, in Gran Bretagna i musei hanno spesso ingresso

gratuito, a dimostrazione di quanto l’arte sia considerata parte integrante del

patrimonio collettivo e accessibile a tutti.

Il capitolo stimola anche riflessioni critiche: ci si chiede se i programmi

televisivi siano diventati troppo violenti, se ci piacerebbe assistere a uno

spettacolo nello storico Globe Theatre ricostruito a Londra, oppure se

saremmo disposti a partecipare a esperienze più interattive come vestirsi da

personaggi di un film al cinema. Queste domande ci aiutano a ragionare non

solo sul lessico, ma anche sul valore culturale dell’intrattenimento nella nostra

vita.

Infine, il lessico tocca la modernità: termini come iconic (iconico, simbolico),

impromptu (improvvisato), o show business (il mondo dello spettacolo) ci

mostrano come l’inglese esprima la dimensione globale e contemporanea

dell’arte e della cultura pop.

� Riassunto in inglese (per l’orale)

The topic of Art & Entertainment explores theatre, cinema, music, television

and cultural leisure. Key words include audience and spectator, which

highlight the central role of people in performances. In the theatre and cinema

context we use terms like plot (the story), lines (the actors’ words), prop (an

object on stage), and rehearsal (the practice before the show). 17

Performances can be described as moving (emotionally touching) or gripping

(exciting), and they often receive rave reviews when successful.

Entertainment also has a social and historical dimension: for example, British

museums are often free to enter, pubs are cultural meeting points, and

speakeasies recall the Prohibition era.

The material also invites us to think critically: are TV programmes becoming

too violent? Would we like to watch a play in Shakespeare’s Globe? Or even

dress as characters in a cinema event? Finally, modern terms such as iconic,

impromptu, or show business show how art and entertainment are part of

global culture.

� Art & Entertainment – Approfondimento

1) Lessico pro: campi semantici & collocazioni

A. Cinema & TV

romantic comedy, drama, thriller, fantasy, sci-fi, documentary,

genres:

 sitcom twist ending, cliffhanger, subplot, flashback

plot devices:

 scriptwriter, director, cast, soundtrack, special effects (CGI)

production:

 standing ovation, rave reviews, box-office

audience reactions:

 success/flop

� Esempi B2

The plot had an unexpected twist ending that left the audience

 speechless.

Although the special effects were impressive, the film turned out to be a

 box-office flop.

B. Theatre & Performing Arts

rehearsal, dress rehearsal, stage fright, backstage, curtain call

 costumes, props, set design, lighting

 actors/actresses, understudy, playwright, choreographer

 18

� Esempi

The company had their final dress rehearsal before the premiere.

 The understudy had to replace the lead actor at the last minute.



C. Music & Concerts

gig, live performance, encore, music festival, open-air concert

 lyrics, melody, harmony, rhythm, beat

 iconic band, emerging artist, breakthrough album, chart-topping

 single

� Esempi

I went to a Coldplay gig and the atmosphere was unforgettable.

 Her breakthrough album topped the charts worldwide.



D. Art & Literature

iconic painting, masterpiece, auction, exhibition, gallery, curator

 metaphor, simile, irony, allegory

literary devices:

 novel, short story, poem, play, saga

forms:



� Esempi

The Mona Lisa is considered an iconic masterpiece of Renaissance art.

 Harry Potter is one of the most popular fantasy sagas.



E. Show business & Pop Culture

celebrity culture, star system, entertainment industry, talent

 show

fan base, social media influencer, viral video

 critics vs fans, hype, media coverage



� Esempi 19

She became famous thanks to a talent show, but now she has built a

 loyal fan base.

The film generated a lot of hype, but the reviews were disappointing.



2) Funzioni comunicative B2 – frasi pronte

Descrivere opere/spettacoli

The plot revolves around…

 The main character struggles with…

 The performance was breathtaking thanks to…



Esprimere preferenze/opinioni

I enjoy thrillers because the plot keeps me engaged.

 In my opinion, live concerts create a unique atmosphere that recordings

 can’t match.

Confrontare generi/opere

Whereas comedies aim to entertain, dramas usually explore deeper

 emotions.

Compared to theatre, cinema reaches a wider audience but may lose

 some intimacy.

Valutare pro/contro dell’intrattenimento moderno

Streaming platforms make culture more accessible; however, they may

 reduce the value of live performances.

Celebrity culture can inspire young people, but it also tends to promote

 superficial values.

3) Grammatica mirata al tema

Relative clauses per descrivere opere:

 The book which was written by Tolkien has inspired generations.

Present perfect vs past simple:

 I have seen that film three times I saw it last weekend.

vs 20

Participial clauses per dare stile accademico:

 Directed by Christopher Nolan, the film explores complex themes.

Comparatives per opinioni:

 The play was far more engaging than the film adaptation.

4) Cultura & riflessione critica

Cinema & TV

Hollywood = industria globale, ma rischia omologazione.

 Bollywood K-drama

(India) e (Corea del Sud) = esempi di diversità

 culturale. Do you prefer mainstream or independent films?

Domanda tipica:



Musica

Dal concerto dal vivo (esperienza immersiva, comunitaria) a Spotify

 (accessibilità ma rischio consumo superficiale).

How has technology changed the way we enjoy music?

Discussione:



Arte Musei come custodi del patrimonio ma anche attrazioni turistiche.

 Dibattito: arte per élite vs arte accessibile a tutti.



Show business

Pro: crea lavoro, diffonde cultura pop.

 Contro: rischio superficialità, eccessiva commercializzazione.



5) Speaking – modelli pronti (90–120″)

A) Describe a film you recently watched

Last month I watched a thriller with a very unpredictable plot. The main

character was complex and the twist ending surprised the entire audience.

What I liked most was the soundtrack, which created a lot of tension.

Compared to other thrillers, this one was more original. In my view, films like

this show that cinema can be both entertaining and thought-provoking. 21

B) Talk about a live concert or performance

I went to a live gig by an emerging band. Although the venue was small, the

atmosphere was breathtaking. The audience sang along and the band

even played an impromptu encore. Unlike big festivals, this concert felt more

personal and authentic. It made me realize how important live music is to

connect artists and fans.<