CROSSROADS CAFE
Subject: Foreign
Language/ESL
Length: 26 episodes @ 30 minutes
School Record Rights: Fair Use
Crossroads Café is a captivating episodic series which, combined with
closely correlated print materials, offers a complete program designed
to teach English to speakers of other languages. The series engagingly
depicts the lives of six characters involved with a small neighborhood
restaurant. Their backgrounds, challenges and struggles are typical of
many ESL/ESOL learners. Two video sidebars appear in each episode: Culture
Clips, a documentary-style segment which focuses on cultural issues portrayed
in the story; and Word Play, a colorful animated segment which demonstrates
the appropriate language to use when communicating specific types of information.
As students enjoy every new chapter in the lives of Crossroads Café characters
and use the corresponding materials, the lessons provide an integrated
experience of listening, reading and writing. The materials are structured
with different levels of challenge so that beginning-low through intermediate-high
learners can all use the program. Crossroads Café stresses language communication
as opposed to rote repetition of vocabulary; learners must use context
to enhance vocabulary skills and use higher order thinking skills to find
layers of meaning.
101 Opening Day: Victor Brashov's new restaurant is about to open, but still doesn't have a name or any employees. The Word Play segment addresses: Giving and getting personal information; The Cultural Clip emphasizes: Finding and interviewing for a job.
102 Growing Pains: Henry's plans to work at the cafe unravel; a demanding health and safety inspector visits the cafe. The Word Play segment addresses: Making introductions The Cultural Clip emphasizes: Immigrant families in a new culture.
103 Worlds Apart: When her boyfriend arrives from Mexico, Rosa must make a difficult decision; Brashov grapples with insomnia. The Word Play segment addresses: Talking about wants The Cultural Clip emphasizes: The US — Land of Immigrants.
104 Who's the Boss: Jamal unexpectedly runs into two old friends who think he's the owner of the cafe. The Word Play segment addresses: Making apologies The Cultural Clip emphasizes: Strategies for job change.
105 Lost and Found: When Katherine's son has behavior problems in school, he gets help from an unexpected source; Jess and Carol's house is burglarized. The Word Play segment addresses: Telling someone to do something. The Cultural Clip emphasizes: Neighbors working to prevent crime.
106 Time is Money: Brashov brings in an over-eager efficiency expert; Rosa struggles in her night school class. The Word Play segment addresses: Making suggestions. The Cultural Clip emphasizes: The importance of time.
107 Fish Out of Water: Brashov's brother arrives from Romania only to find that life in the United States is not what he expected. The Word Play segment addresses: Describing experiences. The Cultural Clip emphasizes: Adjusting to a new culture.
108 Family Matters: Katherine takes a second job to make ends meet; Rosa teaches Henry to dance. The Word Play segment addresses: Making offers. The Cultural Clip emphasizes: Single parenting.
109 Rush to Judgement: Jam is a suspect in a bank robbery; Henry's grandparents get lost in the city. The Word Play segment addresses: Describing people. The Cultural Clip emphasizes: The role of police.
110 Let the Buyer Beware: Brashov falls for a woman who promises to improve the café's business; Katherine reluctantly goes on a date. The Word Play segment addresses: Giving Compliments. The Cultural Clip emphasizes: Consumer scams.
111 No Vacancy: Rosa runs into an unexpected roadblock when she tries to move to a new apartment; Henry tries his hand at journalism. The Word Play segment addresses: Asking for clarification. The Cultural Clip emphasizes: Discrimination.
112 Turning Points: The cafe is vandalized; Rosa learns to drive. The Word Play segment addresses: Talking about possibility. The Cultural Clip emphasizes: Gangs: problems and solutions
113 Trading Places: The cafe employees switch jobs for a day with mixed results; Jess and Carol have problems at home. The Word Play segment addresses: Talking about ability. The Cultural Clip emphasizes: Couples and the roles they choose.
114 Life goes On: the café employees try to cope while Brashov is in the hospital
115 Breaking Away: Henry and his Caucasian girlfriend are forced to deal with their parents' reactions. Then, a laundromat opens next door to the café.
116 The bottom line: Brashov tries to attract more business so he can impress the bank and qualify for a loan.
117 United We Stand: When her apartment landlord refuses to make repairs, Rosa and other tenants fight back. Henry makes a documentary for his journalism class.
118 Opportunity Knocks: Jamal is offered an engineering job; Brashov buys a jukebox for the café.
119 The people's choice: Jess runs for city council. Jamal's cousin visits from Egypt and falls in love with Rosa
120 Outside Looking In: Rosa enters high society. The café landlord's son disrupts work at the cafe.
121 Walls and bridges: Rosa comes to the aid of a student whose father wants her to quit school; Brashov struggles with his citizenship exam.
122 Helpings Hands: The café employees help a homeless man get on his feet. Jamal and his family take a trip
123 The Gift: Brashov is convinced everyone has forgotten his birthday. Someone from Brashov's past pays an unexpected visit.
124 All's well that Ends Well: Katherine's wedding day is a near disaster. Henry is caught in a snowstorm.
125 Comings and Goings: Henry pursues his plans to become a rock star, Katherine's going away party takes an unexpected turn.
126 Winds of Change: The café employees face difficult choices about their futures.