Job Discussion Forums

MELEE · Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 3:07 pm Post subject:

I haven't seen it for years, but I remember liking "Truely, Madly, Deeply" (Sappy romantic) and isn't one of the characters and ESL teacher? Wink

madison01 · Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Posts: 40

The Italian Job

Nuff Said!

carnac · Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 8:41 pm Post subject:

My first thought was "Monty Python and the Holy Grail", but perhaps it is too subtle.
More seriously, consider "The Thirteenth Warrior", a remaking of the tale of Beowulf. 12 Northmen and an Arab against Grendel. An interesting and fairly well-done thing that my students really enjoyed. (Yes, yes, yes, we did all the appropriate pre- and post- viewing take-the-fun-out-of-it-because-you-are-learning activities.)
Also consider "Tom and Jerry"cartoons. Why, since there is no language? Because it's fun; they pay attention; then they have to talk/write about the actions they saw on the screen. And they retain the action better because it's simpler than a "real" film. Good for past tense reviews: "Then what happened after Jerry dropped the rock on Tom's head?" Vocabulary (a bump on the head), writing and speaking skills, hey, it's got it all!
Or, Mr. Bean. great stuff for discussions. Like the skit where he tries to cheat on an exam - not that our precious students would EVER do such a thing...

natsume · Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 409 Location: Chongqing, China

Agree with "Bend it Like Beckham", and I think the film "Dirty Pretty Things" gives a revealing look at multicultural London.

ddeubel · Joined: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 39

Please don't go anywhere near Trainspotting!!!

First, it is Glasgowian, I even can't underSTAND more than 4 words out of 10 ! I remember living in the Czech Rep. when it came to the local theatre. I was dying to just hear some English, real English. Couldn't make a word out and that was the first time I realized I could read and understand quite a lot of Czech (subtitles), if I had to.

Of all the suggestions, I like About A Boy. Light, involving and still meaningful. Lots of useful everyday conversation.

If you want something a little rougher -- more British working class, why not, The Full Monty? or My Name is Joe....???

DD

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

TravellingAround · Joined: 12 Nov 2006 Posts: 423

To be honest I'd suggest ignoring some of the films put forward for the simple fact that they would be a bit too difficult to understand. If they are going to be watching without subtitles then films like 'Lock, Stock' and 'Snatch' are a no-no. They are infested with rhyming slang and harsh regional accents which means even Brits have to concentrate or they can miss things. Even with subtitles won't be much good as students do want to understand some of the dialogue themselves without having to have constant recourse to the bottom of the screen.

The ones I mentioned before - About A Boy, Bend it Like Beckham or Johnny English are all relatively easily to follow for a non-native speaker. The likes of Trainspotting or Snatch are great films but I don't think they are that suitable for classes unless their English is very good.

Billy Ellot is a good choice too and there is always a Bond film to fall back on if need be as an example of a suave Brit spy...and, hey, everyone likes a Bond film.

ddeubel · Joined: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 39

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 2:49 pm Post subject:

Is it really even Edinburgh, though? I don't know much about variations of Scottish, but I saw the movie with a friend from Edinburgh who kept complaining about the "movie Scots" accents all the characters use.

How did it seem to you dmb?

Best,
Justin

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 2:49 pm Post subject:

Is it really even Edinburgh, though? I don't know much about variations of Scottish, but I saw the movie with a friend from Edinburgh who kept complaining about the "movie Scots" accents all the characters use.

How did it seem to you dmb?

Best,
Justin

Sheikh Inal Ovar · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 1208 Location: Melo Drama School

For son of Sid James, it has to be one from the Carry On crew ...

And while here, since when did Tom & Jerry fly a British flag ...

Mavis the Fat Fairy · Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 15

I would suggest the Full Monty, but if your aim is 'to show off' the UK, it might fall short. People watch it and think sheffield must be some kind of shit hole, but it's actually a really nice city (in most parts). Also, I heard they had to put subtitles on for the American audience, so possibly not a good choise for your average english student (although to be fair, Robert Carslile's (sp?) Yorkshire accent was pretty shocking!)

how about 4 weddings or Love Actually? a bit ra admittedly, but it's kindof what people expect your average englishman to be. One of my students (20 something bloke) told me last week that love actually is his favorite film, and even though you really don't want to admit it, you know that a part of you deep down agrees with him Wink

Sheikh Inal Ovar · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 1208 Location: Melo Drama School

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 4:26 pm Post subject:

MELEE · Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 4:53 pm Post subject:

Okay, it's from 1991, but I still vote for Truly, Madly, Deeply.