Job Discussion Forums

[Cacille]

Hey all.

I know your kids probably all are bonkers over the game Minecraft. Mine are - I am teaching in a middle school of all boys, roughly 500 students. I ended up joining them and playing the game and got a little addicted too. So much so that I started learning 3d modeling just to make videos for my students using the character (Steve) and game world they love so much and the English from their textbooks! It's been a big hit so far, my youngest two grades especially. I might post them one day. But for right now...
I decided to take it a step further and start making Youtube Let'sPlays using Minecraft, but tailoring it to the population of the world who knows English but can't understand fast speech. I keep the videos easy, slow English for everyone, include subtitles and webcam so people can see my mouth movements and mannerisms, but I don't talk down as if I'm talking to a child. While I talk, I play Minecraft. Hence the "Let's Play" part. They are basically good for practicing English listening skills and accent as well. I have an American (Midwest) accent. People can also work on their speaking skill if they repeat or practice the words I say!

Quite a few of my students, younger kids, and older adults also, are watching them now. If your students are bonkers about Minecraft, share my Youtube name, Cacille, with them so they can find the videos. I've got about 9 up so far and I try to get about 3 out every week.

To search for the videos, besides my username, search for Easy Minecraft ESL English.

If you watch them too, please be nice. I am still rather new at making these videos (actually, I'm new at making videos at all, though I have some travel vids for family and friends and such on my channel) and it takes months to get good at it from what I've seen. I do make some stupid English word mistakes at the beginning - due completely to nervousness. Like saying "sheeps" instead of sheep accidentally and cutting out small words, something I'm trying to break my habit of doing for these videos. I got into a little bit of a bad habit in school of doing that but caught myself recently. Also, the quality of my videos are horrible until Video 8...when I finally got a better computer and a clue that Adobe Premiere was not rendering right and switched to Sony Vegas instead. Trust me, I'm my own worst critic. Constructive, helpful, respectful criticism is welcome though.

[teacheratlarge]

Sounds interesting. I have seen some minecraft videos, but have never gotten into playing it myself. I don't teach many kids anymore, but I'll mention it to the few younger students I do see now and then.

Shooting and editing videos is a lot of work.

[Cacille]

You bet it is. I have to do a 7 step process just to get ready to record (Including putting my foot on my case because of a electrical house issue. Putting my foot on the case reduces the extra ungrounded electricity coming through my computer. Electrician doesn't have any clue how to fix. Sucks.)
Then I have to watch the video two more times to edit, plus add the subtitles. Rendering is fast on my new computer, uploading is pretty fast, only a few hours. Just the subtitles are the most annoying part for me, but it must be done!

But, I have a nice blue screen background to chroma-key myself into the videos now. Up to 14 videos now, although I am not sure if I'm more entertaining now. Hard to get rid of my "authoritative teacher" style of speaking -very factual and "my foot is down" sort of speaking (I hate it, but it works well for teaching I guess)
Anyway, thanks for sharing!