Job Discussion Forums

envirochick · Joined: 11 Jan 2006 Posts: 13 Location: Hailar, IM

My schedule includes an audio visual class and from what I've been told, movies are the main focus. There is apparently a text but it won't be available for a few weeks yet.

Since this is my first gig as a teacher (no BA but determined) I am looking for suggestions on how best to make this more than a class where the students simply drift off to sleep.

I'm already planning on exploring different genres and film vocabulary as well as discussing things like movie reviews but I would appreciate any additional info. Is it best to show the film in sections and have a lesson following the section or should I show the film in its entirety. I'm in a small town in IM and my resources are limited although I have limewire.
What movies are best suited for intermediate level college students? A television series might work well, is there something other than Friends that might work?

Day jiu in China and I think I made the right decision.

Super Mario · Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 2:21 am Post subject:

http://www.swinburne-senior-sc.edu.vic.gov.au/dpd/blade.htm
Please do the rest of us a service, and avoid Friends?
Try "Bend it Like Beckham", or "Big Fish". You need to do field-building first, run them with English subtitles, pause frequently for discussion. One movie should last 4 classes, and may need a second viewing before the students start assignment work.

Outsida · Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 5:46 am Post subject:

Ah, I have to disagree. 'Friends' is quite suitable... the humour translates pretty well, and you can show two episodes (44 minutes or thereabouts) in the first lesson, and spend the second discussing it.

I am no fan of the show myself, but it works.

As for activities... there are idioms and slang, retelling, debate an issue raised in the show, get the students to act out scenes from the show, get them to predict the plot of the next episode - following from the events of the one just watched, you can give them worksheets, play vocabulary games with new words from the show, change the endings of episodes, compare it with the Chinese version of Friends, discuss character flaws (such as how the men are complete pussies) and how they would write the characters, get them to make up their own plot for an episode... and so on and on.

Man, I'd love to teach your class. Paid to watch TV? Heh. It would be good!

Any other good shows apart from Friends? I think it would be good to mix it up. Seinfeld might be ok, as long as you choose episodes where the humour is mostly physical (the barbershop episode is a good one).

Super Mario · Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 5:56 am Post subject:

Just as long as it has nothing worthy of serious discussion, right?
Have you ever taught English, in an English speaking country, as a profession? Friends. Seinfeld. Sex In The city. American Pap.

adamsmith · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 259 Location: wuhan

I think tv shows would be great to use - but avoid the sit coms. The problem with sit coms is they are just that "situational comedy" - instead go with the dramas that are more attuned to a real life with real vocabulary and not ful of slang, innuendo, and double meanings, which will just confuse your students more than help them to understand. Try shows like the OC - which is related to kids more their own age (although I have never watched it yet) but it seems to be very popular with the teenagers back home. Most tv shows are readily available here on DVD so you should be able to find something. Intersperse the tv dramas with movies and you should be able to find enough material for the whole semester.

Outsida · Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 11:19 am Post subject:

adamsmith · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 259 Location: wuhan

Thank you outsida, a first, we agree. There are many good drama shows The key is to find one that can have similiar issues to the students so they can relate to the differences in culture and how they characters deal with different issues. This will be more relevant to them so they can get discussion going. Heck, I even used "Lost" on occassion with one of my classes when they had done something worthwhile that they deserved a reward. Many of the students loved it and went out and got their own copies to watch at home.
The key is that it should be something that they can discuss/write about etc. Avoid the police/law shows as they just provide a negative image and these students already have enough misconceptions of living in the 'West', and will probably be to hard for most of them to really understand.

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

I find that when I've shown movies in the past, stopping them at a "cliffhanger" moment really gets the kids worked up. Then, asking them what they think will happen next gets a bunch of responses. Also, having them reenact scenes from a movie or TV show is a hoot, especially if you advise them to put their own twist on the scene - - try something new and different. I wonder if you were to show, say, "Friends", then tried to find a comparable Chinese TV show (with the help of another teacher or student), showed both, then asked the kids to compare/contrast, if that would go over well?

Super Mario · Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 10:51 pm Post subject:

The message I'm getting here is light weight pop culture is the way to go. If teaching literature, Danielle Steele would be a better choice than John Steinbeck. Am I correct?
And by "teaching", I don't meaning giving them the novel/showing the visual text, and then asking them to write a "report".