Korean Job Discussion Forums

[two roads]

I'm thinking that it would be kind of fun to show my students some sort of movie or something in class. I've never done this before. As I only see my students once a week, it would be kind of unfair to drag out a movie over several weeks, I think, and besides, we have other activities planned for the rest of the semester. I thought it might be a good idea, then, to show them an episode of an American TV show. However, I don't have anything with Korean subtitles, and I don't want to go out and buy a season of a TV show just for one class. So, I was thinking of showing them an episode of something I brought from home, without subtitles. I mentioned the idea to my Korean coteachers. They thought that it might be too difficult for the students to understand without the subtitles, but they're always telling me that this or that activity I've planned is too difficult, but then the students are able to handle it anyway. My students are first year middle school. Does anyone have experience showing a movie or television program to students without subtitles? How did it go?

By the way, the only American TV show I have is Walker, Texas Ranger. I think that my students would enjoy it, if they could understand it. Walker's always fighting street gangs, and I know my students are fascinated with gangs.

[Hotpants]

Without knowing the level of your class, and moreover, I have no idea what the Walker show is, I think it's difficult for any of us to know whether it would work.

Probably if you just play the show without doing any warmer activities, introduction of certain expressions, or without any looping, it could be too difficult and also not beneficial from the point of English study.

Can you get a script to accompany the show (try script-o-rama.com)? Or, if the language might be too difficult, have the students complete a checklist that you prepare: What color were Walker's underpants? (or similar...)

Also, have a look at my site below. Scroll to 'M' for 'Movies'. There are some websites out there designed with guided activities when watching film which are useful.

[frankly speaking]

I don't see how showing them a tv show with Korean subtitles would help them learn English. For the most part the students would focus on reading and not listening.

I think that you are right about showing the students the tv show without subtitles. If they don't understand things that is ok. Improving listening skills and comprehension from the context is a good skill that the students need to develop. Every few minutes, you can stop and ask them questions to see if they understood the core of the dialog.

I don't know about the tv show Texas Walker. I don't know anything about it but sounds stupid. You might want to choose something with a better message than beating up gangs.

Tell your Korean coworkers that it will help their listening skills and it is ok not to understand everything as long as they can learn to get the general idea from the context. I hate when students hear a whole sentence and cannot respond because they don't know one word that isn't even esential to the meaning. YOu might want to choose a short movie instead of a tv show but anything that you like is best. You could also create a cultural lesson out of it. Have students write something for their homework. How different that show was than what they watch on tv here.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Does your video have English subtitles (or 'closed captions')? If you showed it with those the students would at least be able to pick out some words by reading them that they couldn't understand by listening.

[Khyron]

Isn't that the show with Chuck Norris?

You wanna show a Chuch Norris show to middle school kids? I don't think many of them would relate well to that.

[ddeubel]

Yes, it is fairly easy to put English subtitles in movies. Go to divxsubtitles.com or other places and insert an .srt or .sub file with the same name as the movie into the same folder.

You don't always need subtitles but they help. You can also use movies without sounds. Kids do the speaking or if a low level, look for vocabulary and respond. For example, Mr. Bean . They describe the action.

I also have on the video part of my site, a low level series for middle school students. Extra English. The X-mas episode is cool and shows lots of cultural stuff. About 2 girls in London and their love lives. But it isn't British English per say...

DD

[ilovebdt]

I teach high school and very few of my students would understand an American or English programme without subtitles.

Why don't you try your locak video shop? Mine has both videos and DVDs of Western TV and films for hire.

ilovebdt

[two roads]

Thanks for the advice.

Maybe I was a little off in suggesting Walker Texas Ranger. (For those who don't know, it's your typical police show with a few martial arts scenes in each episode. It is NOWHERE near as violent as the Chuck Norris movies. I would certainly not show those to my students.)

[lover.asian]

[ddeubel]

[ajgeddes]

Who cares if there are learning outcomes??? It is the last week before Christmas, so show them a video, who cares. My school told me that is what I should do. Not every single day needs to be chalked up with some mega lesson. Let the kids have fun for once. Didn't you watch the odd movie when you were in school?

[lover.asian]

[postfundie]

I love that pharse 'learning outcomes'... Does that make me a better teacher if I use it???

If showing a video why not hand out a transcript the day before...then then next day go over useful vocab that they you ar sure they don't know...then watch the segment or part of the video...that way it sticks better...

[PGF]

I'm glad you posted this.

I have no formal teaching experience. however, haven studied Latin and Spanglish, I mean Spanish in high school, I my mosty vivid memories are of my foreign language teachers doing things that were fun. I remember the games, the movies, etc.

I've been wondering myself if showing a movie to my classes every Friday would help out the learning process. Well, I know it would help the kids; I just wonder if it's allowed at my school.

Anyone else think having fun in class=easier learning for the kiddos?

[ddeubel]