Teacher Discussion Forums

My students LOVE to watch videos! Who doesn't right? What I am wondering is how I might be able to get more educational value out of video day. I already make a question sheet which reviews grammar points and vocabulary I also use clip art to illustrate new vocab that they need to understand the video clip. Somehow I just cannot feel like I am using this time to it's fullest potential. It would be great if I could get the students talking and even *gasp* thinking! Any suggestions? Oh by the way I usually use this activity for third year Japanese jr high students. Thanks for any input!

The Mutt

Maybe you could pick out a scene where 2 characters are talking and have students pair up to listen & write: student A writes what one character says, B the other. You'd need to repeat the scene 4-5 times and then have the A's and B's compare until everyone has the words right. Then, you have them practice copying the actors' pronunciation and intonation--critique each other--perform the dialog in front of the class.

Thanks sbourque! That could be a very good additional activity on video day. I was thinking that after the students wrote down the dialog, they could then re-write the second half of the dialog to end in a very different way. The completed dialog could then be performed in front of the the class. This would make every dialog different and a little more interesting for the rest of the class to listen to.
If you wanted (and if your students are able) you could have the rest of the class writing down the new dialog while it is being performed.
More ideas anyone????? anyone?????

I visited a class once where the teacher had a video clip that she played for half the class, with the sound off. The other half of the class didn't watch. Then the students got in pairs and the one who saw it explained what happened to the one who hadn't seen it. Unfortunately I don't remember what happened next :p.