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Post by Dr. Gonzo on Dec 4, 2005 9:04:57 GMT 7
Yeah, especially when you have a hangover and didn't prepare for that 2 hour English for Forklift Drivers class.
Two good movies that you should be able to get in China are "Bend it Like Beckham" and "Holes". Both have heaps of possibilities. Run the English subtitles option. I screened each twice and my Chinese and Japanese secondary kids were right with the texts. Stereotyping, relationships, and great quirky stories lend these 2 DVDs to really good teaching and learning opportunities. There is extensive online stuff available. If struggling, PM me for more. The "Beckham" wedding scene had me wanting to be Punjabi.
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Ruth
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Post by Ruth on Dec 4, 2005 9:13:06 GMT 7
Just watched 'The Polar Express' last night. It's a typical Christmas story about a little boy who isn't sure if he still believes in Santa Claus. Great trip to the north pole. Lots of good stuff about friendship, plus some traditional Christmas stuff like cookies and milk for Santa, flying reindeer, elves, etc. I'm seriously thinking about showing it to my first year high school kids, in English with English subtitles, of course. They might not catch all the dialogue. It's computer animated and I think they'll be able to follow the story line enough that it should kill a couple of 45 minute lessons. And at least half a lesson either side of the movie prepping for it and following up.
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nolefan
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Post by nolefan on Dec 4, 2005 9:40:02 GMT 7
I've made it a habit to show my kids some movies that they would not get a chance to watch otherwise. "Lost in Translation", "Billy Eliot", "Underworld", "a Knight's Tale".......
Now i need to get them caught up with cultural stuff and i'm trying to get my hands on the erly star trek movies
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Post by Lotus Eater on Dec 4, 2005 9:53:42 GMT 7
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Post by Shane on Dec 5, 2005 11:38:02 GMT 7
I was asked to do a film appreciation class once - I spent half the lesson preparing them for the film (Groundhog Day), then showed them the first third of it. The next day, loads of parents called the school to complain, wanting me fired. It seems some of the kids 'grassed me up' for not making them study. When my boss asked me why I did what I did, I simply showed him the list of topics the Chinese teacher had given me, showing that I was asked to do a film appreciation class. The result? The Chinese teachers got a bollocking, the principal lost face, and I got away scot-free! Oh, and after that, I told the kids they weren't allowed to have any fun in class from then on, and we did the Oxford English book, which they hated. Serves them right for trying to grass me up. After a couple of weeks, one girl came to me during the break and said, "Teacher, we don't like studying in your class. We should be playing. The Foreign Teacher's class is our chance to relax."
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Newbs
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Post by Newbs on Dec 5, 2005 15:33:00 GMT 7
Re attitude of students in China to English, I don't think a truer word has ever been spoken.
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Non-Dave
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Post by Non-Dave on Dec 5, 2005 20:06:09 GMT 7
Does that mean I shouldn't wake them?
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Ruth
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God's provisions are strategically placed along the path of your obedience.
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Post by Ruth on Dec 5, 2005 20:30:29 GMT 7
I try not to wake them. If they are sleeping, they are quiet. Lets the ones who are awake and care about learning actually hear the lesson.
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Post by con's fly is open on Dec 7, 2005 19:56:59 GMT 7
Let's see: complained because you didn't make them study, then complained because you did.
Give 'em hell, Shane.
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Post by Mr Nobody on Dec 8, 2005 1:28:52 GMT 7
I was asked to justify a movie day once. I allowed the students to choose a movie - apparently not good.
My excuse - all movies show aspects of language and culture. An intelligent teacher can turn any movie into an object lesson. Any dinner will show table manners, any meeting will show responses, any hotel, airport, etc. So they can learn about things outside their experience.
The result? Any time, any where, show them anything. Lately, though, I am getting "can I sit in to watch what you do?"
I want to say no.
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Post by cheekygal on Dec 10, 2005 3:39:55 GMT 7
Finding Nemo Never been kissed (cheesy but easy to understand and doesnt have the obscenities)
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Post by Dr. Gonzo on Dec 10, 2005 7:51:30 GMT 7
Although hopefully the obscenities woul be missed by kindy kids. Any of those Pixar animation films are good, and not just for kids. "Stand By Me" is brilliant. The Simpsons provide heaps of teaching opportunities, but with all of these gems you will need sbtitles! Don't play the Mandarin language option whatever you do.
Film as text is now taught extensively here in Australia. I get so much more quality work from students who have previously had trouble reading a novel. The emphasis here is actually teaching the text, not just screening it, and then setting up a range of responses for students to work through.
Again, PM me. I have material prepared I can send you.
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Post by Mr Nobody on Dec 10, 2005 20:54:29 GMT 7
I am putting on "walk like a man" next week.
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Post by Lotus Eater on Dec 12, 2005 10:32:02 GMT 7
My movie class is small enough (17) to abandon the classroom and have it in my apartment. I provide softdrink and biscuits, some of the students sit on the floor, others drape themselves across the furniture.
We finished this class this week, so the students invited me to lunch - asked me how much I could drink as they were ordering beer!! Really dumb question to ask an Australian. But I was good and only had 2 glasses of beer - decided drinking them under the table was not a "good teacher" behaviour!
But discussed the class with them - would they prefer to have the class in the tech room - NO - they liked feeling relaxed and at home, they felt easier asking questions and it was more comfortable. I have them again next semester, so we will be able to do it again.
With my literature classes I have occasionally shown a DVD of the piece of lit. we are studying and again have them come to my place - but this is a bit more difficult - 37 students don't really fit into my living room well! The post-grads is bit better, there are only 27 of them.
But each time I do this, the discussion is more relaxed and energetic - the classroom creates a formality that works against good discussion. In a more relaxed atmosphere students will talk much more easily and openly about what they think.
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Post by con's fly is open on Dec 14, 2005 18:52:33 GMT 7
Cool, Lotus- that's pretty close to the way I'll bet Socrates taught.
A great movie for discussion: Troy.
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Ruth
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God's provisions are strategically placed along the path of your obedience.
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Post by Ruth on Dec 15, 2005 8:33:06 GMT 7
Showed 'Polar Express' to my noisiest class yesterday. I was able to switch lessons around and do two periods back-to-back so they could watch it straight through. Will do the same with another class on Friday. My third class, and all of Lei Shan's will have to watch it in two parts.
But - the kids were quiet throughout. I was amazed. Discussion afterward showed me that they understood the main points. I'll do more discussion next week when I have them again.
I'm interested in the teaching text thing, Dr. G. Can you tell me more about it?
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nolefan
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Post by nolefan on Dec 18, 2005 9:34:08 GMT 7
Another movie that works pretty well seems to be "kingdom of heaven". I showed it to my sophomores and juniors two days ago and it got great reviews. Both went through a history class the previous semesters that made them understand the movie completely.
The strange thing is that halfway through the movie, I felt a bit uneasy about all the religious undertones and halfway expected some of them to leave and complain to the party secretary..... nope! none of that! The comment i got at the end was " That was wonderful!"
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Post by Mr Nobody on Dec 18, 2005 17:25:49 GMT 7
I only watched half the movie. I got bored. I will watch it again.
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Post by George61 on Dec 18, 2005 17:31:35 GMT 7
Last night I watched "Last Tango in Paris" Remember all the fuss when it first appeared? I never saw it until last night. Bloody boring! ...and I've never liked Marlon Brando, anyway.
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Post by Mr Nobody on Dec 19, 2005 16:58:51 GMT 7
I showed 'em Chicken Run. They cacked themselves.
And at 80 plus minutes, fits handily into a double period.
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nolefan
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Post by nolefan on Dec 19, 2005 18:49:53 GMT 7
Hum.. chicken run.... I completely forgot about that one. I'll make it next on my list of movies to show the kids.... my freshmen should like it.
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Post by con's fly is open on Dec 19, 2005 19:27:28 GMT 7
Killer! Students from my old school performed a scene from it for the anniversary pageant. damn fine movie. And so British.
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nolefan
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Post by nolefan on Dec 19, 2005 20:30:47 GMT 7
tomorrow should be fun, my juniors get to watch "Seven"
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Post by con's fly is open on Dec 19, 2005 21:02:08 GMT 7
Se7en? Wow, that's one of the most disturbing things I've ever seen. I hate that character more than any other. That'll mess with some minds. Make sure to brief them on the Seven Deadly Sins- they aren't Catholics, after all.
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Post by Chips Downe on Dec 19, 2005 21:52:19 GMT 7
I don't have any movie classes and it seems the AV room we're forced to use can only access school tapes (but I don't understand the computer equipment on my desk and no kid has been able to figure it out either... they recently got a teacher to try and play a song from a CD - "Raindrops are falling..." but altho' I'd just played it at home, he couldn't get it to work on the class equipment).
My actual question - a plea! Where are you getting the movies? All the DVD shops I can find have nothing in English but trashy war movies or horro stories (although I did come across the weirdest movie I've ever been ashamed to laugh at... 'European Gigolo'...but not for students I fear...)
Are you downloading movies, and if so, where from? (please)
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