Film & Video: Teaching

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Rent any video, and you're bound to get at least three or four previews before the feature film. Here are some ideas for how to put them to work.

Discussion

Teaching with Film and Video--Need help or suggestions on how to use movie material in class? Post a message or search PartyLand's interactive discussion forum on teaching with film and video.

Movies--Ah, so now you're thinking about movies. Why not visit PartyLand's interactive discussion forum on movies? Ask for opinions or join in the discussion with ESL teachers and students worldwide.

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Lessons

Movie Lessons

Each movie featured in this section includes both classroom worksheets and links to specific materials about the movie. While some of the classroom worksheets promote discussion, others focus on specific vocabulary development or listening tasks. Though these lessons were designed for advanced level students in a film/culture class, they could easily be adapted for use with other groups. Depending on which materials you decide to use, expect to spend between three and seven hours on each film.

Vertigo
Alfred Hitchcock's 1958 suspense classic.

Before You Watch: Discussion Questions
Before You Watch: Vocabulary
While You Watch: Listening Activity
After You Watch: Discussion Questions

For plot summaries, reviews, images and more great material to use with this movie, visit the International Movie Database's page on Vertigo.

For more on this movie, go to Greatest Films' Page on Vertigo.

To purchase the restored remastered special edition of this video, click here. (Rock bottom price of only $10.49, and it comes with closed captioning.)

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Bonnie and Clyde
Arthur Penn Warren's 1967 masterpiece

Classroom handouts for this movie include:
Before You Watch: Discussion Questions
After You Watch: Discussion Questions

For information on the real players in this story, go to History Buff's The Story of Bonnie & Clyde.

For an extensive review of the movie, look at the Greatest Films' Page on Bonnie and Clyde.

To purchase this video, click here. ($14.99--format is for use in US and Canada only.)

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All the President's Men
Alan J. Pakula's 1976 dramatization of the Watergate scandal

Getting Started: Discussion Questions
Vocabulary for the Watergate Fact Finder
Before You Watch: WWW Activity
Before You Watch: Vocabulary for the Movie
While You Watch: Listening Activity
After You Watch: Discussion Questions

For articles, transcripts and much much more check out the Washington Post's Watergate site. (This is the web site for the Watergate Fact Finder.)

Visit the International Movie Database's page on All the President's Men (1976) for reviews, quotes, links and more.

To gauge the appropriateness of this film for your class, go to Teach with Movies: All The President's Men. (There are also discussion questions for the film here.)

Yes, there are even quizzes on Watergate. For one-stop shopping, visit the Houston Chronicle's Watergate Quiz Index.

For real shopping, visit Amazon.com: All the President's Men.

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Do the Right Thing
Spike Lee's inspired 1989 take on race relations

Before You Watch: WWW Activity
Before You Watch: Discussion & Vocabulary
While You Watch: Listening Activity
Halfway Through: Discussion Questions
After You Watch: Discussion Questions

For more great material to use with this film, visit the IMDB's page on Do the Right Thing.

For video clips from the film, go to Digital Revolution's page on Do the Right Thing.

For links to sites on race relations in the U.S., go to New Horizon's Recommended Websites for Student Researchers.

Click here to buy the video at Amazon. (Extreme rock bottom price of only $8.99. 'Can't beat that. Closed captioned, for use in the US and Canada only.)

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Dead Man Walking
Tim Robbins' 1995 look into the life of a death row inmate

Before You Watch: Vocabulary
While You Watch: Listening
After You Watch: Discussion Questions

For more information on the movie, take a look at the IMDB's Page on Dead Man Walking.

For arguments both against and in favor of the death penalty, check out Inside Pro and Con: Fix 'em or Fry 'em?

To purchase this video, click here. ($12.99--Sorry, US and Canada only again.)

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Video Lessons

East of Krakatoa

East of Krakatoa (Ring of Fire Part 2): Before You Watch--Questions for small group discussion. If you're familiar with the Ring of Fire video series, then you know it's mysticism at its finest. Two brothers, Lawrence and Lorne Blair spent ten years trekking through Indonesia and chronicling their life-altering experiences. You can rent the video from many alternative video stores in the US (or you can buy it at Amazon ). Part 2 is 52 minutes long, so I suggest a minimum total of five classroom hours to complete all the exercises. Recommended for advanced-level adult students.

East of Krakatoa (Ring of Fire Part 2): Pre-viewing Vocabulary Exercise-- Expect students to spend approximately 60 minutes on this pair discussion/vocabulary exercise.

East of Krakatoa: After You Watch Discussion Questions--After students finish watching the video, you may want to have them do a brief free-writing (no prompt needed, just tell them to react to what they've seen) before they get into groups to discuss these questions.

Amazon actually has this video. ($20.99 and well worth it for home viewing alone in my opinion. US and Canada only yet again.)

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Reading

Looking for more lessons to download from the web? Check this out.

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About.com's Guide to ESL on the Web

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Film Survey--This survey will give you a general overview of the types of films your students are interested in. If you're teaching a film class, or if you plan to use films consistently over the course of a term, you can start here (Classroom Handout).

Film Reviews (In-class Assignment)--After watching a film, students get the chance to practice their presentation skills by being film critics. Though this worksheet was designed for use in an advanced level film class, it can easily be adapted to suit lower levels in an integrated skills curriculum (Classroom Handout).

Internet Scavenger Hunt: Movies--A WWW activity for intermediate and advanced level students. Students learn how to use the International Movie Database, find scripts and screenplays, and more. This lesson will take at least 60 minutes (Classroom Handout).

Teaching Resources

For books, materials, and reviews on teaching with movies, shop Cool Stuff's Teacher Resource Page.

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scene.gif.gif (11950 bytes) The Scene: Web Links

For more ideas, check out these cool sites.

Film Links | Video Links

Film Links

Netting the Net--This well-developed innovative lesson centers on the movie The Net. It contains interactive web-based activities, vocabulary development exercises, and comprehension questions. Be sure to check out the teachers guide.

Teaching the Movie Men in Black to ESL Students (I-TESL-J)--Letitia Bradley breaks down the movie Men in Black by providing comprehension questions and vocabulary for each scene.

TEFL Worksheets for When Harry Met Sally--Brett Reynolds provides loads of communicative activities to go along with the movie's screenplay.

ESL/EFL Lessons Using Movies (I-TESL-J)--Lessons and ideas on using movies in the ESL/EFL classroom.

Techniques for Teaching with Video--Brought to you by Prentice-Hall, this page demonstrates five techniques for teaching using videos.

Greatest Films--"A unique website containing plot summaries (with actual film dialogue), review commentary with emphasis on story content and historical background."

The Internet Movie Database--The ultimate database for movie lovers. Get plot summaries, reviews, quotes, and much much more for over 150,000 movies.

The Motion Picture Database--Another database. Though it's not as extensive as the IMBD, you can find loads of reviews and biographies here.

Drew's Scripts-O-Rama Index--Film scripts for lots-o-movies.

Video Links

NOVA Online--An extensive collection of activities and lesson plans to complement PBS's NOVA series.

Discovery Channel School--Lesson plans and classroom resource material to use with a wide variety of programs aired on the Discovery Channel.

A&E: ESCAPE THE ORDINARY : A&E Classroom--Another native speaker classroom resource. Printable materials to accompany programs aired on the Arts and Entertainment Network.

History Channel Classroom--Click on "Study Guides" for lesson plans and materials to use with a variety of the History Channel's programming.

PBS TeacherSource--Another massive web site with endless resources and lesson plans to accompany PBS programming.

CNN NEWSROOM Guide--"CNN NEWSROOM & WorldView is a free instructional program for teachers to bring the world into their classroom. CNN is the perfect start to any lesson with the daily Features Desks, in-depth news stories and world & regional events designed exclusively for students." Daily guides for educators to use with CNN programming.

Bravo in the Classroom--Again, lesson plans and printable materials for use with programs aired on Bravo.

The Weather Channel - Education Index--Teachers guides and classroom resource material for The Weather Channel.

Cable in the Classroom Online Homepage--If you find the number of educational resources for cable TV overwhelming, stop by this great site where you can search for programs and lesson plans for all the cable networks. Cool, huh?

The Ed Tech Pages - Video--"Articles, reviews, papers and useful links dealing with the use of video in the EFL classroom."