Lights, Camera English:Using Film to Boost Literacy

Susan KellyClark University ~

Shandong University of Science & Technology

Context

• College and High School

• Intermediate - high intermediate

• Large, mixed ability classes

Reading

• Mixed Reviews

• Compare three reviewers who write about the same movie

• Connotation

• Thesis and supporting ideas

Mixed Reviews

• Choose a film with a range of reviews

• E.G. Matrix

• Modify the language

• Read to determine each critic’s thesis and how they support it.

The Matrix

good special effects

not worth seeing

excellent - worth seeing

disappointing

good acting

has some good parts, some bad

one of the best sci-fi films

Pierce

EbertGraham

Inference

• Noticed inability to infer

• Used dialog as text to teach inference

• develop awareness

• practice

• results: marked improvement

Text

Subtext

Carl to Rick:You’re starting to be your best customer

Carl thinks Rick is drinking too much

Text

Subtext

Captain Renault: By the way, last night you evinced an interest in Señor Ugarte. Victor Laszlo: Yes. Captain Renault: I believe you have a message for him? Victor Laszlo: Nothing important, but may I speak to him now? Major Heinrich Strasser: You would find the conversation a trifle one-sided. Señor Ugarte is dead. Ilsa: Oh. Captain Renault: I am making out the report now. We haven't quite decided yet whether he committed suicide or died trying to escape.

Writing

Paragraphs

• Topic sentences:

• In To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout is an adventurous girl.

• Atticus is an honorable man.

• In the beginning of To Kill a Mockingbird, Jem doesn’t appreciate his father.

Essays

• Never do reviews

• Too much plagiarism

• Don’t want to tempt students

Compare & Contrast

Retrospective

Write a Proposal

• Essays that propose a slate of 3 or 4 films that would be shown in a retrospective

• What is the criteria for inclusion?

• Significance, popularity, or theme?

Small Group Blogs• Ongoing project that capitalizes on interest in

the internet

• Form groups based on genres

• Sci fi, romantic comedy, comedy, action, etc.

• Choose title, editor

• Brainstorm ideas

• Monitor traffic

• Comment on peers

Scenes

• Students get beats, i.e. list of events in a series of scenes

• Student work in groups to write out the dialog and details

• Students perform their scenes

Thank you

• Twitter: smkelly53

• Email: skelly@clarku.edu

• Blog: http://wagamama7.wordpress.com

• paper.li: Susan Kelly Daily