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Maximizing Out Movie Trailers FOR MULTIPLE SKILLS. Vickie Mellos & Stefanie Johnson. Overview of Presentation. Benefits of trailers Steps to creating a lesson around a trailer Practice Conclusion. Authentic Materials. Students benefit from the use of authentic materials.
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Maximizing Out Movie Trailers FOR MULTIPLE SKILLS • Vickie Mellos & Stefanie Johnson
Overview of Presentation • Benefits of trailers • Steps to creating a lesson around a trailer • Practice • Conclusion
Authentic Materials • Students benefit from the use of authentic materials. • Non-ESL - specific materials can be used to facilitate learning the target language and positively affect it (Sandsberry, 1979). • Authentic texts also provide realistic situations and language rather than contrived examples from textbooks (Cheung, 2001). • Watching movies gives students exposure to living situations that are often missing from textbook-oriented teaching (King, 2002).
Motivation and Entertainment • Students’ motivation and entertainment is also increased by the use of interactive, authentic materials. • King (2002) pointed out that movies are intrinsically motivating and provide entertainment. In fact, she also stated that movie-based instruction is “a refreshing learning experience for student” (p. 510). • Non-ESL-specific video materials are also more intrinsically motivating compared to specific ESL-created materials because “they provide students with a film to be enjoyed rather than a lesson that needs to be tested on” (King, 2002, p. 510).
Contextualized and Authentic Language in Movies • Movies provide authentic language in a natural setting and can also illustrate aspects of American culture and customs (Johnson, 2006). • Movies are an ideal source of contextualized and colloquial English (King, 2002). • Students are exposed to a wide range of native speakers, which can include dialects, accents, stress, reduced forms, and slang (King, 2002).
Benefits of Trailers • Trailers share many of the same benefits of full-length movies: They are authentic, contextualized, engaging, motivating, and entertaining. • Trailers have additional advantages: • Short length • Free and readily accessible • Very current • Encourages students to continue their language learning outside the classroom
Steps for Creating a Movie Trailer Lesson Plan • Identify the target skill(s) for the lesson. • Find a trailer. • Prepare your lesson. • Teach it.
Step 1: Identifying the Target Skills • Decide which skill or skills you want to cover. • Specific grammar points that you are teaching or have been teaching (for practice or review): • Verb tenses • Sentence structure • Clauses (noun, adjective, etc.) • Prepositions • Pronouns
Step 1: Identifying the Target Skills • Vocabulary • Idioms • Slang • Theme-based vocabulary (i.e. sports movies, documentaries about animals, etc.) • Vocabulary in context (i.e. guessing the meaning based on the surrounding dialogue and body language/facial expression)
Step 1: Identifying the Target Skills • Listening • Gist • Details • Exposure to and practice with natural speech • Inferences
Step 1: Identifying the Target Skills • Pronunciation • Individual sounds • Word stress • Rhythm • Thought groups and focus words • Intonation
Step 1: Identifying the Target Skills • Writing • Summaries • Reviews • Stories • Sentence writing/making predictions • Speaking • Discussion questions (e.g. cultural comparisons) • Verbal summary • Reading/acting out one of the scenes or dialogues • Creating and acting out a scene based on predictions
Step 2:Finding a Trailer • Several websites have trailers that are free and readily available: • www.trailers.apple.com • www.fandango.com • www.movietickets.com • Students can also access these sites at home, and download their apps (usually for free) on their smart phones or tablets, which encourages language use outside the classroom.
Step 2:Finding a Trailer • These sites can help you find a recent trailer; there are other sites, like YouTube, where you can access trailers for older movies. • Keep in mind: • These sites and apps usually require Internet access, so if your classroom lacks Internet access, you may have to consider alternatives (i.e. using a DVD that has trailers, signing up to take your students to a computer lab, etc.)
Step 2:Finding a Trailer • Another option is downloading the trailer: • http://keepvid.com • This website allows you to download trailers from websites like Youtube.
Step 2:Finding a Trailer • Look for the target language structure or structures in the trailer. • If you do not find a trailer for something you are exactly looking for, keep an open mind; you may see a trailer that can work for another structure that can be used in the future. • However, the reality is that trailers offer a rich source of authentically used language structures, so many times, you may find what you are looking for by watching several trailers in preparation for your lesson. • When you are watching a movie in the theatre or watching TV for your own personal enjoyment, you may see something that can be used for class.
Step 2:Finding a Trailer • Important considerations when selecting a trailer: • Rate and clarity of speech • Informal vs. formal language • Screen trailers beforehand: Be careful of movie trailers that could be considered offensive because of violence, nudity, swearing, etc.
Step 3:Preparing your Lesson • Lesson should include pre-, during, and post-trailer activities. • Prepare handouts (i.e. transcript of trailer if needed, cloze activities, discussion questions, follow-up homework assignments, etc.)
Step 3:Preparing your Lesson • Pre-trailer activities can include: • Questions about the movie • Questions that ask about the students’ familiarity with the genre of movie (written or discussion) and whether or not they like it (and why) • Questions about the movie in particular (i.e. Have you seen this trailer?)
Step 3:Preparing your Lesson • Pre-trailer activities can also include: • Instruction or review of the target skills and structures (i.e. grammar point, pronunciation point) • Vocabulary preview for key terms important for general understanding of the trailer’s plot. • Again, remember to make sure you have Internet access, if needed, before your lesson.
Step 3:Preparing your Lesson • After doing the pre-trailer activities, next is to actually watch the trailer in class. • You have a couple of options for using the trailer during class: • You can watchit once for the students to get a general impression. • The trailer can be repeated additionally to provide more opportunities for the students to view/listen for the target structures.
Step 3:Preparing your Lesson • Post-trailer activities could include: • Summaries • Prediction activities • Acting out scenes from the trailer and/or acting out potential scenes that thestudents can generate. • Reflection/opinion about seeing the full movie • Additional follow-up/practice with the target forms (i.e. grammar or vocabulary)
Step 4:Teach It • Once your lesson is all prepared, teach it!
Practice Activity • Island of Lemurs: Madagascar Official Trailer
7. A team of scientists are working to save our oldest living relatives.
9. They leap, sing, and dance their way into your heart. • LEAP
Conclusion • Utilizing trailers in the ESL classroom is beneficial for several reasons--they are authentic, motivating, current, and entertaining. • Finding a trailer can be done by using current websites like You Tube, Apple Movie Trailers, and Fan Dango/Movie Tickets.com. • Also keep your eyes and ears open if you are watching TV or another movie; inspiration may strike at any time.
Conclusion • Follow the steps to maximize a movie trailer lesson: • Identify the target skill(s) for the lesson. • Find a trailer. • Prepare your lesson. • Teach it.
Questions and Contact Info • Vickie Mellos • American Language Institute, San Diego State University • vmellos@mail.sdsu.com • Stefanie Johnson • San Diego Miramar College • Grossmont College • stefaniejohnson@me.com