Students really enjoy watching movies and TV for a variety of reasons. For one, they get exposure to natural language in a non-threatening setting. Secondly, movies and video provide common ground to students of any international background.
Below you'll find both general teaching resources as well as fully-developed lessons on various films and videos. So, pop yourself some popcorn and settle down in front of your computer for some fun with movies.It doesn't matter if you have contemporary office furniture, patio furniture or grandma's castoff furniture. Any chair will do.Ideas for Using Movie Previews
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.
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.
Bonnie and Clyde
Arthur Penn Warren's 1967 masterpiece.
Classroom handouts for this movie include:
For plot summaries, reviews, images and more great material to use with this movie, visit the International Movie Database's page on Bonnie and Clyde.
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: Movie Vocabulary
- 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.
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 plot summaries, reviews, images and more great material to use with this movie, visit the IMDB's page on Do the Right Thing.
Dead Man Walking
Tim Robbins' 1995 look into the life of a death row inmate.
For plot summaries, reviews, images and more great material to use with this movie, visit the IMDB's page on Dead Man Walking.
East of Krakatoa
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