Using Films to Develop Learner Motivation.
Movies may be employed in the classroom in a manner which both facilitates language learning and further encourages motivation. For anyone involved with language teaching there can be few more professionally demoralizing experiences than a class totally lacking in motivation; so much valuable time and energy spent on an, often fruitless, search for stimulating teaching materials.
What is the teacher to do?.
Peace Treaty. This 'peace' involves negotiations between teachers and learners which aim to re-focus the scope of the class, which attempt to align tasks compatible with the level of the group and the needs of the curriculum.
Students will often express an interest in using movies as a medium for language learning, then proceed to sleep through any movie shown. The challenge for the teacher becomes; how to harness the original good intentions with tasks that are possible, tasks that set a clear goal and leave learners with a sense of achievement upon their completion. .
Classroom Aplications.
OPTION 1.
A movie is chosen which both represents the wishes of the learners and conforms to institutional constraints such as content, timing and availability.
The movie is shown without subtitles. Before this viewing the students are divided into small groups of three and given the task of noting any short scenes involving three protagonists.
The students then choose one of their noted scenes as the basis for a role play/ listening activity.
The students act the scene for the class.
OPTION 2.
Before giving students the handout, have them watch the scene several times without sound and to try predict what is happening.
Then have students try to fill in the blanks in the dialogue with the words from the list tou gave.
Next, have students, in small groups, watch and listen to the movie dialogue, and check their predictions.
Students should read the completed conversation with a partner, and then roleplay it in front of another group or the entire class.
