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

MoviesMovies 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

1.Identify the target skill(s) for the lesson.

2.Find a trailer.

3.Prepare your lesson.

4.Teach it.

Step 1: Identifying the Target

SkillsDecide 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

SkillsVocabulary

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

SkillsListening

Gist

Details

Exposure to and practice with natural speech

Inferences

Step 1: Identifying the Target

SkillsPronunciation

Individual sounds

Word stress

Rhythm

Thought groups and focus words

Intonation

Step 1: Identifying the Target

SkillsWriting

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

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

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 watch it 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 the students 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

1. A family of tiny castaways

2. ...was swept out to sea

3 & 4. They landed on a mysterious island.

5 & 6. ...and evolved into extraordinary animals

7. A team of scientists are working to save our oldest

living relatives.

8. ...and strange creatures you’ll never

forget.

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:

1.Identify the target skill(s) for the lesson.

2.Find a trailer.

3.Prepare your lesson.

4.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