Presentation for CamTESOL 2013 on using film to promote literacy in English. Reading and Writing activities

1. Lights, Camera English:
Using Film to Boost Literacy
Susan Kelly
Clark University ~
Shandong University of Science & Technology

2. Context
• College and High School
• Intermediate - high intermediate
• Large, mixed ability classes

3. Reading
• Mixed Reviews
• Compare three reviewers who write
about the same movie
• Connotation
• Thesis and supporting ideas

4. 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.

5. The Matrix
Pierce
excellent - worth seeing
one of the best sci-fi films
good acting
Ebert good special effects
Graham
has some good parts,
disappointing
some bad
not worth seeing

6. Inference
• Noticed inability to infer
• Used dialog as text to teach inference
• develop awareness
• practice
• results: marked improvement

7. Carl to Rick:You’re starting to be
your best customer Text
Carl thinks Rick is drinking too much Subtext

8. 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
Text
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.
Subtext

9. Writing

10. 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.

11. Essays
• Never do reviews
• Too much plagiarism
• Don’t want to tempt students

12. Compare & Contrast

13. Retrospective

14. 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?

15. 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

17. 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

18. Thank you
• Twitter: smkelly53
• Email: skelly@clarku.edu
• Blog: http://wagamama7.wordpress.com
• paper.li: Susan Kelly Daily