USING DVDs in SALC

Know your genre: What kind of movies does SALC have?

What kinds do you like the most?

What are some advantages of choosing to watch TV series rather than a full movie?

Using SALC DVDs: Talk to a partner

Read a review of this movie (English or Japanese).

Read the plot of the movie on the Internet;

Watch the trailer on the Internet! Watch the same movie in Japanese;If the movie is based on a book,

read the book (English or Japanese)*

So, you chose your DVD….before you watch:

At least once! More for better results: All at once,

then scenes;By breaking the movie into smaller

parts (10-15 minutes at a time; beginning/middle/end; every significant scene…)

How many times to watch?

Set yourself a goal! (e.g., learn 5 new expressions; understand one scene without subtitles etc);

Try NOT to use subtitles right away. Pause after scenes to summarize what

happened (orally or written).Check understanding of parts with a

friend;Transcription: Scene or whole.

While you watch:

For vocabulary and grammarUse the context

for inference;Focus on the

context and vocabulary used;

Try to remember the phrases used often

Repeat the lines with the characters;

Act out a scene with a friend!

Use quotes from movies in your speech;

Try using functional phrases and back channel as the characters

While you watch…For pronunciation and speaking

Turn on subtitles;Find a script on the Internet; or use

SALC developed workbook for DVDHave a more proficient English

speaker check with you

How to check for understanding:

If interested: Read a review, a book, or learn about some topic related to the movie!

Learn about the actors;Write your own review for a website: Summary,

your impressions, and recommendations;Talk about the movie at the Practice Center;

Memorize a few lines or act out a scene from the movie;

Be creative: Write a short story with an alternative ending; or describe the feelings of a character….

After you watch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeY0itfCf3oCharacters: I’m familiar with “Friends”, so I

recognize Joey (actor/comedian)Ross (paleontologist/too serious/target of all jokes);Rachel (Ross’ girlfriend, mother of his baby

daughter);Monica (Ross’ sister/cook/very bossy)Chandler (goofy friend/married to Monica)Phoebe (simply goofy). I can try transcribing.

Example: Clip from "Friends"

Pay attention to the intonation:but I was able to get everyone passes to the entire conference! That’s right!

we are gonna want to do, you know, island stuff

So, we’ll---see you guys tomorrow!Understanding context: Why does Ross use different voice and tone when talking to his daughter?

Why are people laughing?

Inferring vocabulary and its use: “Pull some strings”

”do island stuff”Let’s do it!Paying attention to pragmatics:How do Ross’ friends explain that they do

not want to hear all lectures? How are they trying not to hurt his feelings?

How does Ross end the conversation to show he want to leave (“we gotta go/ see you guys…)

Choose one of the strategies above, and try it out with a scene from a movie.

Practice: