Tag: movie talk

Movie Talk – A Practical Approach to Short Films in the Classroom

Hey there! 🍎

I recently created a fantastic resource that I couldn’t wait to share with you. It’s called “Movie Talk – Short Film Resource,” and it’s a game-changer for our language lessons. Let me break it down for you, and I promise you’ll be just as excited as I am.

Vocabulary: Unlocking the Power of Words

First off, the “Vocabulary” section is a brilliant way to set the stage. It’s like a backstage pass to understanding the short film we’re about to watch. Students get to learn key vocabulary and phrases related to the video’s theme. This is perfect for ensuring they can talk about the video with confidence after watching it. Plus, there’s a space for students to jot down any additional words or phrases they come across during the lesson. It’s all about continuous learning, my friend!

Predictions: Unleash Your Crystal Ball

Predictions are where the magic begins. Before we even hit play on that short film, our students are making predictions about what they think it’s all about. They can do this individually or with a partner, which adds a fun twist to the activity. This not only gets their minds buzzing but also encourages critical thinking. And the best part? As the film unfolds, we can circle back to the vocabulary introduced, helping students understand new words in context.

Video Timeline and Comprehension Questions: Did You Get It?

After the cinematic adventure, we’re not left in the dark. The “Video Timeline and Comprehension Questions” sections are our guiding lights. We can quickly assess if our students understood the basics of what went down in the film. The comprehension questions prompt discussions and encourage students to express their opinions and insights. It’s all about ensuring that the film was more than just entertainment – it was a lesson.

What Comes Next and Summary: Get Creative and Summarize

The “What Comes Next” section is an absolute hoot! After seeing the film, students get to use their imaginations. They can think up alternative scenarios or developments for the characters and plot. It’s a fabulous way to not only practice language skills but also foster creative thinking and storytelling.

Lastly, we’ve got the “Summary” section. This is where we determine who aced the lesson. It helps us figure out which students truly grasped the concepts and can put the grammar and vocabulary into practice. It’s a great way to tie everything together.

So, my dear fellow teacher, if you want to make your language lessons more engaging and interactive, “Movie Talk – Short Film Resource” is the way to go. It brings the magic of short films into our classrooms and ensures that our students are not just passive viewers but active learners.

Here is a look at the first page! Don’t worry, there is a link below to get the whole resource FREE!!!

Since you KNOW I want you to have something you can use TODAY, head to my TpT Store and get THIS FREE resource. Of course, while you are there, I would love for you to follow my store and maybe check out some of the other resources. Here’s to exciting, educational Movie Talk days in the classroom! 🎬📚🤓

Do you have more ideas for engaging students during Movie Talks? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Happy teaching!

Alana

Find me on Instagram (@SraKSpanish) , Facebook (sra k Spanish) and Follow my TpT store as I build more resources!

Picture then Movie Talk for the WIN!

These last couple of weeks or days can be brutal! Need something to help pass the time? I got you!! One thing my students have loved ALL YEAR is a Movie Talk day!

Now, if you are not familiar with Movie Talk, there are LOTS of great posts out there about this strategy. I have done it several ways. One thing I really like to do is use just a few of the pictures to tease the film first. I create a slideshow, like THIS one and then just choose a few of the slides to talk about. We describe the people and the setting. We talk about what is happening in the picture. We make predictions and inferences based on the information. At higher levels, we may write out our predictions and/or fill out a story mountain based on the prediction.

Then, we watch the movie short. The one used for this example is HERE. It is a pretty simple one, but has a lot you can talk about. I actually used this one near Valentine’s Day, but it is appropriate for any time of year. I differ from many others, in that I do not pause every few seconds to talk about it. We already did that when I teased it with the slideshow (we also put target vocab and grammar structures I may be required to teach on the board or an anchor chart during this discussion). Next, I play it all the way through. Then, I play it a second time and pause at important points to talk about them and draw the students’ attention to key words, phrases and/or grammar concepts. Finally, I play it through one last time, talking at normal speed about the things happening.

To see what they know, I have students use the pages below to fill in their own explanations of what the movie was about.

LINK TO PDF

This is a GREAT place to differentiate. For example, beginners would perhaps just look at these pictures and write words or phrases they remember from you talking about the movie as it played or from what you added to the class anchor chart. Higher levels might write sentences describing the pictures or what that part of the story was about. They could also talk about what the characters might have been thinking or feeling or saying in certain parts of the story.

I hope this gives you a day to give students lots of input with minimal effort! I will be selling more of the packs on my TpT store with the preview slideshow, student pages, summary of the short and some ideas for differentiation.

Hope this inspires you to get them talking and working and learning, even in these last few days/weeks of school. The key is to sail on into the summer with low stress and high engagement!

Happy Teaching!

Alana

Find me on Instagram (@SraKSpanish) , Facebook (sra k Spanish) and Follow my TpT store as I build more resources!