Developing Communication

with Short Films and Comprehensible Input

Marta Ruiz Yedinak, NBCTSpanish TeacherRipon High School

November 7th, 2014http://bit.ly/yedinak

yedinakm@ripon.k12.wi.us

Movie Talk… WHY?

• Most students are visual learners.• A picture is worth 1,000 words.• Pictures support Comprehensible Input.• One movie is worth 172,800 pictures.• Teachers don't need to draw or find pictures.• Movies: authentic cultural resources.• Full of high frequency vocabulary and structures.

• Dr. Krashen’s Demonstration• Language teachers can use pictures to show

students what they are talking about.• When SS can see what a teacher is talking about,

they can understand at least some of what the teacher is saying.

• When SS understand what a teacher says, they automatically acquire language.

• The job of language teaching is basically this: present students with interesting comprehensible input.

• While this is easy in theory, it is not so easy in practice.

Listening comprehension is a prerequisite for speaking.

Language students cannot speak above their own comprehension level.

(If they could, then they should be able to say things that they wouldn't understand if

someone else said them!).

–Ashley Hastings

What is Movie Talk?

Created by Ashley Hastings for ESLNarration that explains a movie:Name and describe objectsActionsEmotionsReasons Movie Talk Tutorial

Proven rapid progress in listening

comprehension and therefore language

acquisition.

Purpose

• Present specific structures?• Highlight culture?• Follow a reading?• EXPECT COMPREHENSION • Short answers • Focus = listening comprehension

Criteria

• Plot-sustaining action that can be narrated while film is muted

• Culturally appropriate content • Personal taste• Length

Prepare!

• Know the plot & characters.• Select structures based on high frequency

vocabulary.• Technical considerations.• Lighting.• Projector.• Mute?

• MovieTalk is for listening• Speak slowly about on-screen elements, point,

pause, repeat, check comprehension• Limit structures• Comprehension checks• Upper levels: bump it up• Reading/writing/speaking

Demo (in English)

Structures:1. The girls wants the doll2. She looks at the doll3. She walks to the doll

ALMA

Follow up Activities• Retelling & Organizing• Blubbr• Reading • Jeopardy

Draw and Tell

Write it

Some ideas:

• Vampire's Crown - Dentist/pain/fear• Bully - School supplies; bullying• Love Recipe - Reflexive Verbs• Baby Car Commercial - Takes care of/cries/• Brat – plays / is angry / is happy / is scared

Great resources…Cynthia Hitzhttp://palmyraspanish1.blogspot.com/Martina Bexhttp://martinabex.com/Michele Whaleyhttp://mjtprs.wordpress.com/Mike Petohttp://mrpeto.wordpress.com/