Homepage
Skin is a new film due to be released July 2009. It concerns the compelling and moving tale of Sandra Laing, born in 1955 to white Afrikaner parents in South Africa. Thanks to the chance combination of her parents’ genes, Sandra was dark-skinned , had thick curly hair and black-African features. None of this would have mattered very much in a different time or place, but in the South Africa of half-a century ago Sandra’s appearance was hugely controversial. Skin follows Sandra’s thirty-year journey from rejection to acceptance, betrayal to reconciliation, as she struggles to define her place in a changing world — and triumphs against all odds.
Short films
Here is a collection of good short films: * Alma (approx. 5 mins):* Bend it like Beckham (short clip from movie + questions)* Boats (approx. 6:15 mins):* By the pool (approx. 2:35 mins)* Cargo (approx. 7 mins):* December (approx. 1.40 mins):* Giving (approx. 3 mins):* Identity (approx. 5:20 mins):* Let's make a movie (approx. 7 mins):* Marry Me (approx. 7 mins):* Matt (approx 13 mins.):* Max's movie (series in ten episodes from UR)* Mo'ne Davis: Throw Like a Girl (approx. 16 mins):* Paperman - short film:* The Present (approx. 4 mins):The Present from Jacob Frey on Vimeo.* Roof Rattling (approx. 14:40 mins)* Selfie:* Spin (approx. 8 mins):Questions:* is it ok to reverse the order of things that happen in life?* What could the consequences be?* Should we do everything we can to avoid bad things from happening in life? Why/why not?* Describe the people in the film - are there different kinds of people?* Sports matters (3:40 mins):
The Other Pair
This ELT lesson plan is designed around a short film by Sarah Zorik titled The Other Pair and the themes of altruism and empathy. Students watch a short film, write a story, and speak about a story. I would ask all teachers who use Film English to consider buying my book Film in Action as the royalties which I receive from sales help to keep the website completely free. Language level: Pre-intermediate (A2) –Intermediate (B1)
Social Consciousness: 300+ Mind Expanding Documentaries
I watch a lot of documentaries. I think they are incredible tools for learning and increasing our awareness of important issues. The power of an interesting documentary is that it can open our minds to new possibilities and deepen our understanding of the world.
Shakespeare - Hamlet
Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, has come back from university to find that his father, the old king, is dead. His mother has married his father’s brother, Claudius, who is now king of Denmark. Hamlet is shocked that his mother has married so soon after his father’s death, and angry that she has married Claudius. Soon, a ghost is seen walking on the castle walls.
What’s on your mind?
This EFL lesson is designed around a short film by Shaun Higton and the theme of Facebook. Students practise vocabulary related to social media, watch a short film, and talk about Facebook. Step 1
Forrest Gump Historical References timeline
Mar 24, 1963, Forrest Meets JFK Sep 24, 1978, HIV outbreak Apr 24, 1946, Forrest is named after Nathan Bedford Forrest Mar 24, 1954, Forrest's Dance to Hound Dog
Look Up
This EFL lesson is designed around a short film and poem by Gary Turk and the theme of isolation caused by the use of new technology. Students watch a short film with no sound and speculate about the story it tells, read a poem and discuss digital technology, social media and isolation. I would ask all teachers who use Film English to consider buying my book Film in Action as the royalties which I receive from sales help to keep the website completely free. Language level: Upper Intermediate (B2) – Advanced (C1)
Movie Segments for Warm-ups and Follow-ups
I really liked this movie. I was intrigued by the content of the bag. It was a surprise to me. My students wanted to kill me, because I never told them what was in the bag, so they had to rent the movie if they wanted to know it. That's my contribution to Hollywood! By the way, this class generated a lot of discussion and debates.
The Seven Best Silent Short Films for Language Teaching - Kieran Donaghy
As many short films are artistic, they have limited appeal in the commercial marketplace and are funded from diverse sources. To make them easier to sell worldwide, they often contain little or no dialogue, which makes comprehension much easier. As a result, they offer intensely ‘filmic’ experiences, using images and movement, sequence and duration, sound and music to tell their stories. These silent films are perfect for the language classroom as they can be used with any level – the teacher just needs to adapt the difficulty of the task to match the level of the students. Here are the seven short films which I have found work best in the language classroom.
Five-Minute Film Festival: Virtual Field Trips
The dog days of summer are upon us; now is the time when all the other activities have run out. Whether you're a parent looking to entertain bored, overheated children, or a teacher already brainstorming ways to break down the four walls of your classroom in the fall, how about taking a virtual field trip? As edtech writer Audrey Watters argues, real-life field trips offer enriching experiences that virtual ones can't, but resources are not always available for in-person trips.
