Videos and movies can be very helpful in ESL classrooms, especially if there is the possibility of using subtitles in the students' native language. This way, the students can associate the words being spoken to their first language. If the possibility of subtitles is not possible, using popular videos that the students have most likely already seen in their native language can be used. If the students have already seen the movie or video in their native language, they will know the story line, and therefore it will be easier for them to pick out words and make sense of what is being said in the English version. There is also the possibility of showing the students the video in their native language first, then in English. Here is a good example of a clip from the movie Lion King. In a class where Spanish is the first language (for example) first show students the first clip so they can understand what the song is about, then show them the English version.
Have students follow along with the English lyrics by printing out a sheet for every student. Then ask them to highlight words on the sheet that they don't understand so that they can look them up in their dictionary. Use a search engine such as Google or Yahoo and finding the lyrics will be very easy.
If the students are more advanced, English videos with English subtitles can also be useful in helping them to associate written words to the spoken sound and meaning. Here is an example of such a video:
If the students are more advanced, English videos with English subtitles can also be useful in helping them to associate written words to the spoken sound and meaning. Here is an example of such a video:
As you can see, there are many ways of incorporating videos into the classroom to help students learn English. As the students progress, longer videos to full length movies can be used for a fun English learning experience.
POTENTIAL DRAWBACKS:
If you are using YouTube, you will need to make sure that the Internet speed is fast enough so that the videos load properly. In the case of slow Internet speed, or no Internet at all, you can also use a TV and DVD player in the classroom. Just make sure to choose a scene beforehand and what point in the movie it's at so you can skip forward to it as quickly as possible. Most DVDs have the option of playing in a few different languages. If you want to show the class the video in their native language first, change the options to have the clip play in that language and set the DVD to show English subtitles. Before class, you will need to make sure that the DVD is available in the students native language and that subtitles are available. For the more advanced lesson, simply show the clip in English, and set the DVD to show English subtitles.
POTENTIAL DRAWBACKS:
If you are using YouTube, you will need to make sure that the Internet speed is fast enough so that the videos load properly. In the case of slow Internet speed, or no Internet at all, you can also use a TV and DVD player in the classroom. Just make sure to choose a scene beforehand and what point in the movie it's at so you can skip forward to it as quickly as possible. Most DVDs have the option of playing in a few different languages. If you want to show the class the video in their native language first, change the options to have the clip play in that language and set the DVD to show English subtitles. Before class, you will need to make sure that the DVD is available in the students native language and that subtitles are available. For the more advanced lesson, simply show the clip in English, and set the DVD to show English subtitles.