Developing Communication with Short Films and Comprehensible Input Marta Ruiz Yedinak, NBCT Spanish TeacherRipon High School November 7 th,

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 ESL Narration that explains a movie: Name and describe objects Actions Emotions Reasons 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 doll 2.She looks at the doll 3.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 Vampire's Crown Bully - School supplies; bullying Bully Love Recipe - Reflexive Verbs Love Recipe Baby Car Commercial - Takes care of/cries/ Baby Car Commercial Brat – plays / is angry / is happy / is scared Brat

Great resources… Cynthia Hitz Martina Bex Michele Whaley Mike Peto