How about using movies to teach literature? Would it help 2nd language learners of English to learn Literature

Question

Students in Malaysia learn English as a second language. The average learners are able to read the text but many are unable to visualize what they read, hence, comprehension is hampered. One reason for this is because the said students have no prior knowledge of the content or subject matter. By watching a movie, one would be able to talk about its theme, characerization, plot, climax of the story, etc. as is done with literary text. Here, stdents get to see and talk about it and perhaps later write about it. What say you?

Answer 1

I agree with you, it is very important to provide an inside look on culture, I do this with my students in Mexico. I try to make a link between language and culture thru movies, I've never tried it with literature, but I do think it will work. I've worked with a lot of movies and TV series and they are great tools. From teacher to teacher, I hope you have as much fun as Me. Take care. FLOR

Answer 2

Well, for me good examples would be

A Room With A View
Remains Of The Day
Out Of Africa
Harry Potter
Lemony Snicket
A Clockwork Orange
1984
The Colour Purple
Empire Of The Sun
Waiting For Godot
Hamlet
Farenheit 451
Cold Mountain
Memoirs Of A Geisha

all wonderful (though complex) books that have translated well onto the big screen (but none are particularly contemporary)

I found it very helpful when doing my English exams to find theatres and cinemas showing the books I was studying, and go and see them.

I'm not very qualified to say as I don't know how old the students are, but depending on what you may be studying, I think it a very useful exercise.

Also, radio is a great way to get the imagination running, as even just hearing the voice can sometimes put an image of the character in your head.

Don't forget, a film is only one persons interpretation of a text, albeit, a very powerful one.

Answer 3

I use film to teach literature. I think it is a very effective tool. I use it particularly when teaching dramatic literature since it was written to be seen not really to be read. I completely disagree with Mac that theme, characterization, plot and climax aren't literary elements. They most certainly are! These are the foundational elements of literature--which is why they are present in film, the visual method of storytelling. As you read the books, you can point out these elements. Then when you show the film, you can help them put the pieces together. They will have a visual image to put with what they've already read. You can pull out key passages again to go over--ones that are particularly noteable in the book--and show how the words were used to create those visual images. I think it would be very effective for both teaching them the basic works of literature and helping them to comprehend the language.

Answer 4

I think movies are a good way to teach people English, but not literature. If you just want to teach the spoken English language, film and TV is invaluable as a tool!! But if you want to teach literature, NO. The reason is that a large part of the value of literature is in the power of the written word - the way the writer used words to mold the story - the way he used words to portray dialect, atmosphere, description, characterization, theme, etc.

By assuming that by watching a movie version, students are learning the same thing as reading the book, is to reduce great literature to just plot, and it is much more than that. Great literature isn't just a story. . . . anyone can tell a story. It is in the WAY it is told, and the manipulation of language, that a story becomes a great work of literature.

For these reasons, I think it would be a real shame to substitute film for literature. However, I do understand the problems of visualization when you are trying to read a foreign language. I think you could combine film and a book, but you would need to make sure students are reading the book, and understanding the value of the things I mention above - - language, description, characterization, theme, pace, etc. - as they are formed in WORDS (how the author used words to establish these things) - - - in order to evaluate a work of literature one must study these aspects of it.

The things you mention students being able to discuss after watching a film - "theme, characerization, plot, climax of the story" are aspects of a film, not aspects of literature. For example, you can after watching a film describe characters, but you can't evaluate how language was used to paint them - that is literature. You can describe a story in a film, but you can't describe how language was used to control pace and to move plot and to manipulate emotion. The film cannot begin to substitute for the artistry of the original work of literature, because ultimately, it's a completely different art form.

I hope this made sense. For those who are film fans. . . I want to add that film is a visual art, as much as literature is written. I don't think a great film can be substituted by a book either - you would miss a great deal of the beauty of the film, right?

PS I have a question - you say the average learners are able to read but not visualize. . . but if they are comprehending what they are reading, why would they NOT be able to visualize?

Answer 5

I agree with Marc about the literature part, but to learn diction, pronunciation, and to practise describing the film in the new language, there is a sound purpose. No offence Marc, but I viewed the context of the question in perhaps a wider way.
In other words, to me using film is a capital idea with one precaution: Newer films have far too much "street slang" in them. Older movies, generally before 1960's had actors who knew proper use of the language. Some were knighted, for instance, and became quite great in other ways. They started with good training, worked first on stage, then film.
New learners of a new language need the best of models!
I tutored ESL at uni some years back, before I had "Doctor" in front of my name. Cinema, even classical children's books, anything is fair game in learning a new language. Learning songs in a new language can help as well, as long as the metre does not mess up the pronunciation.
I hope this helps!
Charles "That Cheeky Lad''
(Working on a second Master's in psychology--adult learning and development is one of my interests.) All the best to you!
C.J.

Answer 6

You are correct. Visual and hearing will aid learning faster. A similarmethod is also adopted in many ways. A decade ago to learn English, you had to attend costly English classes or purchase course material like tapes and books. Now you can learn English for free from the comfort of your home using the Internet. The BBC and the British Council offer a number of on line courses, which teach written and spoken English. You can also improve your English by watching television programs and reading English newspapers. For more information, visit http://tinyurl.com/qnzpt

Answer 7

Yeah, that's a very nice idea. You can teach them listening and come up with lotsa listening comprehension tasks, work on the vocabulary, generate discussions and finally teach them something about the culture. Just make sure that you dont try to teach them everything at once. I think that using visual materials is a wonderful idea.

Answer 8

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With Children Learning Reading is easy to teach your son or daughter how exactly to read.

Answer 9

Sometimes by spending two hours to see a film, it motivates students to then read the book. They can get more out of the book, knowing where it is going.

Answer 10

Yes. They certainly help students with English? as their first language, come to terms with the world as it no longer is.
Try DVD's with English subtitles too.