Differences Between Films With And Without Subtitles Media Essay

Don't assert that you are an American film maniac watching numerous films every month if you only do that with the help of English or Chinese subtitles. Watching English movies is a highly accessible and popular method of learning English, but how many of us simply go over the film reading subtitles and pay no more attention to it after feasting our eyes? How many of us promise ourselves that we will cover or delete the captions next time we watch a new movie but eat our word because of laziness or poor listening skills? Take this journey and you will find that English movies can be made more use of and added more fun to. This activity, starting from something that students are familiar with, gives them confidence, leads them to a different angle of thinking and makes them relish more of films as well as English study.

Form groups of 6 students, listen to the one movie you choose from the list and write 2 blogs (no less than 50 words each) on QQ.exe which is a widely used chat tool in Chinese students, watch the movie and write 2 more blogs 2 to 3 days later, finally give a group presentation.

Relate the teaching context closely to real life experience so as to motivate students' English learning.

Encourage students to think originally and wildly, at the same time give instructions to lead them in the right path and guide them in expressing their thoughts.

Cultivate students' independent learning ability and promote team play.

Through exposure to the language of the same motion picture twice, students will pick up some commonly used oral language and apply this method to other good productions.

Make the students more sensitive to the sound, image, language and context of the movie rather than the subtitles.

Enable students to encounter sound and image separately to better understand their roles in complementarily creating the text and context. Media literacy is developed here to help students learn how messages are constructed and consumed.

Content

Choose one film from the following list, form a group of 6 students with those who are interested in the same one. Find a free evening and listen to it.

Alice in Wonderland

Ironman

Enchanted

17 Again

High School Musical 3: Senior Year

Superman Returns

After listening, immediately jot down your own feelings on your QQ blog. It is advisable that you read the blogs written by others (not just your group members) and learn from their ideas.

Discuss with your group members and answer the following questions:

1) How often do you watch English movies? How can movies help improve one's English?

2) Do you often look at the subtitles while watching a movie? Do you think it is a bad habit, why?

3) How much do you understand about the film you listen to? You can discuss from aspects such as the main idea, characters, sound, music, language, etc.

4) Without visual elements, how do you employ your imagination in understanding the movie? What are the protagonists like in your mind, why?

Combine what you get from the discussion and your new opinions into a second blog.

After 2 or 3 days, cover or delete the subtitles and watch the film you listened to. Write down immediately your original feelings as a new blog.

Brainstorm and answer the following questions with your group members:

1) Do you get a fresh start when you watch the movie with the help of both image and sound? How much do you understand the movie now?

2) Are you satisfied with the actors and actress chosen by the director, why?

3) What's the difference between your listening and watching? How does the director use visual and audio elements to help convey his ideas and interpret the story?

4) If you have to watch the movie a third time, do you want to read the subtitles, why? In the future, will you still use subtitles when watching a movie?

Combine your results of discussion and your inspired thoughts into a fourth blog.

In the class, use PowerPoint slides, and/or Media Player to make a group presentation (10 minutes) of how movie listening and watching give you two different experiences and what you learn from this activity. FYI: Playing audio recordings or silent visual clips can let the audience feel the difference and help you explain what you get from it.

Assessment

1. The blogs will be marked by the teacher according to the following criteria and the total score has a 30% weight in the final grade for this activity.

Grading Rubric for Blogs (for Teacher)

Poor-0, Fair-1, Satisfactory-2, Good-3, Excellent-4

1 Language

a use a wide range of accurate vocabulary

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b use accurate grammar

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c spell words accurately

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d use correct short sentences and a few appropriate long sentences

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2 Content

a convey relevant ideas clearly, logically and in a well-organized way

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b elaborate in detail on some appropriate aspects of the topic

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c have original ideas on the movie listening and watching experiences

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3 Structure

a organize arguments coherently

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b organize paragraphs neatly

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2. Presentation will be marked by classmates according to the following instruction and the score has a 70% weight in the final grade for this activity.

Scoring Instruction for Presentation (for Students)

Poor-0, Fair-1, Satisfactory-2, Good-3, Excellent-4

1 Language

a use a wide range of accurate vocabulary and language patterns

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b use accurate grammar

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2 Pronunciation and delivery

a pronounce words clearly and accurately, use intonation to enhance the speech

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b control timing properly and cover the presentation in a measured pace

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c maintain eye contact with and speak to the entire audience most of the time

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d use appropriate body language to enhance the speech

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3 Content and Organization

a convey relevant ideas clearly, logically and in a well-organized way

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b elaborate in detail on some appropriate aspects of the topic

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c have original ideas on the movie listening and watching experiences

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4 Cooperation

all group members participate equally and help each other as needed

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5 Presentation aids

a presentation aids are easily understood with no spelling or grammar errors

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b presentation aids enhance the speech

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