Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Movies again
My colleague in English sets up her film class as a four hour course so the class watches the film together say on Monday for a couple of hours and then comes back on Wednesday for another two hours to discuss. The students must watch the film together. In a foreign language class I think you could justify taking class time to watch the film as if you were working through a difficult literary passage in class together. Watching, like reading, becomes the objective of the time spent in class with the film.
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4 comments:
I concur. Film analysis can be as rewarding as textual analysis. I have also found that films are capable of eliciting student interest in the literature that they might not otherwise have in approaching the text a secas.
You've convinced me. Two films in a semester-length culture course wouldn't be overdoing it.
By the way, I also give my students a list of Spanish films and assign them to watch at least one out of class and write a review on it. The idea is to get them independently engaged in seeking out Spanish culture, and also to give them something to write about that they might actually be interested in. The catch is they have to locate the films themselves, since I'm not putting 20 movies on reserve.
I also send them to the local art museum to locate at least 5 works by Spanish artists. Question: Is it unethical to require students to spend money on out-of-class activities?
I like the idea of showing a film or two for a culture course. What readings/texts have you selected for the course?
I do not think it is unethical for students to spend a moderate amount of money for an outside activities. Most places give student discounts. It's money well spent and it gets them out of their comfort zones.
I'm using a textbook supplemented by a Cantiga de Santa Maria, some romances, an entremes, a little Espronceda and Becquer, and some others. Last year we read and watched La casa de Bernarda Alba, but I decided not to do that this year.
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