LET2006 Abstract

Using Movie DVDs in EFL Classes: its Merits and Problems

Umeda, Hajime (Suzuka International University)

Key Words: Teaching material, DVD, Motivation

     In this practice report, the presenter introduces a portion of his class “Studying EFL through Movies” and discuss merits and problems of using movie DVDs in EFL classrooms.
     Movies can be good “practical materials” for English studies, and their effective usages can be described as follows:
     1. to provide the students with listening comprehension practice/training, and
     2. to enable the students to become more familiar with different cultural aspects depicted in the movie scenes.
     Replacing VHS videos, DVDs have recently spread as a recording medium. One of the merits of DVDs is that they have larger recording capacities than videotapes, which enables a movie disk to also have language selection functions. With this device, EFL learners (movie viewers) can recognize the fact that if the language varies, they may have different impressions of the same movie.
     In addition, with this multi-language function, Japanese films also can be seen in English. Some college EFL learners are particularly interested in watching anime in English. These DVDs for export can be played with region-code free DVD players. Even some DVDs sold in Japan such as Hayao Miyazaki’s My Neighbor Totoro include an English language track.
     Moreover, subtitles can be shown, or not, depending on the EFL level of the students.
     One thing to carefully consider is what movie titles should be selected. Just one movie probably cannot meet the preferences of all students in class. Furthermore, what movies are suitable to play in classrooms? What are the criteria for these decisions?
     The presenter will report on these things above and would like to share opinions from the floor.

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