Choosing films is a very individual thing. We believe that watching what
they appreciate might catch their attention not only to the theme but also
to the language used in the movie. During this week we had the opportunity
to see some of the students repeating what the actors were saying in English,
even though most of them watched the movie (Ten Things I Hate About You
and Home Alone) with subtitles in Portuguese. Surprisingly
enough, a few students knew parts of the script, as they had already seen
the movie - needless to say that those students have high motivation to learn
English. In addition, the amount and quality of English acquired with these
experiences is pretty positive.
Of course we know some students think it is a ‘free class’,
as they say. Because it is not our purpose to expose our students to all
the theory behind the learning of a language, we tell them they can have fun
and watch the film and during/after that we might have an activity on it.
As teachers we know that language found in videos can help them understand
stress patterns. Videos also allow the students to see both body and speech
rhythms in second language discourse through the use of authentic language
and speed of speech in various situations.
OBS.:10 Things gets its basic plot from William Shakespeare’s
play Taming of the Shrew. In the play, Baptista won’t allow
his youngest child, Bianca, to wed until his oldest daughter, Katharina, finds
a suitable mate. Two gentlemen, Gremio and Hortensio, are in love with Bianca,
but if they wish to court her, they both must find a suitor for Katharina,
the shrew. Meanwhile, two young men, Tranio and Lucentio, arrive in Padua
in order to tutor the girls in poetry and music.
Soon after, a friend of Hortensio by the name of
Petruchio arrives in Padua. He hails from Verona and begins courting Katharina.
This gives Hortensio hope in his quest to woo Bianca. But while both Hortensio
and Gremio do their best to win the heart of Bianca, she remains elusive
and uninterested. While Petruchio and Katharina have a clash of wills and
trade witty insults, Bianca begins to fall for her tutor, Lucentio. But Baptisto
believes Lucentio is unworthy of his daughter.
Because Baptisto demands it, Katharina is forced
to marry Petruchio. She does so unwillingly but then falls for her husband,
turning herself into an obedient wife. But Bianca betrays her father’s
wishes and marries Lucentio in secret. When Baptisto learns of the marriage,
he’s furious but later accepts the union.