A type of text that we heavily discussed in terms of utilizing it in the English classroom was film. There are many justifiable reasons for teaching film to our students. Not only does film enhance student learning, but it is also a tool that motivates all students, especially boys and English Language Learners. Film opens a window that allows for cultural, personal, and academic connections to occur, which in turn creates deeper student understanding. Film also lends itself heavily to visual learners by helping students to visualize stories, concepts, and ideas. Additionally, because film is a medium that all students are familiar with, when showcasing film in the classroom, students are more willing to discuss not only the visual aspects of the film, but the storyline behind what is being portrayed. This all alludes to why studying film and literature should go hand in hand; the elements and meaning that one takes from film techniques in comparison to those taken from literary devices are one in the same, just represented differently through different devices. By introducing your students to film in the English classroom, you are doing these individuals a favor by showcasing literary elements through a different lens that all students enjoy and already understand without even really recognizing it.
Film can be used to accentuate a multitude of literary elements and therefore maximize student learning. One particular example of how one could successfully use film in the classroom is by showing clips from Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" to showcase literary elements, such as cause and effect, identity, and character development. On a more general basis, when reading a piece of literature in the classroom, when abstract ideas are presented within the text, students may have a hard time grasping the concept that the author is artfully depicting. To help ease this understanding, showing students either film clips of the novel they are reading or even other clips that articulate these same abstract concepts can help paint a picture, stir up new thoughts, and lead to a deeper understanding and appreciation for what the author is depicting. Additionally, to showcase elements such as foreshadowing, movie trailers and other film clips can be shown to accentuate this literary element that adds so much richness to literature and deserves to be recognized by all readers, yet often goes unrecognized by students. Shots, angles, and lighting techniques that are thoughtfully executed in film can also pinpoint and showcase to students a sense of emotions that may not have been as evident in a novel. Although these are only a few of the ways you could use film to maximize learning in the classroom, these examples all showcase the notion that by establishing connections that appease to all types of learners, this in turn will have a positive effect on your students’ reading skills. Studying film leads to an overall better understanding of literary devices and will actually generate excitement from your students about reading. Film is a great means of transfer to successful reading, the ultimate goal for any English educator.
*Refer to John Golden's Reading in the Dark: Using Film as a Tool in the English Classroom for more examples of how to use film to maximize student learning of additional literary devices and, even more specifically, how to teach specific novels with their film adaptations.*
A type of text that we heavily discussed in terms of utilizing it in the English classroom was film. There are many justifiable reasons for teaching film to our students. Not only does film enhance student learning, but it is also a tool that motivates all students, especially boys and English Language Learners. Film opens a window that allows for cultural, personal, and academic connections to occur, which in turn creates deeper student understanding. Film also lends itself heavily to visual learners by helping students to visualize stories, concepts, and ideas. Additionally, because film is a medium that all students are familiar with, when showcasing film in the classroom, students are more willing to discuss not only the visual aspects of the film, but the storyline behind what is being portrayed. This all alludes to why studying film and literature should go hand in hand; the elements and meaning that one takes from film techniques in comparison to those taken from literary devices are one in the same, just represented differently through different devices. By introducing your students to film in the English classroom, you are doing these individuals a favor by showcasing literary elements through a different lens that all students enjoy and already understand without even really recognizing it.
Film can be used to accentuate a multitude of literary elements and therefore maximize student learning. One particular example of how one could successfully use film in the classroom is by showing clips from Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" to showcase literary elements, such as cause and effect, identity, and character development. On a more general basis, when reading a piece of literature in the classroom, when abstract ideas are presented within the text, students may have a hard time grasping the concept that the author is artfully depicting. To help ease this understanding, showing students either film clips of the novel they are reading or even other clips that articulate these same abstract concepts can help paint a picture, stir up new thoughts, and lead to a deeper understanding and appreciation for what the author is depicting. Additionally, to showcase elements such as foreshadowing, movie trailers and other film clips can be shown to accentuate this literary element that adds so much richness to literature and deserves to be recognized by all readers, yet often goes unrecognized by students. Shots, angles, and lighting techniques that are thoughtfully executed in film can also pinpoint and showcase to students a sense of emotions that may not have been as evident in a novel. Although these are only a few of the ways you could use film to maximize learning in the classroom, these examples all showcase the notion that by establishing connections that appease to all types of learners, this in turn will have a positive effect on your students’ reading skills. Studying film leads to an overall better understanding of literary devices and will actually generate excitement from your students about reading. Film is a great means of transfer to successful reading, the ultimate goal for any English educator.
*Refer to John Golden's Reading in the Dark: Using Film as a Tool in the English Classroom for more examples of how to use film to maximize student learning of additional literary devices and, even more specifically, how to teach specific novels with their film adaptations.*