Hi everyone!
Welcome back to the series “From Dull to Dynamic: Transforming Songs into Engaging Classroom Experiences.”
In our previous installment, we discussed how focusing on the facts of a song can make for effective materials in English language lessons.
Today, we’ll explore Song Fact Activities. Suppose the song you want to use is part of a movie soundtrack. In this case, a great idea would be exploring Movie Reviews.
Song Fact Activity Movie Reviews
This is a fun and interactive way to enhance reading comprehension and speaking skills in the English language classroom.
Here are some Tips to help you get started:
A. Selection of movie reviews for the movie featuring the song
Step 1: Selecting Movie Reviews for the Classroom
In this step, you are tasked with finding movie reviews for the movie that features the song you want to use in your English language lessons.
You must choose movie reviews that are appropriate for the students’ age and level of English proficiency.
Step 2: Distributing Movie Reviews and Song Clips
In this step, you provide each student or pair of students with a copy of the movie review you selected. You can also project or screen-share it, if this is more convenient for you.
To make the activity more engaging, you can also provide a clip of the song for students to listen to before reading the review.
Step 3: Reading and Discussing Movie Reviews
In this step, students read the movie review either in pairs or individually.
After reading the review, students discuss whether or not they would like to see the movie and why. This is a great way to improve their reading comprehension and speaking skills in the English language classroom.
B. Encouraging Comparison and Sharing of Student Opinions
1 Group Discussion on the Movie and Song:
After the students have read the movie review, bring them together as a group for a discussion on the movie and the song. This allows students to share their thoughts and opinions, which can be beneficial for their speaking and critical thinking skills.
2 Variety of Movie Reviews:
To add a challenge and encourage critical thinking, consider providing each student or group of students with a different movie review of the same movie. This will allow them to compare and contrast the different opinions expressed in the reviews, improving their analytical skills.
3 Agree or Disagree:
Ask students if they have seen the movie and then encourage them to agree or disagree with the reviews they have read. This will also help students develop their critical thinking skills and reasoning abilities, as they must articulate their opinion and explain why they hold that opinion.
4 Explanation of Reasoning:
Encourage students to explain their reasoning for why they agree or disagree with the reviews they have read. This will allow them to practice speaking and communicating their thoughts, while also developing critical thinking skills as they consider and articulate the reasons behind their opinions.
C. Fostering Speaking Skills and Critical Thinking Through Discussion
As the teacher, you have the power to steer your discussion to greatness with the right follow-up questions. Think of it like being a game show host, except instead of giving away prizes, you’re giving away knowledge and insight! So get your host on and fire away those thought-provoking questions.
Follow-up questions are like the Swiss Army knife of classroom tools. They can help you carve out a deeper understanding of the topic, explore different viewpoints, and challenge your students to think beyond their wildest imaginations! So get ready to dive deep into the conversation and leave no stone unturned!
For example, if you’re chatting about a movie review, you might ask, “What do you think makes a movie worthy of an Oscar, besides a great after-party?” Or “What would happen if every movie had to end with a dance number, would that make them better or worse?” These questions are sure to stir up some debate and make your class laugh in the process!
Another hilarious way to use follow-up questions is to get your students to reflect on their own opinions and experiences. For instance, if someone shares their thoughts on a movie, you could ask, “If you were stranded on a deserted island with only that movie and a coconut for company, would you still feel the same way?” Or “What other movies would you suggest to the island coconut to broaden their horizons?” These types of questions will have your class in stitches while they think more deeply about the subject at hand.
So get ready to turn up the humor and critical thinking in your classroom, and who knows, you might just discover the next Scorsese in the making!
Connecting Classroom Discussion to the English Language
Let’s Spice Things Up!
Ready to add some spice to your classroom discussion? It’s crucial to encourage students to share different perspectives and connect their ideas to the English language. By doing so, they’ll better understand the language and concepts used in the movie review, and hey, who doesn’t want to improve their language skills?
By encouraging critical thinking and free-flowing conversation, students will gain the confidence to express themselves more effectively. And let’s be real, being able to express oneself is an essential life skill that will come in handy even beyond the classroom walls.
So, let’s make connections! Connecting classroom discussions to the English language is like giving your students the keys to unlock the door to language proficiency. With every debate and discussion, they’ll become more confident in their language abilities and be able to speak English like a pro in no time.
And remember, the more students feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, the more engaging the discussion becomes. It’s like adding hot sauce to a bland meal – it just takes it to the next level. So let’s get our students talking, and who knows, they may just surprise us with their fluency!
Using movie reviews as a springboard for broader discussions can be a highly effective way to:
- Help students improve their language skills.
- Expand their knowledge about movies.
- Build relationships with their classmates.
Conclusion
And there you have it! Using movie reviews in this way can make for an enjoyable and interactive activity in your English language lessons, helping students improve their reading comprehension, speaking skills, and critical thinking. Stay tuned for the next installment where we’ll be matching movie reviews to pictures. Until then, keep on teaching and transforming even the dullest songs into dynamic classroom experiences!
Click the Image Below To Go To Part 2b:
Song Activity Factory 
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