Master English Through Movies & TV Shows

Summary

This lesson plan is crafted for ESL adult learners with an intermediate command of English. Students will delve into the world of cinema and television, exploring their preferences and learning how to articulate their opinions on different genres. By engaging in activities such as watching movie clips, taking part in role-plays, and participating in group discussions, learners will enhance their speaking and listening competencies, while immersing themselves in a topic that is universally engaging and entertaining.

Lesson Focus

The focus of this lesson is on speaking and listening. Students will gain valuable conversation experience by expressing their thoughts on various movies and TV shows, describing plots and characters, and discussing their personal tastes. This lesson is designed to foster confidence in speaking and comprehension skills, which will transfer to enhanced real-world English communication.

Lesson Content

In this lesson, students will go through a series of activities that aim to build their vocabulary, pronunciation, and fluency related to the entertainment industry. Each activity is developed to progressively challenge them and ensure they excel in conversational English.

Activity 1: Movie Genre Match-Up

Approximate Time Needed: 20 minutes

Objective: To familiarize students with movie and TV show genres and relevant vocabulary.

Materials: Genre cards prepared with vocabulary words and definitions can be found online or created by the teacher.

Instructions:

Provide each student with a set of genre cards.
Students walk around the classroom and find a partner.
They show each other their cards and explain the meaning of their genre and its characteristics.
Partners quiz each other by describing a movie or TV show and guessing the genre.
After a few minutes, students find new partners and repeat the process.

Activity 2: Plot Synopsis Challenge

Approximate Time Needed: 30 minutes

Objective: To practice speaking fluency by describing movie and TV show plots.

Materials: A collection of short plot summaries from different genres, which can be acquired from a screenplay website or composed in advance.

Instructions:

Divide the class into small groups.
Distribute one plot summary to each group.
Allow the groups time to read and discuss the summary.
Each group takes turns presenting the plot to the class, without revealing the title.
The rest of the class guesses what movie or TV show it might be.

Activity 3: Role-Play Reviews

Approximate Time Needed: 25 minutes

Objective: To simulate a movie review discussion, enhancing speaking clarity and persuasive skills.

Materials: Role cards with different opinions on a movie or show, developed beforehand by the teacher.

Instructions:

Hand out different role cards to students, ensuring a mix of positive and negative opinions.
Students pair up and take a few minutes to prepare their thoughts.
In pairs, students engage in a conversation, presenting their opinions and justifying them with examples.
Pair up with new partners and repeat the role-play with different movies, shows and opinions.

Activity 4: Group Episode Discussion

Approximate Time Needed: 35 minutes

Objective: To encourage in-depth discussion and active listening among students in a group setting.

Materials: Clips or full episodes from popular TV shows accessible online or through streaming services.

Instructions:

Play a clip or full episode from a TV show for the class.
After watching, divide students into groups.
Each group discusses the episode, focusing on characters, plot developments, and predictions for future episodes.
Groups share their discussions and insights with the rest of the class.

Wrap Up

In recap, this lesson plan provides intermediate ESL learners with a series of dynamic activities geared towards movies and TV shows. By discussing genres, summarizing plots, role-playing reviews, and conversing about episodes, students will sharpen their speaking and listening skills in a fun and interactive manner. Furthermore, this lesson will lay a strong foundation for students to engage confidently in real-life conversations about entertainment.

Introducing ALULA, an AI-powered ESL app that complements this lesson by providing conversation and speaking exercises on similar topics. Students can further practice their skills at home through engaging with an AI English Tutor and solidify their learning. The AI tutors offer students a chance to prepare for class discussions or review grammar lessons learned during class time. By using ALULA, teachers can also reduce the amount of in-class grammar instruction, dedicating more time to interactive activities.