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Teaching English Grammar

it is important students to understand how to use grammar, which grammar form to use in a particular situation. And films can help them to make an association between the scene and grammar form which was used in this scene.

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156 views5 pages

Teaching English Grammar

it is important students to understand how to use grammar, which grammar form to use in a particular situation. And films can help them to make an association between the scene and grammar form which was used in this scene.

Uploaded by

olga
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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КГУ "СОШ №3 Щербактинского района акимата Щербактинского района"

Учитель английского языка: Дронова Ольга Ильинична

С. Шарбакты
2019г.
Teaching English Grammar by Means of Films

Films are integral part of our life. Films’ task is not only to entertain the audience,
but to teach. They can teach us to make right decision, to believe in unbelievable,
to be strong, to be farsighted, to be wise, but now we are going to consider films as
a great language teachers. In our case, English teachers.

This is by no means new method. People have been using films as a method of
teaching English for a long time. In the Internet we can observe tens of sources
which specialize in learning English by means of films. But usually such videos
consider words, phrasal verbs, fixed expressions, idioms, slang etc.

As a rule such videos do not focus on grammar, but it can be explained. Films’
speech is a calque of our everyday speech, and in our everyday speech we use to
leave out pronouns, auxiliary verbs, neglect inversion and so on.

Nevertheless, you can find fragments with no grammar mistakes and use them.
What it can give it to you?

Albert Einstein said: “Example isn’t another way to teach, it is the only way to
teach”[1]. In contrast to examples (on grammar) given in textbooks, a film
fragment is much more bright example of how and when one or other grammar
form should be used.

Let us imagine, a teacher should explain how


to use Present Continuous. Take a look at the
picture 1. It is an extract which was taken
from Kung Fu Panda (2008). Students can see
that Master Oogway is pointing at Po, but the
Tigress wants to get sure, and asks: “Master,
picture 1 are you pointing at me?” Students clearly

understand that situation is going now (which means Present Continuous), that is
why there is a verb to be and –ing ending [2].

There is another example. Students (whose


native language is Russian) are often confused
when they face with articles, because there is no
any analogous grammar rule in their language.
After explaining the definitions and rules, it is
good to “consolidate” knowledge by example picture 2
how to use it. On the picture 2, taken from Supernatural (s8,ep8), the woman tells:
“Well, there’s the cat”. Students already know that definite article is used when it’s
clear what you’re referring to [3]. Here we can see the woman mentions not any
cat in the world, but one particular cat (which is lying on the sofa).
It is equally important to show students the
difference between modal verbs. According
to English Grammar in Use for intermediate
students: “the modal verb “must” should be
used when you believe something is certain”
[4]. On the picture 3, an example taken from
Harry Potter and the philosopher’s stone
(2001), it could be seen that Malfoy believes
picture 3
it’s Weasley in front of him, because of Ron’s appearance.

Except teaching grammar, films can be used for testing students. For instance: a
teacher can show students a piece of film and ask them why one or other grammar
form was used.

Sometimes you can get the opportunity to


consider a few grammar rules in one phrase.
Take a look at the picture 4, taken from
Merlin (s3, ep.12). “If I don’t know where
we’re going, how do I Know what to pack”?
– let us count how many grammar rules we
can see here:

1. Zero conditional picture 4


2. Present Simple (negative form)
3. Present Simple (interrogative form)
4. Question words
5. Be going to
6. Infinitive

This example with six grammar rules in one sentence shows students that language
is a system. It is impossible to know a language, if you learn one rule than another,
but you forget the first one.

Strengths. “Live” example of how and when to use one or other grammar form. As
a rule, students are excited to watch films.

Weaknesses. It is impossible to take any fragment of a film. You should search the
extracts with no grammar mistakes.

Opportunities. First thing first is to show, how to use any grammar rule by means
of films. Second thing second is t attract students’ attention. Third thing third is to
make an association between the scene and grammar form which was used in this
scene.
Threats. It is impossible to use films as a method of teaching in a classroom
without required technology (an activboard, loudspeaker system, a computer).

Finally it can be summed up by saying that, it is important students to understand


how to use grammar, which grammar form to use in a particular situation. And
films can help them to make an association between the scene and grammar form
which was used in this scene.
References

1 Greenfield, A. (2014). “Example isn’t another way to teach, it is the only way to teach” Retieved
from: http://nuffieldbioethics.org/blog/teach-teach-albert-einstein
2 Dooley, J., Evans V. (2003) Present Simple, Grammarway1, p. 34

3 Oxenden, C., Latham-koenig, C. (2006) Articles: a/an, the, no article, New English
Grammar Students Book (Intermediate), p. 138
4 Murphy, R., (2004) Must, English Grammar in Use, p. 56

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