| Using Popular Films to Improve Speaking Skills | | | | Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Adolph Caesar and |
| During the course of my 15 plus years of English as a | | | | Oprah Winfrey deliver memorable performances in this |
| foreign language teaching, I have come across a | | | | film adapted from the Pulitzer Prize winning book by |
| number of popular films which not only aid EFL | | | | Alice Walker. A scene with the late Adolph Caesar in |
| learners in improving their English language speaking | | | | which a despondent man (Danny Glover) is consoled |
| skills, but are enjoyable for them to watch. In each of | | | | by his less-than-capable father (Adolph Caesar) who |
| these films a scene is selected and the dialogue and | | | | also tries to motivate his slovenly son out of the |
| setting are exploited for cultural, linguistic and | | | | doldrums is priceless for use in vocabulary acquisition, |
| connected speech elements. While there actually | | | | and multiple verb tense use, among others. My EFL |
| many such films, I'll mention five of my English language | | | | learners often gasp in disbelief at seeing the state of |
| learners' favorites here. | | | | the son's house. |
| FRANTIC (1988) | | | | DIRTY HARRY (1971) |
| This film stars Harrison Ford and Betty Buckley as a | | | | Clint Eastwood, Harry Guardino and Reni Santoni star |
| doctor and his wife who are visiting Paris for a medical | | | | in this classic police detective drama. In two different |
| convention when she suddenly disappears. The | | | | scenes, police Inspector Harry Callahan, the cop you |
| desperate husband, who doesn't speak any French, | | | | love to hate delivers his signature lines: |
| eventually goes to the Blue Parrot Disco in his search | | | | "I know what you're thinking. Did he fire six shots or |
| for his missing wife but meets a smooth-talking drug | | | | only five?" |
| dealer instead. The accents, idioms, expressions, slang, | | | | "Well to tell you the truth, in all the excitement, I've kinda |
| setting and dialogue in this scene are absolutely great. | | | | lost track myself." |
| MEDICINE MAN | | | | "... you've got to ask yourself one question ... Do I feel |
| In their scientific research for a cancer cure, Sean | | | | lucky?" |
| Connery and Lorraine Bracco have a great scene for | | | | "Well, do you, punk?" |
| using prediction when they are trekking through the | | | | This film is great for illustrating and practicing elements |
| Amazon with a native Indian guide. One of them gets | | | | of connected speech in American English. |
| "high" from a locally-produced medicine from the bark | | | | Key Film Elements |
| of the Yocco tree. The ensuing scene is simply | | | | While many popular films contain selected scenes |
| hilarious. The following scene, when they suddenly face | | | | which could be used to illustrate cultural, linguistic and |
| a "danger" together, is also a good one. You'll love the | | | | connected speech elements, these five have proven |
| dialogue line, "Go ahead, cry all you want." | | | | to be useful and well-received by a variety of English |
| RUTHLESS PEOPLE (1986) | | | | language learner profiles. If you can get a hold of any |
| Danny DeVito, Judge Reinhold, Bette Midler are terrific | | | | or all of them, give them a try and watch your |
| in this satirical comedy. The film's opening scene | | | | learners' motivation and English language speaking skills |
| depicts Danny DeVito with his gold-digging lover in a | | | | skyrocket. |
| fancy restaurant. How do we know she's his mistress | | | | By the way, let me know how well this works for you. |
| and not his wife? Watch the scene with your English | | | | If you have any questions or would like one of the |
| language learners and have them answer that | | | | worksheets I use to accompany each of these film |
| question. | | | | scenes, just drop me an e-mail. I'll be happy to help. |
| THE COLOR PURPLE (1985) | | | | |