| "DIRTY HARRY" | | | | your city or country? What do you know about San |
| Clint Eastwood, Harry Guardino and Reni Santoni star | | | | Francisco? What things is the city famous for? What |
| in this 1971 classic police detective drama. In two | | | | things can you tell about the city from watching the |
| different scenes, police Inspector Harry Callahan, the | | | | movie or movie clip? EFL learners can do a bit of |
| cop you love to hate, delivers his signature lines: | | | | research about San Francisco. Have they or anyone |
| "I know what you're thinking." | | | | they know ever been to or visited San Francisco? |
| "Did he fire six shots or only five?" | | | | What other movies that you've seen have been filmed |
| "Well to tell you the truth, in all the excitement, I've kinda | | | | there? How is San Francisco similar or different to the |
| lost track myself." | | | | city or area where you live? |
| "... you've got to ask yourself one question ... Do I feel | | | | Is the behavior of Police Inspector Harry Callahan |
| lucky?" | | | | acceptable or not? Why or why not? What would you |
| "Well, do you, punk?" | | | | do if you were the Mayor or Police Chief? What |
| This film is great for illustrating and practicing a variety | | | | would you do if you were Harry? Why? |
| of elements of connected speech in American English. | | | | Have your learners practice and act out the scene in |
| Using Popular Films to Improve Speaking Skills | | | | pairs or small groups. Write in changes to the scene |
| During the course of my 15 plus years of English as a | | | | dialogue. Add dialogue to the scene as well. Update |
| foreign language teaching, I have come across a | | | | the dialogue into more modern or colloquial English |
| number of popular films which not only aid EFL | | | | language. May the dialogue funnier, more serious or |
| learners in improving their English language speaking | | | | use idioms and expressions common to the area |
| skills, but are enjoyable for them to watch. In each of | | | | where the EFL learners live. |
| these films a scene is selected and the dialogue and | | | | Create vocabulary lists, puzzles like crosswords or |
| setting are exploited for cultural, linguistic and | | | | word searches from the key vocabulary in the scene. |
| connected speech elements. While there actually | | | | The extent of possibilities are limited only by the |
| many such films, I'll mention five of my English language | | | | imagination of you and your English or foreign language |
| learners' favorites in this series of articles. | | | | learners. Above all, have fun! |
| Plot Outline | | | | Key Film Elements |
| In the film, "Dirty Harry", a San Francisco police | | | | While many popular films contain selected scenes |
| Inspector searches for a killer who is asking for a | | | | which could be used to illustrate cultural, linguistic and |
| ransom of $100,000 dollars from the city government. | | | | connected speech elements, these five have proven |
| The Mayor wants to pay but the police Inspector | | | | to be useful and well-received by a variety of English |
| doesn't think they should pay the money. The police | | | | language learner profiles. If you can get a hold of any |
| Inspector has a bad reputation for being violent with | | | | or all of them, give them a try and watch your |
| suspects and criminals which is giving the San | | | | learners' motivation and English language speaking skills |
| Francisco city police a bad name with the public. | | | | skyrocket. |
| Discussion Questions and Activities | | | | By the way, let me know how well this works for you. |
| What are the police like in your area? Are they | | | | If you have any questions or would like one of the |
| friendly? Do they help tourists and citizens? | | | | worksheets I use to accompany each of these film |
| How are minorities and criminal suspects treated in | | | | scenes, just drop me an e-mail. I'll be happy to help. |