For my first year classes at high school, I focus on expression, while other classes focus on grammar and vocabulary. By expression, I mean the native use of the language both from other people using it, and students trying to use it. To accomplish this, we watch a movie.
One of my movies in rotation in Edge of Tomorrow starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt. I think this movie works really well in class for a number of reasons. The acting is very expressive. There's lots of action. There's a lot of humor too, mostly through situations rather than dialogue. Also, because central plot focuses on the same day replaying again and again, there's lots of repetition in dialogue.
This class is taught only once a week, and it sometimes gets cut for other events at school. As such, it's not that long. The class is broken up into two parts with tests concluding each part. There are periods of listening and questions leading to tests. The tests are performances between pairs of students.
| Contents | Time Code | Materials |
| 01 | Movie Introduction -- Characters and the War | 0036 - 0161 | Questions |
| 02 | Mission Explanation -- Cage talks with the General | 0233 - 0488 | Listening |
| 03 | At the base -- Cage wakes up and meets Sergeant Farrell | 0488 - 0628 | Listening |
| 04 | Base, Battle -- Cage meets his squad. They are sent to battle. | 0628 - 1500 | Questions |
| 05 | Day 2 -- Cage wakes up, and meets the squad again. Character Introduction | 1490 - 1930 | Listening |
| 06 | Day 2, 3, 4, 5 -- Cage continues to enter battle and die. | 1490 - 2071 | Questions |
| 07 | ★ Performance Test -- Cage meets Rita on the battlefield | 2056 - 2071 | Script |
| 08 | Meeting Rita -- The next day, Cage finds Rita | 2340 - 2399 | Listening |
| 09.1 | Alien Explanation -- Rita introduces Cage to Carter | 2435 - 2510 | Listening |
| 09.2 | Alien Explanation -- What are the aliens? | 2510 - 2640 | Listening |
| 09.3 | Alien Explanation -- Controlling the Power | 2640 - 2786 | Listening |
| 10 | The Rule -- Cage and Rita train together | 2821 - 2866 | Listening |
| 11 | Visions -- Cage sees a vision. They talk with Carter again | 3025 - 3085 | Listening |
| 12 | At the bar -- Frustrated, Cage runs away from the army | 3278 - 3329 | Listening |
| 13.1 | Farmhouse -- Cage and Rita make it through the battlefield to a farmhouse | 3906 - 4005 | Listening |
| 13.2 | Helicopter -- Cage and Rita talk about using the helicopter | 4005 - 4122 | Listening |
| 14 | ★ Performance Test -- Cage and Rita at the Helicopter | 4100 - 4122 | Script |
| 15 | At the base -- Cage, Rita, and Carter talk about the Dam | 4528 - 4603 | Listening |
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Depending on time, some of these classes can be cut, such as 05, 12. For listening classes, we'll run through the dialogue again and again so students have a chance to listen many times. After listening is complete, we'll quickly go through the meaning of the dialogue so students have an idea of the story up through the current point.
Performance Tests
Each section of the class lead to a performance test. Performance Tests are performed by two students creating a pair. For the first performance test, the dialogue is really short, so students will perform it twice. Once with one student as Rita, the other as Cage. Then they'll switch. The second performance test is longer, so they won't switch for that one.
Performance Tests are graded with the following criteria under the following categories.
| Correctness | Expression | Cooperation |
Pronunciation
Saying the words with the correct pronunciation. | Memorized
Remember your lines. Do not look at the script. | Eye Contact
Look at your partner in the eyes at the correct times. |
Intonation
Speak the sentences using the correct rhythm and flow of English. | Facial Expression
Use the correct facial expressions when speaking your dialogue. | Vocal Reactions
React correctly to your partner by speaking your lines with the correct timing. |
Audible
Speak the dialogue loud enough with the proper volume. | No Laughing / Smiling
Using the correct emotions means that you shouldn't "break" during the scene. | Facial Reactions
React correctly to your partner with facial expressions. |
| Body Expressions
Use the correct gestures and body movement to convey your dialogue. | Movement Reactions React correctly to your partner with gestures and body movement. |
| No Standing Still
Using the correct body movement means that you aren't standing still while delivering your dialogue. | |
Each of these 12 criteria constitutes 2 points each. 0 for not doing it. 1 for doing it. And, 2 for doing it well.
Speaking the dialogue correctly is important, but the goal of the exercise is to correctly express the dialogue together with your partner. Acting isn't something you do by yourself. The scene is a combination of the two actors together, supporting and working off of each other. So, in grading, this is also considered.
The expressions for the first performance test are pretty easy, but the second test has deeper emotions that carry that overall meaning of the scene.
Grades
The overall grades for the class are created from 20% participation and 80% test scores.
The participation grade comes from completing the listening assignments in class and turning them in. If you miss class, it's up to you to complete them on your own. Test scores are created from the above criteria.