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.
Happy Death Day was the first movie is used for this class. Students were interested in horror movies, so I searched the Internet for something recent and highly reviewed. This was high on everyone's list, and after watching it, I was hooked.
Overall, this film works great for class. There are lots of actions that are very well choreographed in the film, so even if you can't completely understand the dialogue, it's easy to follow. The star, Jessica Rothe is an excellent actress who is very expressive and funny, too. The plot is about reliving the same day again and again, so there's lots of repetition in dialogue.
Please read this description post for further information about the film and more details about the class.
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. There are periods of listening and questions leading to tests. The tests are performances between pairs of students.
| Contents | Time Code | Materials |
| 01 | Day 1 - Meet the characters and scenario. | 0054 - 0871 | Questions |
| 02 | Day 2 - Tree wakes, and relives the same day. | 0851 - 1789 | Questions |
| 03 | Day 3 - Tree talks to Lori about what's happening. | 1778 - 1990 | Listening |
| 04 | ★ Performance Test - Tree and Lori talk. | 1880 - 1990 | Listening |
| 05 | Day 4 - Tree and Carter talk about the killer. | 2343 - 2447 | Listening |
| 06 | Day 4 - Tree and Carter talk suspects. Who is the killer? | 2447 - 2504 | Writing |
| 07 | Day 4 5 6 7 8 - Tree dies again and again to find the killer. | 2504 - 3456 | Questions |
| 08 | ★ Performance Test - "Who are you?!" | 3370 - 3381 | |
| 09 | Day 9 - Tree and Carter talk. | 3618 - 3727 | Listening |
| 10 | Day 9 - Tree and Carter continue to talk, find the killer. | 3727 - 4063 | Listening |
| 11 | Day 10 - Morning through Afternoon - Tree prepares to fight the killer. | 4064 - 4450 | Questions
Dialogue |
| 12 | Day 10 - Tree meets her father at the restaurant. | 4452 - 4594 | Listening |
| 13 | ★ Performance Test - "I'm sorry, and I love you." | 4568 | Script |
| 14 | Final Day - Teresa defeats the killer. | 4585 - end | Questions |
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We will go through all the questions and answers together after students have a chance to discuss amongst themselves. 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 leads to a performance test. Performance Tests are performed by two students creating a pair. For the first performance, students will decide on playing either Lori or Tree and focus their own roles. But for the second and third tests, dialogue is only from one character. Students will still form pairs, but will supporting the other person. Then, they'll switch characters.
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.
This is especially important in scenes where a character has no dialogue. Even though they aren't saying anything, they should show the correct emotions and gestures to bring the dialogue out of their partner.
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.