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.
The most recent addition to my rotation of movies is Lights Out. Students always have fun watching horror films, and while Lights Out isn't the best movie, the jump scares keep students interested while the back story is slowly revealed and explained. Dialogue is sometimes difficult to understand, but it's very native and expressively acted.
This class is only taught once a week. There are periods of listening to dialogue and identifying missing words in the script. This is followed by going over the meaning, if it's necessary. Listening classes lead to performance tests, which are a pair students acting a scene from the film.
| Contents | Time Code | Materials |
| 01 | Movie Introduction -- A man is killed in a warehouse | 0050 - 0435 | Listening |
| 02 | Main Characters -- We meet Becca and Bret at Becca's apartment. | 0511 - 0664 | Listening |
| 03 | House, School -- Martin sees the Monster / Becca talks with Emma. | 0642 - 1001 | Listening |
| 04 | At the House -- Becca Bret and Martin return to Mom's House. | 1004 - 1145 | Listening |
| 05 | House, Apartment -- Becca and Mom argue. They leave to Becca's apartment. | 1191 - 1345 | Listening |
| 06 | ★ Performance Test -- "You should leave now" | 1289 - 1345 | Script |
| 07 | At the Apartment -- Diana appears / The next day, Emma and Becca talk about Martin | 1342 - 1692 | Listening |
| 08 | Flashback -- Becca remembers her past, and then she meets Bret | 1684 - 1866 | Listening |
| 09 | At the House -- Becca and Bret search the house for clues about Diana. | 1863 - 2243 | Meaning Check |
| 10 | ★ Performance Test -- Becca and Bret escape the House. | 2222 - 2243 | Script |
| 11 | At the House -- Mom and Martin return home for a movie night. | 2243 - 2457 | Listening |
| 12 | Diana's Research -- Becca talks to Martin about the past | 2458 - 2804 | Listening |
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Depending on time, some of these classes can be cut. 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 if it's necessary. Some classes, like 12, focus only on the dialogue's meaning.
Performance Tests
Each section of the class lead to a performance test. Performance Tests are performed by two students creating a pair. In pairs, students will decide who portray which character. They'll practice pronunciation, memorization, but they'll also practice showing correct emotions and expressions when speaking the dialogue.
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.