This comment from Diane got caught up in the flow of discussion last week but needs to be made into an article so we can get more clear on the term MovieTalk:
Hi Ben,
After my comments & others’ related to using video clips, and whether or not that’s MovieTalk or what, I contacted Dr. Hastings.
Here’s our correspondence, which was via Facebook. I feel fine using the name “MovieTalk” for whatever video gets used after his comments, but I feel justified in wanting to remind about the option to use a full movie. His comments relate to recent discussion on targeting vs sheltering, too:
Diane:
Dr. Hastings, I have a question about MovieTalk. You know that many TPRS and CI teachers have greatly enjoyed using short videos clips. I’d like to know what you think of them calling that “MovieTalk,” and that the majority of them do not seem to know the original MovieTalk use of full-length films. I’ve really enjoyed doing both approaches with different groups of students. I’m sorry to see that it seems making a full-length film comprehensible (especially for intermediate-level students) is being forgotten with the interest in short video clips. May I ask what you think of this trend, and if you would apply the term “MovieTalk” to use of any length of video — or more specifically to your approach with full-length films? Thank you!
Dr. Hastings:
I guess the short answer would be that using a video of any length as visual support for CI qualifies as MovieTalk. I suppose there are good reasons for using short clips in some settings. What I think is happening, though, is that many TPRS teachers are looking for clips that can be used to teach specific grammar points—and that is quite different from the original concept, which was to use authentic language with authentic materials and let the grammar sort itself out. With a grammar-oriented syllabus, it’s understandable that teachers think in terms of short clips that lend themselves to specific structures, but they are missing the benefits of the continuity and interest that can be achieved with feature-length movies (especially at the intermediate level, as you point out). Anyway, I am more or less hors de combat at this point, so I just wish everyone good luck with whatever they are doing!
Diane:
Dr. Hastings, thanks for your quick reply. Very helpful! May I share it with the other teachers in Ben Slavic’s PLC? We’ve been discussing both MovieTalk and avoiding targeting of vocabulary or grammar (going with “sheltering” as a concept instead). I agree that the breadth of a full film has many advantages and plan to keep advocating for its usefulness. I recently shared at a Chinese teacher conference about it, using this blog post:
http://tprsforchinese.blogspot.com/2015/10/chinese-innovation-forum-movietalk.html
Dr. Hastings:
Of course, feel free to share. You’re doing good stuff!