Film Series, Round 2

The first film we showed at the World Language Club film series was a huge success, so this time around, I tried to choose options for films that NO ONE had seen before, and languages we do not offer at NHS. So, club members voted this week on the following 3 films:

• Solyaris, a Russian sci-fi thriller


• Kal Ho Naa Ho (Tomorrow May Not Come), a semi-mainstream Bollywood film from India


• Seven Samurai, the Japanese classic

It was very close, but Bollywood emerged victorious! I am interested to see the turnout and reaction next Tuesday from 4-8(ish) in the theater when we have our second event to watch this film. I am so encouraged about the positive response my idea has had, and the way the students have embraced and appreciated the spirit of the film series. We had almost 60 students the first time around to watch the Italian blockbuster Life is Beautiful!!!

Here is a clip of Kal Ho Naa Ho which features two of Bollywood's predominant characteristics: a musical number that is absolutely fraught with American influence and fanfare. I think it's a good snapshot of what the NHS students are in for with this movie, and a good taste of Bollywood cinema in general...

Stay tuned for more information about the World Language Club and the foreign film series!

Raising the bar...

Now that my students have (more or less) adjusted to me and our new textbook, I am seeing great improvements in my classes... in French 1 and 2 Honors, they have also adjusted to my new method of testing, where all 4 skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) are weighted equally.

For their speaking piece, they record themselves with the program Audacity (already installed on all the computers) in our Language Lab. I distribute 3 to 4 speaking prompts to them the night before, and in the lab, I give them each a different single prompt at random. They cannot bring in their prepared notes, but they have a small amount of time to jot down new ones before they must record. After a couple go-rounds of trial and error, the kids have truly embraced the concept and execution of this part of the French curriculum, which has had results far beyond my initial expectations. I try and stress to them how impressive they are, but, of course, it's "normal" to them now, and they tell me I'm making a big deal over nothing. I believe my favorite direct quote is "Geez, Madame, we're just speaking French!"

HOWEVER, I know that any person with ears (regardless of whether they speak French or not) can listen to what they have produced and be impressed. My French 1 Honors class has recorded a short greeting for you, which I have included below, along with 4 samples of their last speaking test. I hope to incorporate this aspect of testing across the board, in my other classes, starting in January.

Greeting

Antoinette
Isabelle
Jacqueline
Maryse