One of the ways that has proved successful in learning a language is through videos, TV, and films. So, most months EELC has a Movie Night when students watch a movie that is enjoyable but also has some good learning features and useful discussion topics. The charge is a cheap 100 Djiboutian Francs, so virtually everyone is able to attend. A great night out!
October’s film was Kung Fu Panda!
Animation movies help those who have beginner English as the characters’ emotions are easier to read and the whole art form is designed to show what is going on! Not surprisingly, animations are very popular with the students. They create a great night of laughter and provide an opportunity to get to know each other better.
From the perspective of learning English, the key part is the discussions that take place alongside the entertainment. After the movie students gathered into groups and discussed some of the more abstract messages the film presented. And though it is listed as a ‘children’s film’ some significant issues were raised.
For example, what happens to the hero, Po Ping, illustrates both the important concept of self-belief and the need to find the people in your life who believe in you too. To fulfil his dreams, rather than just go along with what everyone wants from him, Po Ping had to search inside himself for what made him unique.
As the students were encouraged to think about such topics there was a renewed sense of excitement towards learning. A lot of students easily get discouraged when learning a language, so to talk about what it takes to improve their English, and even their lives, in a more general sense, was great to see.
We are looking forward to our next movie night! Who knows what we will watch next!
Kerith Trust 