Teacher workshop at Confucius Institute of Chicago

1. 
Make Movies Matter
Teaching Chinese as a Second Language through movies
探索美国大学中文课堂中的电影教学
Dr. Jinai Sun
North Central College
jsun@noctrl.edu
March 9th, 2013
Confucius Institute in Chicago

2. Traditional Teaching Plan
 Start with vocab and grammar
 Practice
 Quiz
 Practice more
 Culture
 Chapter test

3. “Lead with culture…language will follow”
 Backward Design: start with the end goals in mind
(standards-based performance goals)
 Envision activities to lead students to success
 Select the means (language elements and language
functions)

4. Three Modes of Communication

5. Three Modes of Communication (Cont.)
 Interpersonal: the active negotiation of meaning
among individuals
 Interpretive: the appropriate interpretation of
meaning
 Presentational: the creation of oral and written
messages

6. Balanced Assessment
Learning Checks Formative Summative
Assessment Assessment
Did students learn what Can students apply or Designated point in time
was taught? manipulate what they (end of unit, year);
have learned? Gauge if students
reached a benchmark
Decide if I need to Check how students are Did we reach our goals?
reteach something doing: can I move on?
Show students their
Monitor students’ improvement and
progress and adjust motivate them
instruction accordingly
Assessment of learning
Assessment for learning

7. Interpretive Mode of Communication
Interpretive Communication Is NOT Interpretive Communication IS
Translation Context-driven understanding (gist)
Hunt for trivial details Whole picture; mediating meaning with the
text; focused task
Glossed readings; teaching all new Finding familiar words in new context; and
vocabulary first new words in a familiar context (authentic)
Reading, listening, or viewing from the Use the author’s perspective and cultural
“reader’s” perspective only perspective
Reading word-for-word Re-phrasing chunks; re-telling; predicting;
using structural clues

8. Presentational Mode of Communication
Presentational Communication is NOT Presentational Communication IS
Negotiated communication One-way communication (requiring a
higher degree of accuracy)
Random Practiced, rehearsed, polished, edited (often
using a script, rough draft) or “on demand”
Unplanned Organized (content and flow matters)
Speaking or writing in a vacuum An awareness of audience
(formal/informal; cultural context)
Reliance on circumlocution (May be) improved by using a bilingual
dictionary or spell-check
Talking or writing only for the teacher Maintaining attention of the intended
audience

9. Interpersonal Mode of Communication
Interpretive Communication Is NOT Interpretive Communication IS
Translation Context-driven understanding (gist)
Hunt for trivial details Whole picture; mediating meaning with the
text; focused task
Glossed readings; teaching all new Finding familiar words in new context; and
vocabulary first new words in a familiar context (authentic)
Reading, listening, or viewing from the Use the author’s perspective and cultural
“reader’s” perspective only perspective
Reading word-for-word Re-phrasing chunks; re-telling; predicting;
using structural clues

10. Instructional Process
电影教学实录

11. Course Objectives
 (1) Increase language proficiency through vocabulary
extension, dialogue clips, reading and writing blogs, and
classroom discussions all on the movies shown in class.
 (2) Gain cultural knowledge through in depth observations of
the films, reflection of what happened in the movie, and
comparisons between American and Chinese ways.
 (3) Be able to acknowledge and appreciate different genres of
Chinese movies, Chinese actors, and producers and be able to
discuss about the movies you like or dislike with native Chinese
speakers.

12. Course Organization
Sun. Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat.
New Movie Watch the
(Trailer, new movie
Introduction
Slides)
Translation New Vocab Paraphrase Role play Discussion Fill out the Review blog
Sentence sheet blanks, post of Scene
Patterns Discussion 1
Translation New Vocab Paraphrase Role play Discussion Fill out the Review blog
Sentence sheet blanks, post of Scene2
Patterns Discussion
Translation New Vocab Paraphrase Role play Discussion Fill out the Review blog
Sentence sheet blanks, post of Scene2
Patterns Discussion
Movie Peer review Second Draft Peer review Submission New Movie Watch the
reflection (Trailer, new movie
outline Introduction
First Draft Slides)

13. Trailer Sample
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAqygt-Y0Ac《新少林寺》
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR2l3UVcDkk 《霍元甲》
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDGSJvTZ02g《失恋33天》

14. • Words 生词：26 in total
• Important sentences 经典句式：
• Culture/History 文化/历史：
• 国民党和共产党的关系和区别
• 中国大陆和台湾的关系
• 中国近代历史：清政府，抗日战争，中国内战
• Discussion questions 课堂讨论问题：
• 1. 电影开始的时候有一句话“在辽远的中国，有三个姐妹。
一个爱钱，一个爱权，一个爱国。”你觉得宋家姐妹中，
谁是爱什么的？
• 2. 孙中山和蒋介石是什么关系？
• 3. 宋庆龄和孙中山结婚的时候，宋爸爸为什么那么生气？
• 4. 孙中山有很多梦想。你觉得他达到他的梦想了吗？
• 5. 请讲讲三个姐妹的性格都是什么样？
• 6. 你觉得孙中山和蒋介石比，谁是更好的领导者？为什么？
• 7. 孙中山去世以后，谁想要杀宋庆龄？为什么？
• 8. 中国打完战以后，三个姐妹都跑到哪儿了?
• 9. 你最喜欢三个女人中的谁？
Sample Movie 1：The Soong Sisters
电影范例一：宋家皇朝

15. • Words 生词：19 in total
老百姓，耽误，老弱，妇幼，仁义，感激不尽，人墙，兵力，战绩，吃
败仗，苟且偷安，结仇，编草鞋，习惯，团结，无理取闹，碰到，干脆，
分久必合，合久必分
• Fill the blanks 观影填空:
诸葛亮：主公。
刘备： 孔明。
诸葛亮： 老百姓行动缓慢，我想起码还要两个时辰才能撤走。 我
们急需要这里的千名将士们去协助张将军，这样才能阻止曹军的 追
击。 老百姓就让他们自已走吧。 我料曹操的目的是招降， 不会杀
他们的。
刘备： 不行。 你都看见了， 这些______________需要我们帮助。
士兵: 主公，这些百姓们肯定 耽误 我们的时间了。成大事不讲
___________________。
刘备： 这些都是汉室的子民！是不愿意被曹操统治才跟我们走的！
如果连___________都不能保护，那这场抗争还有什么意义？
诸葛亮： [ 对着士兵 ] 我去找 关二哥。 你去帮主公。
• 文化/历史：
• 分久必合，合久必分的思想
• 三国时期的历史
• 课堂讨论问题：
1. 请讲一下这个故事的经过。
2．曹操为什么要打仗？ 你觉得他为什么最后打败了？
3．电影中的一句话‘分久必合，合久必分’很重要，为什么？
4．你觉得孙权和刘备的个性是什么样的？你更喜欢谁做你的领导？
Sample Movie 2: Red Cliff
5. 你觉得诸葛亮和周瑜的性格有什么相同和不同？你更喜欢谁？
6. 在电影结束的时候孙权和刘备没杀曹操。你觉得为什么？
7. 这部电影为什么叫做《赤壁》
8. 你从这部电影学到什么中国的传统道德？
电影范例二：赤
壁

16.  生词：
过年 回家 快乐 朋友 把 团聚 祝 一口气
 句式：
 把字句
把乐带回家。
把门关上。
 祝福的用法：
祝……
祝你大吉大利。
祝你新年快乐。
 延伸教学点：
微电影范例：把乐带回家
 如何打电话/电话用语
 如何购物/购物用语
 文化背景：
Bring Happiness Home
 中国过年的文化/对比美国有无类似节日（相似，不同之处）

17.  Pronunciation
 Plots
 Culture
 Context
 Student interest
Standards for Movie Selection
电影挑选准则

18. Selected Movies
 《纽约客在上海》Novice – Mid’
 微电影Novice – Mid
 《宋家王朝》Intermediate – Low
 《梁祝》Intermediate – Low
 《霍元甲》Intermediate – High
 《无间道》Intermediate – High
 《失恋三十三天》Advanced
 《卧虎藏龙》Advanced