Thanks for the tip. To set the tone for my students, early on in the semester I show them a scene from The Pink Panther. (The 1st one, with Steve Martin and Beyonce)

In the scene, Steve Martin is trying to receive English lessons from an American tutor. (In the movie he has a horrendous French accent)  But I found it funny how silly and odd he was in his attempt to speak and enunciate certain words correctly. We all see it in our students as they try so hard to speak correctly and overcome their linguistic challenges.

Its worth a look into I think! Enjoy!  -shane

I generally try and show the film 'Freedom Writers' to all classes over about 15 years of age. It might be ok for younger, but I think older teens and adults benefit more. It is a terrific true story about a teacher in America, who is trying to deal with a class of really low socio economic kids, in an area riddled with violence, crime and social problems.  The childrens gradual response, the way she dealt with them, the outcomes etc are very good.  It touches on Anne Franks Diary and the holocoust, causing quite some discussion, and has a happy ending.  I have used this as a basis for quite a few discussions in class, and essay writing etc.  It is received very well.  There is a Freedom Writers Foundation.  If any one has the book, Freedom Writers Diary I would love to know how to get one here in China.

Tin tin.

Last term, I had a "special project" thrust upon me by the Foreign Languages department which required me to spend thirty hours in one week with one class and thirty hours with another class the following week.

On the agenda for the first week's activities was the showing of ONE movie. Unfortunately, during that period when the movie was to be shown, I was teaching another class. The students chose to watch "King Kong" instead of the movie that I had chosen. When I showed up for the next period, the movie was almost over. I wasn't happy about their switcheroo, so I told them that they'd have to watch the movie that I had picked out for them: "Forrest Gump". (Yeah, I know, it was a pretty strange choice but I didn't have much to choose from because I hadn't discovered any DVD retailers yet. I had to use  the school's pirated movies, and Mr. Gump seemed a lot more relevant to the study of the English language than most of the other movies on the shelf).

The class was delighted that they "got to see another movie."

Since I KNEW that I would have to explain the fact that the class had viewed "King Kong", I required the class to write their observations comparing and contrasting the two movies.

Sad faces.

Sadder faces when they had to listen to an accent of the American south.

The following period required a discussion of the two movies. After awhile, they were actually able to see how King Kong's love for the woman was similar to Forrest Gump's initial love for the woman of his life. They could see the relationships among several of the characters in both movies. After things started moving, I saw the lights coming on in their heads. Some students went nuts over the concept of binaries. Apparently, they had never thought to compare relationships between ANYTHING.

[I know that I am making this sound much simpler than it was. I admit to total desperation. I was sweating bullets the entire time. I truly feared that the dean of the Foreign Languages department would have my head on a stick for what had transpired].

I wish that I could honestly tell you that they grasped Julia Kristeva's theory of intertextuality, that all written things are part of a great fabric, but I can't. What did dawn upon them was that there are universal themes in literature, drama, and life. Some actually grasped the idea that life is a narrative of recurring themes and symbols. It was a lot for me to expect them to make such leaps, but I repeat: I WAS DESPERATE !

Why am I relating this anecdote? (Hold on. I have to think about it).

Okay. Here it is: there are a lot of hungry minds in the world. The more you feed them, the more they want and need. Not all students will rise to the occasion, but at some time in their lives, things will dawn upon them, and they'll engage in the thought processes necessary for them to get more out of what they experience in life.

Movies can be great teaching tools but too many teachers rely upon them as time killers and baby sitters.

I wish that "Truman" had been available to me. A good theme to discuss would have been that theater mimics real life and that real life often mimics theater. Some might say that life IS theater.

One of my hobbies is street photography, and a lot of smaller cities offer absolutely wonderful opportunities to capture some wonderful dramas. In one class, I showed the class some of my street photography. Some of the students expressed some negative emotions over my pictures of the common people: street vendors; shoe repairmen; locksmiths; farmers selling their vegetables. I grouped the photos into various themes such as the things people carry; the vehicles they drive; the things people eat.

One particular photo was of a bunch of cicadas on a stick. Some kids expressed disgust while others spoke about how tasty they are. The photos got them talking about their own cultures. It put the class into their hands so that they were educating each other as well as their round-eyed goofus from USA.

What I am trying to convey in all this is that the students need to learn that there is more than meets the eye. They know this as it relates to their everyday experiences, but many fail to see that on the flat screen, there are other dimensions. If they can supply their own dimensions, they've learned something from the movie.

All rise and sing hymn #47.

Hopefully mine is #4 on this topic, if no one wedges in before I finish typing -- am multitasking with other computers here.  I'm replying to all of the above comments.

I had said elsewhere on TACA that some FT's show movies to kill time and slack off, which I dislike doing myself.  I had many years of A/V classes in my work-load and I tried to use only "good and educational" flicks for that.  A few that come to mind at the moment:

A Beautiful Life (or Life is Beautiful) -- brings tears, too.

To Sir with Love -- another tear-jerker.  This though downloadable locally, few students would think of watching it on their own.

My Fair Lady -- the content speaks for itself.

The Shawshank Redemption -- everyone was glued to their seats, and I fooled them at the beginning by saying it's a true story.

Pride and Prejudice -- I paused the movie (they hated this at first, but got used to it) to help them review the dialogue and see how English IS used.

And many others -- but I wish I had "Truman" which I would have used repeatedly.  One more project on my list of "To Do's" is now to get "Truman."

is frowned upon here as in the last they have been used as "time fillers and baby sitters" by previous FT's. Truman would be a great movie to show and get them talking about, I would have liked to show Groundhog Day for the repeatative side of it. At another school, I was teaching body language and showed some of Mr Bean. Of course they all know Mr Bean but had never really thought about it, it was amazing the things that came out of that about body language and what he could convey.

1. What is your opinion regarding the use or non use of subtitles?  Is your opinion affected by the language development of your students?

2. How do we access movies on the web???  Does internet speed play any part in one's ability to download?  If some kind soul out there knows how to do it and is prepared to explain it, please make the explanation VERY SIMPLE because I don't really speak  technology or computer.  I get by but it is a struggle.

3. I was interested to hear of Beryl's street photography.  Do you ask permission to photograph people?  Do you only photgraph people who are used to seeing you out and about?  Do you get any adverse reactions to photographing them ?  I would love to do it  but don't want to be seen  as the "rich westerner" photographing  poor people.  That's my cultural position and as I can't talk with them I'm stuck in it. They could be really happy to have their photos taken for all I know.  Recently I saw a video on China Daily where a young Chinese man took the same sort of photos and he said people usually didn't notice him.  Unfortunately I'm a bit more noticeable.  I'd love to hear of Beryl's experience and that of anyone  else who does it.

Use a camera with  a telephoto lens...they will not know you are even there!

1. What is your opinion regarding the use or non use of subtitles?  Is your opinion affected by the language development of your students?

Ideally, ESL teachers should use English subtitles when they show movies in class. This week, however, I have been using Chinese subtitles because I want to make sure that my students understand the movie so that we can have a good discussion about it later. I ask them to pay special attention to the audio.

2. How do we access movies on the web???  Does internet speed play any part in one's ability to download?  If some kind soul out there knows how to do it and is prepared to explain it, please make the explanation VERY SIMPLE because I don't really speak  technology or computer.  I get by but it is a struggle.

You can access movies and TV shows on sites like http://www.Youku.com and http://www.Tudou.com but you may find that the quality isn't that great. It's probably easier to go to your local movie store and buy DVD's.

I'll let Beryl respond to your third question.

Yes I have shown this and the students really loved it, but its hopeless for most students without Chinese subtitles.  Have you actually sat and listened to the speed of the English speaking?  It is sooo fast.  Also The King and I goes down well, it has a sort of Asian flavour and they follow this quite well.  I allow subtitles in Chinese if I think the movie has fast speaking that they just wont catch.  I rarely use movies, but when I do, its for the conversation value later, and they need to understand the movie to talk about it.

tin tin.

Indie asked:

"...Do you ask permission to photograph people?  Do you only photograph people who are used to seeing you out and about?  Do you get any adverse reactions to photographing them ?  I would love to do it  but don't want to be seen  as the "rich westerner" photographing  poor people.  That's my cultural position and as I can't talk with them I'm stuck in it. They could be really happy to have their photos taken for all I know. "

I did most of my street photography in a small town and in surrounding areas. It's best to photograph where you have been seen before. That way, the folks will figure that you're a teacher or some sort of other resident. Don't be surprised if you find that al LOT of people in your area think that they know you. Many enjoy having their photos taken, especially grandparents with the grand child.

Most of the time I DO ask permission to take the photograph by sign language. I'll put my hands to my face as if I am about to take a picture , smile, raise my eyebrows and shake my head up and down as if to ask "Okay?". Sometimes, I'll just motion quickly, pointing to my camera and the person several times very quickly. I've rarely been turned down.

If you intend to be in China for awhile and to stay in the same town, it helps to approach street photography with a theme. (I think I explained that previously). This allows others to see you taking photos of people (usually in the same place) and sometimes, people are just WAITING for you to work your way over to them. This worked for me in markets and barber shops . Be prepared, however, for the occasional person who becomes angry at you not for photographing what they're doing, but for photographing their product.

Whatever the outcome, take the photo, and move on quickly, especially when you take a photo surreptitiously.

Be very discreet when you want to take a candid photo of someone. Wear a vest to cover the camera (I had one made extra large for this purpose) and move slowly. Get a quick focus on the subject. What works for me during the day is for me to look up at a building or a kite or something so that people think that I'm interested in something else. Look at your subject and wait until  he's unaware. Take the shot and move on. Get lost in the crowd. Someone will undoubtedly see you taking the photo  and tell the subject. Most people forget about it quickly as long as you disappear.

If possible, try to engage the person somehow if you are discovered. Inspect their eggs, act surprised when you see an unusual fruit or vegetable. This will often disarm them and give them a chance to show you their weares. If the shot is really worth it, buy something from the merchant and move on.

Back to photographing kids: most parents and grandparents are obliging, but DO ask first. Even though a photographer may have good intentions, it just looks creepy when a stranger photographs someone else's kid without parental pernission.

There have been instances when I did not feel comfortable photographing things which were very interesting, because I felt that I wasn't accepted. One instance was once when I decided to photograph a crowd of older folks who congregated just outside the university grounds to play cards, give haircuts, play the erhu, sing, etc.. In this case, I had walked past the congregation dozens of times, but always got bad vibes because they were from Mao's generation, and probably held a dim view of westerners. I decided to join the crowd and listen to a guy playing erhu and singing while accompanied by someone playing a dulcimer. Somebody found me a stool, and soon, I was drinking tea and smoking cigarettes with the crowd. Some of the men agreed with a nod to having their photos taken, but ignored me. Some hammed it up.

This same day, I sat among a large group of VERY old folks who were listening to women singing songs while accompanied by a bunch of grizzly-faced men. I sat on the periphery and took photos very discreetly. As soon as I was discovered, I left very quickly. One very good rule of thumb for street photography anywhere in the world (even in your own home city) is not to become a part of the spectacle. Try to remain in the background as much as possible. There are times, however, when you just HAVE to get right up front and get the shot. Plan your move ahead of time. HAVE AN EXIT STRATEGY! You will be encroaching upon their space, so you don't know how someone will react when he suddenly sees a round-eyed person taking a photo.

 There were a couple of corners in one city which were just so rich in imagery that I often stood at the corners or squatted in the shade and shot with a medium telephoto lens. One morning. I stood at a corner, photographing all of the incredibly large things that people carried on bicycles and tricycles. (The biggest was -- I swear--- a baby grand piano on the back of a man-powered tricycle).

I became aware of a black VW Santana driving on the right hand side of the street very very slowly. I pretended to pay them no attention. Two uniformed men got out of the  car and very slowly wal;ked behind me. One stood to my right, and the other stood to my left.  That day was  "dented bus day". That was my theme.  (there were some very interesting dents in many of the city buses). I stepped back a little so I could see the  police a little better.  They seemed not to care about my photographing buses, but when i turned my attention to the guy on a tricycle carrying the baby grand piano, one of the policemen flinched. I could see him straighten up. I din't get the shot. Instead, I panned the intersection and caught sight of a bus. I showed the policemen he succession of bus photos, and one remarked "Very pretty!"

Apparently, they didn't care about my photographing buses, but they didn't like the idea of my photographing people. They got into their car, shaking their heads, and undoubtedly thinking to  themselves "WTF? Crazy westerners." Before then, the police had seen me standing on the corner, but never paid attention to me.

I have come to the conclusion that China maintains the peace so well because there are people whom I call "spotters" who keep the police informed of what goes on in the streets. There was a woman at another very busy intersection whom I saw standing there every day from morning until night. It was an increasingly busy intersection. She always wore a red China Telecom cap and carried the same empty plastic bottle. I thought at first she might have been some sort of hooker, but as I spent more and more time at the intersection, I saw that she wasn't. She'd often walk over to a guy on a motorcycle who also seemed to be a permanent fixture there and engage in short conversation. When I first began photographing from that intersection, she acted interested in what I was doing. I showed her the photos on my LED screen, and she seemed to be okay with it all. Then, one day, a black VW Santana pulled up in front of me, and two uniformed policemen got out of the car and spoke to the woman in the red China Telecom hat. She pointed to another place across the street, and the cops disappeared into the crowd. I am sure that she checked me out but never told anyone about me because she had me figured out.

Interestingly, though, is that whenever I found a new intersection, a cop on a motorcycle always pulled up to direct traffic in front of me. It never happened unless I had my camera.

Back to photography: I've had only a few negative responses to my presence as a photographer. A couple of times, I tried to photograph a beggar who was dressed as a middle school kid (uniform, backpack, etc). I had only a telephoto lens, so i had to stand pretty far away to get the shot. Every time that I tried to take the photo, people in the crowd would deliberately obstruct my view-- not just pedestrians but bicyclists as well. Some turned and faced me, their arms folded. I finally got a few shots by turning and taking a few steps away. The people moved on, and I turned around and got the shots.

Another time, I sat on the steps of a building on the outside of a bazaar. A shop owner came out and folded his arms and scowled at me. I ignored him and held my ground. It took me about a half hour for people forget about me. I finally got the shot. Interestingly enough, in the same area, a guy smoking a cigarette pulled out a stool for me to sit with him.  I took a seat and I pointed to my camera, then to all of the booths as if to ask "Can I photograph?". He gave me a gesture that told me "Why not? What the heck. Fire away but take one of me first." It was cool with him, so, I figured, it was cool with everyone else. And it was.

Learning to photograph people helps one to hone his people skills. I speak no Chinese, but I feel as comfortable in China as I do in my home town. (Though I have never been a war photographer, I HAVE been a wedding photographer, and judging by the stories I've gotten from recent conflicts, wedding photography is just as harrowing as war photography though perhaps not as physically dangerous. They bear the same initials: W.P.). You'll get the best pictures when people feel comfortable with you. People won't feel comfortable with you unless you are comfortable with yourself. I've been in situations which were rich in interesting imagery, but I didn't feel comfortable with my role as photographer in those particular situations, so I left.

About equipment. I shoot with Canon DSLRs. Most of my work has been done on a 17-85mm lens. That requires one to get pretty close to his subject. There are times when having a wide angle lens is very beneficial. Once, I was invited aboard a family's boat that was anchored in the Grand Canal. (There must be a Grand Canal in every Chinese city, just like every Chinese city seems to "lie on the banks of the ancient, famous Yangtze River"). I just waved to the people, and they motioned for me to come aboard. I did. (I almost fell and killed myself when I walked across several boardwalks to get to their boat). The boat was so crowded and cramped that the 50mm lens that I was using that day was useless. I needed a 10mm or a 17mm).

Regarding lens choice, I recommend carrying as wide an angle as you can afford--- and feel comfortable with. I've photographed a lot of weddings, so I'm not afraid of walking up to people. A relatively short focal length suits me fine. The 17-85 is the most practical for me. Some, however, prefer to distance themselves, so maybe a longer telephoto like a 35-135mm is better.

I've had students walk with me  around town, and I've gained access to places that I might not have accessed without them. Once, a girl walked down an alley for me to see what was in there. She found a small Buddhist temple. I was invited in to photograph two monks worshipping. Another time, a student walked into a music store and asked if i could take pictures. The owner appeared at the doorway and played a song for me with an ecstatic smile on his face. Another time, a male student took me to a barber shop hidden among the many mazes of the residential area. I sat under the glow of pink lights with other men who, I initially assumed, were there for haircuts. A couple of guys would go to the back of the building, and return 15-20 minutes later, but they weren't getting haircuts!

There are no real rules to street photography, but there are considerations. Some of them are: honesty, respect, distance, culture, and the general vibe of your surroundings. ALWAYS be aware of what is going on around you--- especially in big cities.

Oh, guys: not all of those gorgeous women enjoy having their photos taken. I could say more, but I'd rather not incriminate myself.

I can't say whether they are generally helpful or not. I've had students complain that the Chinese subtitles on some movies were so bad that they couldn't understand them. The translations made it difficult for them to follow.

I think the next movie I'll show will star Jimmy Stewart. He was a slow, deliberate talker.

I tried "To Kill a Mockingbird" with Gregory Peck because he also spoke slowly. (I used it to explain the Jim Crow" era of American history as well as for argumentation).  The students who paid attention to the subtitles got lost quickly. Those who disregarded the subtitles seemed to fare much better but, again, the southern accent threw some of the students off.

such a great post. I'm going to go out this afternoon with my camera. I too, like to take photos of kids and ask first just with body language and I show the photos after. Sometimes its funny to see the antics that people go to, to take a photos of us Westerners.

One of my all time favorite movies is Jimmy Stewart's Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Showing that movie would be a good way to teach students about the U.S. government and some of the shennanigans that take place in Washington from time-to-time.

Yes, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" is a good one. I was thinking of "Harvey" as well.

Thanks for the info and to Beryl for his comprehensive explanation about his street photography.  I have done some but would love to do some real portaits of some of the facinating people engaged in  their jobs or recreation who I see around me.  I am encouraged by Beryl's experiences. Won't be doing it today.  The environment outside is especially foul today.

Fall provides beautiful light in eastern China, but late afternoon can be a problem because around 4:00 p.m., the sun sinks FAST.

If I could learn how to use a point-and-shoot camera, I'd travel a lot more lightly that I do now. A DSLR can be a nuisance because it is so large. Some of the better manufacturers are making 12 megapixel cameras with wonderful auto programs for less than $300.00 USD. Some of the P&S cameras beat the hay outta my newer, more expensive Canon DSLRs.

One movie I've used and was very successful is the "Mr. Bean" series.  Not alot of talking but alot of cultural references.