Movies with Subtitles on/off/Eng/Jap

[Shamisen]

Recently we have been watching E.T. since the textbook is E.T. based
I really think its a great way to expose kids to English in a fun way, but
Ive come across a few issues.

1. The teachers almost insist on putting the subtitles in Japanese.
2. The Japanese translation is quite loose, sometimes changing the mood of the scene completely.
3. If kids watch with only English subs, they can lose track of the situation quite fast.
4. Listening without subs is all but futile, since students are barely coping with the super-slowed down textbook English we offer them daily. (I personally believe we are handicapping them)

I think Ive come up with a solution just reading what I wrote here, but I want your input first.

Has anyone done a successful video-showing?
By successful, I mean they understood the situation, could HEAR what was said in Englihs, and could understand what was said as well.


Another point: while showing the movie, the JTE would pause just after the "fill in the blanks" phrase. The japanese subtitle would still be up. BUT instead of relying on their ears to fill in the blanks, students tried to translate the japanese once it was up there - which of course was all wrong. the whole point of it was to help their listening skills! It was however a good time to point out that you cannot translate directly either to or from Japanese.

[jessen100]

yea, i hate most all japanese subtitles for english films. i havent watched THAT many, but most of them make it really hard to actually learn from.

i cant think of any specific examples, but i remember seeing scenes when they just totally ignore what the charachter actually said, and just toss in some phrase that fits to the situation that japanese people would say.

that is frustrating.

[Otaku]

I own over 600 DVD with subtitles. I think for the most part they do pretty good at translating. I wouldn't say subtitles are good for learning, but they're pretty good for reviewing and concreting information that was 'bimyo' at best.

I think in 6 years, I've only played one movie in class: Nemo. Instead, I usually, with the help of other ALTs/JTEs, I make original videos of small plays, etc. That way, the students don't need subtitles cuz' you can form the script based upon the grammar the students know. Of course, that requires much more work...

[Shamisen]

Whoo yeah, that sounds like something where youd need your own class.
I would like to show a video though that has genuine Native English in the country of origin. I want to expand the school bubble as much as I can.

What I thought of briefly, was taking just a short part of a film- just a 5 minute scene with a punchline.
Then show it first with Japanese subtitles,
Then English subtitles with explanations
Then no subtitles for a final listening

Maybe as an extra step, kids could role-play the scene to get hands-on understanding.

this would take a whole class Im sure.

Good movie suggestions? Horton hears a who? or shrek?

[Otaku]

Show Mr. Bean...you don't need subtitles. :)

[junkdna]

but i remember seeing scenes when they just totally ignore what the charachter actually said, and just toss in some phrase that fits to the situation that japanese people would say. that is frustrating.

For better or worse, that is the job of a localizer: LOCALIZING the material.

Do you know how the term "American joke" came about? Transliteration of shows like "90210" in the 90s. I MEXTing HATE the term "American joke". I verbally kick anyone in the teeth who says it to me. I ask them if they understand where the term originated, and they invariably say "no". After I explain it to them, they usually agree that an American telling a joke that they don't get, is not necessarily an "American joke". It does however, mean that I failed in my ability to bring a joke across. There are many reasons for this, but the most common reason is cultural difference. I should know better than to try to tell jokes like that.

Localization of material is rough. I have often ignored Japanese cultural references in material to help bring about a natural, native sounding translation.

[dickflem]

How about a silent movie? I love Charlie Chaplin. The movies are generally are easy to follow, (though may make you sleepy because there is no sound) the written information is minimal and you could test the kids on it afterwards using any number of grammar points and methods.

I reccomend "city lights" classic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_Lights

How do you do the hyper-link thing again?

[Otaku]

hyperlink code:

[url=PUTYourUrlHere]WhatDoYouWantTheHyperlinkToSay?[/url]

[bum1]

Has anyone done a successful video-showing?

Yup. It's better to show short 3-4 minute clips. First no subs. Then with subs. Then discuss. Then show another clip. This doesn't work with ET but works well with comedy shows with short sketches like The Simpsons or Sienfeld.
For ET just throw on the subtitles in Japanese and let them watch it. They will pick up a lot of the simple repeating English in ET. It will be a good experience. Personally I didn't think they did a bad job at all with the subtitles either. ET is full of fun swear words too! Be sure to bring a blanket to cover the windows with because often there are no curtians in a J class.

[Shamisen]

Yes... but lucky for me, theres a "video room" with black curtains and a large screen projector!

They definitely picked up a few words - GO HOME was the most popular! hahah and OUCH heheheh

Silent movies? nah. I want to have them hear and imitate native english. Maybe one of those disney shows would be good... Hanna Montanna or the one where 3 witches live in a house. Hnmnn sesame street? Or is that not cool enough

[jessen100]

sponge bob apparently started airing on nhk, that could be good, though i havent watched much of it myself to really know. also the fact that its a cartoon might be frowned upon. idk.

[Paul]

sponge bob apparently started airing on nhk, that could be good, though i havent watched much of it myself to really know. also the fact that its a cartoon might be frowned upon. idk.

The Bob has been on NHK for quite a while btw.......I have come to HATE, ok highly dislike that screeching yellow turd!