Scene from the film "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994)

A scene about hope for the future from the 1994 classic, The Shawshank Redemption. Enjoy!

Video

Lesson Plan

Lvl: Intermediate
Subjects: Dreams; Overcoming Difficulties

Scene from the film "Erin Brockovich" (2000)

A very funny film with a good message about standing up for the little guys, fighting corporate greed, and protecting the environment. Enjoy!

Lesson plan

Video

Sample persuasive essay

Lvl: Intermediate
Subjects: The environment; David and Goliath; Corporate greed/power

Scenes from the movie Grease (1978)

(Poster from Grease; Wiki Commons)

If not the first high school musical, then certainly the one with the oldest "high-school student" actors. A classic scene from a flick with some pretty catchy tunes.

Video

Lesson plan

And what would a musical be without the songs? Here's one of them, "Summer Nights," with a lesson plan below.

Video

Lesson plan

Scene from the Maltese Falcon (1941)

(Poster from The Maltese Falcon; Wiki commons)

A scene from the classic noir film, The Maltese Falcon. Enjoy!

Video

Lesson plan

Basic Written Report Format

This simple, one-page document gives the basic format for writing a written report or paper in most of my classes. All writing assignments which are submitted should be typed on a computer and formatted in the style outlined here. 

Basic Written Report Format pdf

Scene from "Gone with the Wind" (1939)

This film is often talked and joked about, and it's an important part of pop culture. Almost eighty years later, it hasn't lost its poignancy and can still captivate viewers. The following scene is when Scarlett first meets Rhett.

Video

Lesson plan

Lvl: Advanced
Subjects: Love; Romance; Marriage

Scene from The Wizard of Oz (1939)

This is the scene where Dorothy meets the Scarecrow and they sing the song "If I Only Had a Brain." This song is seriously hilarious.

Video

Lesson plan

Scene from the film "Thelma and Louise" (1991)

I wanted to teach a lesson about the idea of "friendship", and when I searched around, this film came up. The film is also touches on many other subjects and themes including standing up to (male) authority and (expected) societal roles of/attitudes toward women. Moreover, the cinematography of this particular clip is very well shot and is full of romantic (theory not love/lust etc.) icons (e.g. riding out into the vast, unknown frontier). Note that this scene includes strong, adult language and is perhaps not suitable for children.

Video

Lesson plan

Scene from the film "The Pursuit of Happyness" (2006)

(Image from Wiki commons)

Here's a good scene from the 2006 film, The Pursuit of Happyness, about the benefits of staying positive even when things aren't looking so good. Links to the video and lesson plan below.

Video

Lesson Plan

Lvl: Advanced
Subjects: Interviews; Dreams; Determination

Scenes from "Before Sunrise" (1995)

When it comes to films about conversation, it doesn't get much better than this. Richard Linklater's 1995 classic, Before Sunrise. Video clips and lesson plan below.

Video 1

Video 2

Lesson plan

Lvl: Beginner
Subjects: Introductions; Love

Questions for the film "About Time" (2013)

I just recently watched this film and greatly enjoyed it. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I decided to show it to a class of my students for our final class on film. Here is a simple lesson plan with questions about the contents. Note that there are two video links: the first is for a preview of the film, and the second is a link to the full film on Google Play.

Video (preview)

Video (full on Google Play Store; 300¥ rental)

Lesson plan 

Review lesson 2

This is the second movie review lesson. It covers vocabulary, contents, and grammar from the movies Casablanca, E.T., West Side Story, and Blade Runner.

Lesson