In Kieran’s workshop we explored how short films can be used in the
classroom. The advantages of short films are that they are almost free, varied
and not time-consuming. Teachers can use them to promote creativity, practice
communicative skills – both written and oral – with their students, and boost critical thinking.
Kieran started by quoting that researches and studies have shown that creativity
is lost while people are growing up. As one gets older, this ability declines
to ¼ of what we are born with. Then he
asked us to find ways to use a paper-clip or a cardboard box. The ideas we came
up with were quite innovative, creative and funny. Then we watched a short film
with the adventures of a Cardboard box. The ways a child perceives the use of a
box are limitless.
The second film was about creativity and the 29 ways to be creative.
Language teaching can be creative if educators take risks, do not give up and
collaborate. The next short film was about a manifesto. What is a manifesto?
What type of manifesto could a short film promote? The video is a call for
action to live a life passionately and with integrity. It urges viewers to see
their lives from another perspective, change what does not satisfy them, change
their way of thinking and enjoy life. Kieran suggested that students could
create their own manifesto and express what radical changes they would like to
have in their lives.
The last video was about secrets and thoughts that people can share
without revealing them. It encourages us to think about something positive,
exhilarating, something that could make us happy.
The workshop ended with Kieran suggesting to us websites from which we
could use short films in the classroom, i.e. futureshorts, vimeo, staff picks,
english-english.com
EFL teachers who would like to implement short films in their lessons should visit Kieran Donaghy’s site http://film-english.com/
By Georgia Psarra
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