Take Your Students to the Movies!

Watching movies is one of the best ways to learn a new language. Not only can movies improve listening and comprehension skills, but they can help with vocabulary and pronunciation while keeping your students entertained along the way!

My students are big fans of "Movie Days"! They also enjoy learning about the plot and the characters before watching a movie (which you can find online or some sites have worksheets on vocabulary and discussion questions). 

I tend to stick to comedy and dramas with lighter plots in order to capture the attention of all students regardless of their levels. Most DVDs these days come with subtitles which I do use as I find many students in the lower levels prefer reading along with the movie and visually seeing the words.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding, What About Bob, ELF, The Sound of Music, Planes Trains and Automobiles, Mrs. Doubtfire, Marley and Me, Groundhog Day, Momma Mia, The Blind Side, Mr. Bean and animated ones such as Despicable Me are just a few movies I have found to be a big success with my ESL students.


Note: Original DVD movies can be found at most libraries, stores and on Amazon or seen online through Netflix or other movie hosting sites.

Here are some recommended sites with movies clips, lessons, discussion questions and teaching ideas:
LessonsOnMovies - Online and printable movies lessons and activities 
ESLNotes - Popular movie suggestions with complete synopsis guides
LearnEnglishFeelGood - Short movie clips with comprehension questions
TeachWithMovies - Lesson plans based on movies and films 
EnglishExercises - ESL activities on popular movie trailers and TV shows
ESLGalaxy - Movie lesson worksheets on a few popular movies
ESLMovieLessons - Downloadable movie lessons:  *pay as you go ($8 per lesson package)
ESLPrintables - Lessons on movies, films and TV shows:    *free membership (lesson sharing site)
EnglishClub - Short films and video clips with classroom material 
CinemaClubEFL - Recent movie clips with follow up online activities
IMDB - Movie plots for all movies
MoviesGrowEnglish - One page printable ESL movie lessons:  *pay as you go ($1 per lesson)
YouTube movie clips with follow up vocabulary lessons
LessonPlanet - Teaching resources for movies and lessons:   *membership required

Feel free to comment or to send us any link or resource you would like to share so that we can continue to be part of this exciting and ever growing field of English language teaching!