What were conditions, clothing, food and the English language like 100 years ago? During the 1700s or even before? I’ve actually found the pre-tenth-century epic poem-saga “Beowulf” on DVD. Learning about or comparing historical changes can be enhanced by viewing period pieces, that is, films set in specific historical periods and locations. For example; Gone With the Wind, Humphrey Bogart’s stable of classics, in addition to great literature of classic writers which have been converted into screen plays, film documentaries or epic dramas (i.e., Dr. Zhivago, Wuthering Heights, A Tale of Two Cities, War and Peace, Moby Dick, etc.).

4. Using Audio – Visual elements aids learning

As repeatedly demonstrated in research by H. Gardner (1984) and D. Lazear (1992), an audio – visual approach is highly effective in both lowering learner affective filters (Krashen-Terrell, 1984) and in language acquisition and learning. Visual – Spatial, Musical – Rhythmic, Inter-personal, Intra-personal and Verbal – Linguistic intelligence learners receive, process and acquire communicatively-based language elements quite readily from movies. Virtually every type of learning style can benefit from language elements acquired from watching movies, films and videos.

5. Movies are great fun to watch

Finally, no one, not the most dedicated English language learner, not even the teacher, wants a course consisting of only class room rhetoric, typical class room practice, grammar and drills. Movies can offer a welcome respite to “normal” class room activity while still continuing to promote English language skills acquisition and practice. A thoughtfully chosen film (or clip thereof) can breathe new life into a class of the most reluctant learners. They’re simply great fun to watch. After all, they were produced for entertainment, right?