Watching movies can help you learn English because the more you hear the language, the easier it is to learn. I used to know lady from Puerto Rico a few years ago, and I remember that she told me she didn’t know any English when she first moved here. I asked her how she learned English and she told me that it was mostly from talking to people and the TV shows that she watched. I was impressed that she could learn so much from a TV show. She told me that it took a long time, but eventually English started to make sense to her. Luckily, Columbus State University’s English Language Institute (ELI) is here to provide formal English teaching to our students. However, mixing the two methods together can also provide a new interesting way of learning.
This is why Cindy Cook, Program Coordinator for ELI, is encouraging everyone in the program to come together every Thursday and watch popular new American movie a movie. The movies students have already watched include Blindside, Rio and Soul Surfer. Before the movie starts, students are given a summary of the movie, and during the movie they’re asked questions to see how well they understand the events taking place. Then, at the end of the movie, they have a discussion about the plot of the movie and how their own experiences can relate to it. A vocabulary list is given out the next day, so students can study what they’ve learned.
Cindy feels that this is a great way for students to have fun and learn at the same time. The movie starts at 1pm and food and beverage will be provided for 2$ per student at 12:15pm-12:45pm. Last week they had pizza and coca cola! Remember, this is a free event and the lunch is optional. If you’re an ELI student who wants something to do, and you’re kind of hungry on Thursday, grab $2 and a friend and come on down to Continuing Education’s auditorium.
Find out more about the ELI program at ColumbusState.edu/ELI
-Kindra Hunter
