Video journal entry 2

Here you have the link for the video journal:

Second entry: video journal

K*

Reflections on unit 2

The idea of studying arts and movies in this unit has made me realize on different ways of teaching different topics inside the classroom. This unit in particular was more flexible than the previous one, and, in my opinion, that helps a lot in terms of engaging students with the topic.

In my case, the fact that we could link history and movies (Goodbye Lenin - Schindler's List) was very interesting and helped me understand a little bit more about history; and I think that, if it worked with me, it can work with students at school. In addition to that, using photos is also a good way of teaching, as it is a more dynamic method and it is different from the common classes at school.

Language teaching was a little weak during this unit, however, I found ways of teaching language through new methods during this unit, as it is to make students read specific texts and make them choose the words that they consider as "specific words" used in the subject studied, in this case, terminology from movies and arts. Another task that I found interesting to do with students was the movie remake, because it conveys the four skills in its process of making the whole movie again. It is a very complete and complex project, but possible to do with students as well.

Relating everything that has been mentioned above with how this unit facilitated my learning, I may say that, as I'm a visual learner, it worked better for me the topic related to photography and movies, more than the part of reading everything. In my opinion, this unit was absolutely better than unit 1.

Movie remake

Here you have the link for the movie remake:

Les Misérables - Movie remake:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk4inDopneY&feature=youtu.be

Movie Review

Movie Review: Schindler’s List

Macarena Gutiérrez

Karina Lorca 

The Schindler’s List is a film based upon a book by the same name, which presents real facts about Oskar Schindler’s life. It was taken to the big screen on  December 15th, 1993 by the director Steven Spielberg. This movie is about Oskar Schindler and how he ends up becoming an important part of Poland’s cultural memory during the World War II. 

The plot of the movie is spectacular; it is not only a drama movie but a historical one. The protagonist must deal with his ideology, beliefs and how the events changed his point of view about the Jewish people. 

The movie takes place in the Nazi-occupied Poland, where he goes looking for economic prosperity, and ends up becoming a savior for the Jewish people he helped. The soundtrack, which won an Academy Award, makes the viewer travel in time through those years and goes accordingly with the scenes that are clearly exposed by Spielberg.  

Spielberg did an amazing piece of work adapting this book. He captured all the essence of details of it. Additionally, it encourages the viewer with such a powerful message as it is to overcome adversities and to look beyond what the ideologies were. 

Liam Neeson, who plays the role of Oskar Schindler, matches perfectly with the character and it is easy to get caught by his natural charm. He is able to convey any kind of emotions and feelings along the movie.

Winner of seven Academy Awards, these awards give us an idea of how magnificent this film is. Touching and beautiful, full of history and emotions, that contrasts with how sad and hard the movie turns when it shows how difficult those times were and all what Jewish people went through. 

If you have not watched this movie we totally recommend you to do so. You will not only learn about Oskar Schindler’s contribution to the Jewish people, but about the historical events and why it is part of European cultural memory.

City as character

• Can the city itself serve as a character in a movie?

Yes, it can. In the case of Goodbye Lenin, the city plays a very important role, becoming itself a character, as everything that happens revolves around the city: Alex tries to keep the past in the city for her mother not to find out the truth, and all that has to do with the idea of the city changing. The main character in the movie is the city, as it becomes the most influencial character, mainly because the plot of the movie has to do with social changes and the transformation of Berlin.

Reflections on unit 1

This fisrt unit was very specific and, at the same time, so broad that it was very complicated for me to understand it from the very beginning. However, the idea of relating education with accountability and sustainability was interesting and correct.

It is my belief that this has been the most difficult unit to study, but I also think that it is important to bear in mind that the topic was necessary for us to become more complete teachers in the future. The key concepts from the texts were actually the key to understand the topic more clearly, and they were an important part of our understanding of what being a teacher means, and what we have to do and develop to become a better professional; and also the idea of us creating a project that could make education sustainable was a good approach to the concept itself. Language was well used and explained: there were a lot of new words to learn and understand, and that helped to make the topic still more complicated than before.

However, the unit was interesting and very complete, well-developed and approached by the teachers. It helped a lot for me to understand it better.