Read a Film Script for Pronunciation Practice

Reading is a great way to improve your vocabulary, but it can also be a good way to improve your pronunciation, especially if you can hear what you have to read.

Today's activity uses the IMSDB (Internet Movie Script database) and explores how you can use film scripts as reading to improve your pronunciation.

Task:

• Find a movie in English that you like and which has good dialogue. If you don't have any English movies you may be able to find some at: http://quicksilverscreen.com/
• Then go to http://www.imsdb.com/ and try to find the script.
• There are lots of scripts on the IMSDB, but also a lot of advertising so be careful where you click. You can either search for the movie you want or browse by alphabet or genre.

• Once you find the page with your movie on look for 'Read [movie name] script' and click on it. This will show you the movie script.

• Here's an example of the script for the first Shrek movie which many people may have.

• Once you find the script you want print up a few pages from it. Now find the movie and watch it. Try to follow the script and listen to the intonation of the speakers.
• Intonation is the change in pitch and it usually either falls or rises at the ends of sentences or at commas just like punctuation in writing.

• Try to mark on the script where you here the intonation rise or fall. Then try reading the script and trying to imitate the actors. try to copy their emotions and accents.

• Read along while watching the the movie. You don't have to do this for the whole film, but trying to imitate small chunks will help to develop your pronunciation and your ability to hear and understand the changes in emotion that it conveys.

I hope you enjoy watching and reading movie scripts. Here you can find more activities to improve your pronunciation.

Related links for teachers:

• Adding Phonetic Symbols to a Webpage
• Dictation goes Web 2.0
• Pronunciation goes 2.0
• Phonology can be fun and free
• Karaoke with a Social Network
• Artificial Intelligence Chat bots and EFL ESL
• Listen and Write the News
• Listen to and Download Texts
• Subtitling your video clips

Best

Nik Peachey

Create a Movie to Introduce Yourself

An important part of getting to know people is being able to introduce yourself and tell people a little about yourself. Today's activity will help you to do this by creating an animated movie using simple text to speech technology. All you have to do is create your text and decide how you want your movie to look.

Here's an example from Stermy.


If you think this is really difficult or will take a long time, then don't worry. It only takes minutes to create a movie like this using Xtranormal . This video shows you how to create your movie.

As you can see from the movie, you don't need to say the text yourself, you just type it in and the character will say the text for you. Okay, now it's your turn.

Task:

• Think about the things you would like to say about yourself. Things you could include are:
  
  - A greeting
  - Who you are and where you are from (Warning: Never give addresses or phone numbers)
  - Where you live / your country (Cultural information etc.)
  - Your job
  - What you like to do
  - What sports, music, films you like etc.
  - What your dreams / ambitions are etc
  

• Then go to: http://www.xtranormal.com/ and click on 'Make Movies' and then select a single character to represent you (You can change the look of the character later)

• Be patient while the interface loads. You can then select your background, add some music, design your character and start typing in your information.

• Once you have finished click on 'IT'S A WRAP' and wait for your movie to be prepared for viewing.
• If you want to save your movie you'll need to register on the site, but this is free. You can then download the movie, share it with your friends or embed it into your blog or website.
  

This is a great way to share personal information about yourself online in English, without having to show who you really are or worry about what you sound like. It's also great fun.

I hope you enjoy this activity and please post links to your introduction movies by clicking on comments below.

Come back tomorrow for more EFL ESL activities.

Related links for teachers:

• Text to Speech Movies for EFL ESL
• Text to Speech for EFL ESL Materials
• Creating audio-visual monologues
• Make you own animated movies
• Developing screencast tutorials
• Create an English Cartoon

Best

Nik Peachey

Listen to a Movie Script

Watching Movies is a great way of developing your English, but sometimes what you are seeing can distract you from what you are hearing. So in this activity you can just listen to a movie and follow the script.

This activity uses two websites. The first is Listen to a Movie which has the audio tracks from around 1500 movies. You can search through and listen to as many as you like for free.
The second site we need is called Drew's Script-O-Rama. This site has a huge collection of film and TV scripts, again they are all free.
I've chosen a movie and script for you to listen to, but if you prefer to listen to a different one then just find the film you want and then search on Drew's Script-O-Rama for the script.

The movie I've chosen is called About a Boy and it stars Hugh Grant. Here is a clip to show you what the film is like before you listen. (You should be 14 or over to watch this film)


Task:

• Go to the About a Boy script. If you want, you can print it up, or you could copy it into a word processing document so that you can add and make notes to it.
• Now go to the audio page for the film on Listen to Movies. You can find it by clicking this link: About a Boy audio. Once the page opens, click on the small blue arrow where it says 'LAUNCH AUDIO PLAYER'.

• The audio player will pop up and you can then control it a little like a CD player.

• Listen to the movie and follow along on the script. If you have the script on a word processor, you can make notes and check new word etc.

Well I hope you enjoy listening to this film and that using the script helps you to develop your vocabulary and listening skills.

Come back soon for another EFL ESL activity.

Related links for teachers:

• Ready Made Authentic Video materials For ESL EFL
• News Videos for EFL ESL Materials Design
• Subtitling your video clips
• Transcribed Videos for EFL ESL
• Using Product Reviews
• Iconic teen video

Best

Nik Peachey

Watch Film Reviews

Watching films is a great way to learn English, but listening to people talk about films can also be very useful.
Today's task uses the Guardian.co.uk Films page, where you can find lots of very short but interesting videos, film reviews and trailers.

Task:

• You are going to watch a film clip of someone talking about High School Musical 3

• Go to: High School Musical 3: 'You be Ryan, I'll be Sharpay'

Watch the interview and decide:

• What is the relationship of the person being interviewed to the film?
• Did the film critic like the film?
• Would you like the film?

If you would rather watch a different film review then look on the right of the movie player and you'll see some other short reviews to choose from.
If you enjoy watching and talking about film, then you can find more information at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/film

Well I hope you enjoyed learning about films in English. Come back tomorrow for more EFL ESL activities.

Related links for teachers:

• Edit Online videos
• Videos for Global Issues Lessons
• Ready Made Authentic Video materials For ESL EFL
• Subtitling your video clips
• Tutorial: Using Videos from YouTube
• Using 'How to' videos

Best

Nik Peachey