Movie Talk Method

My process for Movies Talks is as follows:
      I hand out the Movie Talk template which I remind students will be collected for credit after the end of the activity.  It's in the Omnia Drive in the folder "Movie Talks."  Specific link to the document is here.
      To begin with, I write new words on the board with their English meanings ahead of time so that I can point to them as I go.  I also teach students how to indicate questions using a few ASL signs so the class doesn't devolve into a discussion in English (which honestly happens sometimes anyway.) I learned these signs from Justin Slocum Bailey, who is an excellent presenter if you are looking for some informative and entertaining language based PD for your school.  Here is a link to his video where he demonstrates these signals.  The most useful ones for my Movie Talks have been "slow down" which as I become a more proficient storyteller in Latin,  I find students use more frequently.  I also use his signal for "again"  so students can indicate that they need to hear that last sentence again.  I modified his signal to clarify a word since no one could seem to remember how to make the sign correctly. I ask students to hold up one finger so I know that I need to stop and clarify a word or two. 
​     After everyone is familiar with these three signs - slow down, again, and clarify a word,  I tell part I of the story to the class in Latin.  My storytelling is a pared down version of the actual plot. I leave out details that are too difficult to describe. The first part usually consists of  setting scene and describing the first main event.  (In each of the individual movie talks, I have indicated where I break up the story.) Then I ask the students to draw what I described in the box labeled Pars I.  There usually isn't time for artistic excellence even among students who could produce it.  I encourage students to add speech bubbles, labels if they are worried I won't understand their drawings.  While they are drawing,  I tell the entire part again.
      I repeat the process with the next part of the story. I explain what happens in Latin, give them time to draw and then say the entire part again while they draw.  They draw this part in the box labeled Pars II. Often it's necessary to break the Pars II box in half as there are several distinct actions described. 
      Finally, I ask them to make a prediction in English about how it ends in the Quid accidit? section.  Then, we watch the movie together.  Now students are hooked because they want to see "if they got it right." 
      The entire process lasts about 20 -30 minutes.  The students hand in their drawings and if I've timed it right - the bell rings and they shuffle out, discussing the movie with each other. 
   Below are some student examples of "Movie Talk" drawings.  See "Top Ten Movie Talks" for descriptions and links to films.