Hello. Just want to share a little bit on how we can improve the learning and achievements of our students.
My experimental project is all about English conversation videos. Please check out this site
ppkenglish.multiply.com
Scroll down to check out the videos
My first experiment was with the small kids. Check out below.
phayaokids.multiply.com
I started this video project with a video camera I borrowed from a mother of my elementary student. Hate borrowing but I really have nothing to use since my digital cam didn't cooperate my good plan.
I could see a lot of excitements and improvements in my classes. Also, I regularly upload our finish videos online so my students could see themselves and learn them.
One day, I got a letter from a social media expert expressing his interesting about my project and he said he wanted to come over to interview me. He discovered my learning English site. My meeting with the social media expert (Mr. Vincent Berthelot) has brought me to another level of my project. I din't know that he has a connection with the KODAK company in France. I was just surprise one day that I got an e-mail from the KODAK France that they are going to send me a KODAK Zi8 to use for my project.
So, how I made the conversation videos?
I love to be a film maker. But I don’t have formal training though. So the best lessons I have gathered up here were my mistakes! Every day I try to figure out where I’m going wrong and what do I need to do more. Since I’m teaching English, I have an opportunity to combined teaching and directing! At least one week before the video-making, I always make sure that my students understand the most important rule I’ve set for them– “no filming happens if they don’t memorize their parts.” So I make sure everyone is well-prepared before shooting, to avoid wasting our time.
Usually, we talk about the schedule and I sometime let them chose their own convenient time when to film and where I could meet them. For some videos that need special costumes (like being doctor, teacher) we talk about what they should wear. But no makeup and other beauty enhancer involved.
And also no lighting and other effects were involved in the process of the making. So everything is natural. This means no budget! I solely depend on the daylight when shooting outdoors and the normal house light when shooting indoors- for example, inside the house.
Normally, during the filming, the students should act out on the same scene at least three to four times, since I have only one video camera and I have to take many different angles. The repetition of acting on the same scene is good for the performers so they can master their parts- I always after on what they have learned throughout the whole process.
So I shoot three different angles in each scene. First is the wide shot where all performers and place can be seen. Second is the medium and third is the close up. The close up shot is to focus each actor. This means I’m moving the camera to where I’m focusing (side to side). So the actors must repeat the same action at least three to four times! But if their performance did not satisfy me, they have to do it over and over again.
Anyway, we all have fun throughout the entire process!
My friend teaching at Phan Pittayakhom School likes this idea and just started his
check out his work
phanppkenglish.multiply.com/
Very important note;
You are going to need 2 things to start out this video project.
1. Digital camera- 2 GB memory will do(if possible buy an extra memory and bateries)
2. Laptop / desktop computer- make sure it has functional Windows Movie Maker program on it.
Windows Movie Maker program is so easy to use. You can learn this in less than a week.
