Short Description
The aim of this lesson is to use the film My Big Fat Greek Wedding to engage the pupils in a discussion centred around culture, multiculturalism and integration, using the cultural importance of food as a focal point. The pupils will explain, explore and elaborate on key topics. They will also analyse and reflect. They will use three of the basic skills: oral skills, writing skills and digital skills.
Overordnet del - verdier og prinsipper for opplæringen
The film covers topics related to § 1.2: Identitet og kulturelt mangfold. Skolen skal gi elevene historisk og kulturell innsikt og forankring, og bidra til at hver elev kan ivareta og utvikle sin identitet i et inkluderende og mangfoldig fellesskap.
Competence Aims in K06
Engelsk
Muntlig kommunikasjon
- forstå og bruke et bredt generelt ordforråd og et faglig ordforråd knyttet til eget utdanningsprogram
- uttrykke seg på en nyansert og presis måte med god flyt og sammenheng, tilpasset formål og situasjon
- lytte til og forstå sosiale og geografiske varianter av engelsk fra autentiske situasjoner
Kultur, samfunn og litteratur
- drøfte engelskspråklige filmer og andre kulturuttrykk fra forskjellige medier
- drøfte kultur og samfunnsforhold i flere engelskspråklige land
Restaurant og Matfag vg1
- lage tradisjonsmat frå ... ulike kulturar, og drøfte kva måltidet har å seie som kulturberar
Kokk og Servitør vg2
- komponere menyer og lage måltider ut fra hensyn til kultur og religion
- gjøre rede for krav til helse, miljø og sikkerhet innen kokk- og servitørfag, og følge dem i praksis
Teaching Objectives
By the end of the lesson students will be able to:
- demonstrate increased knowledge of different cultures
- demonstrate a better understanding of multiculturalism
- have developed their listening, oral, analysis, discussion and teamwork skills
- show a wider repertoire of general and program-related vocabulary
Debriefing and Assessment
If working on Google docs, then the groups could assess each other’s written texts. Provide them with an assessment form for written skills (see Resources).
Summary - ask them to write up on the board “what is the most interesting thing that I have learnt today?”OR, Use a consensus mat sheet and ask each person to write down the most important things they have learnt from watching the film, including words and terms, and then agree on what should be written in the centre box to be shared with the rest of the class.
Self assesment. Give the pupils a sheet of paper with a Continuum-Value line:
Ask the pupils to put a cross on the line (above) reflecting their opinion, and then ask them to stand and form themselves physically, in a line according to where they have placed their cross on the paper. Each pupil should then talk to the two pupils either side of them and give reasons for their choice.
Written work can be handed in and assessed by the teacher too. The role-plays can be assessed by fellow pupils or the teacher.
Resources
Ndla: My Big Fat Greek Wedding - Lesson plan that includes name posters, vocabulary list, and placemat http://fyr.ndla.no/nb/teachingprogramme/8871
- Sheet 1 - Kompetansemål (pdf)
- Sheet 2 - Film summary (pdf)
- ow to analyse a film (ndla)
- How to write a film review
- Consencus mat sheet
- About Greek Food
- Printouts
- Worksheet
Preparations
Teacher
- Book auditorium or make sure computer, speakers and projector works
- Have film at hand
- Have discussion points on paper for the pupils to think about during the film
- Prepare posters and hang up in classroom
- Make a vocabulary list
Pupils
- Notebook, pen or pencil
Plan of Lessons
Pre-film activity
Activate pupils’ previous knowledge. Have pairs and, eventually the whole class, discuss certain themes to prepare them for the film.
Possible themes include:
- How much influence does your family have on your choices?
- What duties do you have at home?
- What role does food play in your family?
- What is the cultural importance of food?
- Would you want to continue eating Norwegian food if you emigrated to another country, or would you embrace food from a new culture?
Film - watch together
Possible post-film activities include
- Film analysis
e.g. themes, climax, point of view, setting, characters, denouement, conclusion (see ndla link in resources). This can be carried out in a number of ways
- hang various posters up with, for example, the names of the main characters. Ask the pupils to stand by the character who is their favourite. Ask them to discuss in their group and list down five reasons why. A group spokesperson then relays this information to the rest of the class and discussions are inititiated.
- hang various posters up with, for example, the names of the main characters. Ask the pupils to write key words that describe the character on the posters. You can then go through these with the whole class.
they can repeat the exercise with for example different scenes, climaxes (which is the climax? which is their favourite scene?) etc.
- Film discussion
Pupils sit in small groups. Each group discusses one of the following points and they produce a short written summary (they could do this in google docs, so that they can write simultaneously):
- What role does food play in the film?
- How integrated are the various characters in the US community?
- What influence does family have on the main character?
- If you were Ian, would you have agreed to join another church in order to marry Toula? Why/why not?
The pupils could then have a spokes-person that rotates around the other groups and reads out their group’s summary. The other members of the group could then say if they agree etc
- Role-play
Make a restaurant scene, where the pupils take on the roles of guests and waiters/waitresses. The guests can be foreigners who are visiting Norway. The waiters/waitresses have to explain what all of the Norwegian dishes are to the guests, in English of course. - Film Review
The pupils could write a film review (see resources) - Language work
Use the vocabulary list (see Resources) to devise various activities for the pupils. For example, have them translate the English words, Kahoot, quizlet etc.
Follow-up
- Watch Bend it like Beckham. This is a similar theme with a Sikh family living in Britain.
- Or Outsourced with an American man living in India.
- Dicuss Multiculturalism in the USA.
Comments
This lesson plan is very flexible and can be used in all English lessons and is particulary relevant to RM pupils.
Developed by
Alison Jones Rød og Kristin Befring