<미국문화와 영화> 영어수업 사례연구

A Case Study of Class "American Culture and Film" in English

Last spring semester, I offered the class of "American culture and Film" in English. I intended to achieve three objectives in the class: to help students understand American cultures in general through written texts and visual materials; to help students improve their command of the English language by participating actively in class; and finally to make it possible for students to draw a cultural map about America in English. After completing the semester, I'd like to evaluate the class by myself in order to offer a better class next year. As far as the texts are concerned, I decded to combine written texts with visual ones in order to maximize the student's interests. I selected nine films to match with nine chapters in the written text of American Roots. Before deciding the list of films to discuss together with the printed text, I asked students their references. The students enjoyed the feeling that they themselves were making the class not simply taking classes in passive ways provided by instructors. This spirit of cooperation naturally let the students to open their mind in class discussion in English. They gradually got over the fears and doubts as to if they could make oral presentations successfully, if they could pass written tests in two formal exams, and if they could achieve best grades, etc. In spite of these satisfactory results, however, Irealized that this class could be much more productive by taking the folowing suggestions into consideration. First of all, I should make stronger encouragement to those who still hesitate to praticipate in the class. Second, students could enjoy the class much more once they complete pre-English courses. Finally students need to have fuller confidence in themselves that they will definitely achieve their goals in English class.