by Marianne Stipe |
Into the West Film Discussion Questions/summaries
Into the West is a six-part miniseries produced by Steven Spielberg that I used as a cultural component of a 12- week Listening and Speaking class at the university level. This resource provides discussion questions for each episode of the film. The questions vary in difficulty and complexity, which allows for use with students at varying levels of English competency. The questions were completed after viewing the film and approximately 30 minutes were spent discussing the answers. In addition to discussion questions this resource provides scene summaries of each of the episodes. The scene summaries were given to the students after they had finished watching and discussing an episode. I have used this film with students from high beginning to high intermediate and have found that students at all levels are capable of following the film and having discussions. The students were very interested in U.S. history and enjoyed learning about the Native American culture.
Resource Type: Activities
Audience: Secondary
Audience Language Proficiency: Intermediate
Duration: 3 hours
Materials And Technology:
Worksheets
Objective:
Students are given an opportunity to speak about US History after being given discussion questions on the miniseries Into the West.
Activity Description: The Into the West miniseries was used as a cultural component to Listening/speaking class. Students learned about westward expansion or the United States and the effects on the Native American population. The purpose of this activity is to aid understanding of the film, to check film comprehension and promote discussion. Through discussion the students get a better understanding of the history of this period. The students receive the questions before they view the film. The teacher reviews the questions with the students to make sure all are understood. The students
watch the episode in class and have the opportunity to watch it
again outside of class with a tutor. The students then complete the questions for homework. Discussion happens in the following class.
Useful Links:
Into the West (miniseries) on Wikipedia
Useful Link:
Into the West (miniseries) on Wikipedia
Supporting Files:
Into The West Film Discussion Questions Summaries 01.pdf
Into The West Film Discussion Questions Summaries 02.pdf
Into The West Film Discussion Questions Summaries 03.pdf
Into The West Film Discussion Questions Summaries 04.pdf
Into The West Film Discussion Questions Summaries 05.pdf
Into The West Film Discussion Questions Summaries 06.pdf
Into The West Film Discussion Questions Summaries 07.pdf
Into The West Film Discussion Questions Summaries 08.pdf
Into The West Film Discussion Questions Summaries 09.pdf
Into The West Film Discussion Questions Summaries 10.pdf
Into The West Film Discussion Questions Summaries 11.pdf
Into The West Film Discussion Questions Summaries 12.pdf
Into The West Film Discussion Questions Summaries 13.pdf
TESOL Interest Section: Teacher Education