Reading in the Social Studies: Using Subtitled Films.

Involving reluctant and low-achieving students with reading is an essential step to increasing students' content area knowledge. One way to increase students' engagement with text is by linking social studies content with foreign films that have English subtitles Not only can subtitled films help increase students' engaged time with text, but the use of these films provides a multi-sensory, multidimensional exposure to the social studies. Films bring social studies-particularly history and geography--to life for students, bringing them closer to the people and events they are studying. (1) Films can also impact and influence a person's perspective of history and offer an accurate interpretation of history. (2) This article aims to identify and describe specific films that teachers can use to supplement and enhance the social studies curriculum (grades 6-12), while also encouraging reading. The article illustrates how teachers can capture students' interest and stimulate their imagination as they are learning. We also provide readers with a research-based rationale for using foreign films with English subtitles in the classroom; criteria for selecting films suitable for classroom use; and information on the legality of using copyrighted material in the classroom. Capitalizing on Novelty, Movement, and Interest Novelty and movement are two recognized ways to attract and maintain student interest. Wolfe states that when new information is presented in a novel context, students learn the material in a deeper, more meaningful way. (4) The brain is a novelty seeker, writes Sousa. (5) Unexpected events provide interest and stimulation. This aspect of foreign films, accentuated through movement and sound, makes them exceptional at captivating students. People are all drawn to movement; movement alerts the mind to danger and changes in the environment. Teachers have all had to compete with movement while trying to keep students focused on their lessons. When someone passes outside the classroom window or door, heads turn to focus on the movement. By linking lessons to movement, teachers can capitalize on the instinctive preoccupation with movement. Studies on interestingness indicate that students read at a faster rate and at a higher reading level when they are interested in what they are reading) Learning is also more likely to be retained in long-term memory when it is attached to an emotional response. (7) American students become emotionally connected with the lives of people around the world through foreign films, while at the same time participating in reading and social studies learning. People, Places, and Environment Because foreign films come in many genres and are set in countries around the world, teachers can find films to supplement almost any social studies theme. Foreign films explicitly expose students to cultural differences by allowing them to enter the homes and workplaces of people around the world. Differences and similarities between the students' lives and the lives of people in other places and at other times are easier to perceive. The compelling images and scenes enable students to make comparisons between cultures and customs and, when fostered by discussion, may help them develop greater appreciation and sensitivity for cultures and customs different from their own. Getting Started Two resources that provide an overall description of films suitable for classroom use are the book Engaging Reluctant Readers through Foreign Films and the website TeachWithMovies.com. These resources also offer numerous vocabulary, reading, and social studies activities. (8) Leonard Maltin's Movie and Video Guide, Tom Wiener's The Off-Hollywood Film Guide, and Elliot Wilhelm's Video Hounds World Cinema are excellent preliminary guides, providing brief descriptions of films and their ratings. Foreign films with English subtitles can be checked out for free from public libraries or rented from video and DVD stores. …