Using movie scripts and databases to understand the reality of English expressions
Research Themes
This seminar utilizes a database of film and English to observe English expressions in their natural state. First of all, when it comes to film English, there are many difficult films and scenes, including those that deviate from standard English, slang, and swear words. However, because films are accompanied by visual images, they also have the advantage of allowing students to virtually observe the use of real-life colloquial expressions. We also use a database of a large collection of English expressions to explore English expressions of interest, such as the differences between British and American English, the actual use of everyday English expressions derived from sports, differences in English between men and women and between different age groups, and changes in English over the past 100 years.
Activities
- In class, students introduce interesting English expressions from their favorite movie scenes.
- I use my computer to search through a huge database of English expressions and observe how various English expressions are used in their natural form. I enjoy looking at the data in tables and graphs. (I'm a bit of a nerd.)
Student Voices
Department of Economics Shota Ogano
This is a seminar where each participant brings their favorite movie and has fun introducing memorable scenes to their fellow seminar members along with English expressions.
Satoshi Sato, Department of Economics
This is a seminar where students pair up and have fun using language while introducing movies.