Film English receives media and education award

The website Film English, created by UAB-Idiomes lecturer Kieran Donaghy, recently received the MEDEA User-Generated Award. These awards receive the support of the European Commission's Lifelong Learning Programme and are awarded to the best initiatives in the use of technologies for educational purposes. This past edition surpassed all records, with 342 proposal presented from 37 different countries.

13/05/2014

Film English contains language learning resources which use short films to promote "film literacy" - the ability to analyse and interpret images in movement - as part of a language class. It is a resource database with over 90 lessons for teachers structured around images in movement.

Its number of followers grow steadily each year. There are currently 80,000 teachers subscribed to the website, which receives some 2.5 million visits each year. Film English is based on the fact that young people must be as competent in using and comprehending language used in images in movement as they are in the written word in order to participate in society and culture, both locally and globally. To achieve this objective and develop the four communication skills (speaking, reading, writing and listening) using these short films, used by teachers and students.

The website is addressed to primary and secondary school students and their teachers. It is designed to be very easy to use, readable and well organised. The lessons are classified by subjects, levels and most appropriate age levels. There is a glossary of terms and links to related areas for teachers and students. There is no need to download anything, the only things users need are access to the internet, a computer and a class projector.

The panel of judges highlighted that "Film English is a highly attractive website of language learning resources that uses short films in a creative manner, not only to teach languages, but also to promote film literacy as part of language classes. It is easy to use. It contains numerous materials which teachers can use in the classroom, lessons with specific teaching purposes, etc. We believe students love learning English like this".

Kieran Donaghy explains that "the lessons aim to bring critical thinking into the language classroom, and encourages students to reflect upon values (racism, human rights, poverty, inequalities, etc.), while they learn languages".

The founder of the website, Kieran Donaghy, teaches English at the UAB-Idiomes. He is teacher, trainer and writer, specialising in the use of films in education. He is co-author of the book "Les pel·lícules en les Ciències de la Salut i Educació".

Film English has been praised by the critics and has received several prizes, among them the Best Individual Blog Prize and the Sub-Champion Prize in the use of videos at the 2011 Edublog Premis, as well as the "British Council Eltons Award for Innovation in Teacher Resources". The MEDEA awards ceremony took place in Brussels in April.