After Viewing Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Well, what new is there to tell you? Why wasn't I surprised that the vocational group of students I took to the cinema behaved so well??? To tell you the truth, I haven't got reasons to complain: they are talkative, not really hardworking but do what they are asked to and, till now, they haven't been disrespectful, quite the contrary! Taking them to the movies was another way of motivating them to learn English in a different way as well as to bring us closer as a group and I can assure you it was worthwhile for they haven't talked about anything else besides their outing for a whole week! It was great to see their joy leaving school to go to the movies with classmates and teachers; it was great to see their joy eating hamburgers and icecreams at MacDonald's; it was great to see their joy to be able to have some time off at the mall and go shopping; It was as nice for them as it was rewarding for me as a teacher.

Not only the students met my expectations - so did the film and the main characters, the famous detective Sherlock Holmes (Downey Jr) and his sidekick, Dr Watson (Jude Law).
Most of the film centers on a climax in the long rivalry between Sherlock Holmes and Professor James Moriarty - often referred to as the Napoleon of Crime - who is no less than the mastermind of a plot to push Europe into war. It's definitely high quality entertainment, a modern action picture played in costume that can only please moviegoers. In what concerns teaching / learning, there is also a lot to explore and a modest example and contribution has just been published in my ISSUU shelf above. Of course we could explore Victorian London, clothing... there's an almost endless array of ways to explore this or any film but all demanding hours of preparation: my choices reflect my attempt to avoid repetitions in my worksheets though I now have different classes.
Interesting for both teachers and students would be to check these links:
http://221bakerstreet.org/ - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's canon and many PDF versions of his stories
http://www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk/ - when Sir ACD first introduced S. Holmes to the reading public in 1887, he could never have imagined that he was creating the most famous detective in the world, much less his address 221 Baker Street which is now a museum, full of memorabilia and worth visiting (if there, don't forget to take a picture with Sherlock Holmes wearing his famous hat!!). By the way, why not try this quiz???
http://www.sherlockian.net/ - a recent site where one can find loads of information by checking the left bar
Pure and happy coincidence was BBC's publication of some articles you really should check if interested in Crime Scene Investigation:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16187225 - at the crime scene – how does it work?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16189713 - at the lab – how does it work?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11794286 - making a case / criticism to TV series
Happy reading :=)

Resources on Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Sir Arthur C. Doyle

I'm sure you've already noticed I've been publishing some of my materials in an Issuu sidebar widget which you can download after having created an account.
Some time ago, my vocational students asked me to take them to the movies. I agreed, as usual, but under one condition: to do all the exercises I would prepare for them. This might sound weird coming from me because I've always prepared handouts for all activities but remember I'm now dealing with teens, not adults!
As soon as we decided on Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, I started googling and outlining some activities. Soon it became clear that my starting point should be The Final Problem - why? Because I want them to READ, right? So, I downloaded and printed several copies of the book from here and took them into class. I had 4 students who immediately wanted to read it - yeap, not bad in a vocational class of 12! I also sent them some links and now, a week before going to the movies, it's high time to get down to the real business.
I split the activities into three parts: before going, on the day/location activities, and after going and having watched the movie. However, for obvious reasons, today I only posted the "BeforeGoing" Activities based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's biography, writers and types of writing, fiction and nonfiction as well as vocab on books I believe they should be familiar with at this stage. I'm well aware I could have used vocab on publishing,editing... books but first, because they're weak students, I do not wish to demotivate them with long activities; second these are supposed to be activities for a movie.
Hope you enjoy them. Next week, there will surely be some more.
Have a nice weekend :)))

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Theatrical poster

New Year, new film(s)!!! That's right. Today Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is released in Portugal and that's exactly the film we are going to watch next week.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is a 2011 British-American action mystery film directed by Guy Ritchie; it is also a sequel to the 2009 film Sherlock Holmes, based on the character of the same name created by the British author and doctor, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law reprise their roles as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson, and several other actors appear as characters they played in the 2009 film. Holmes and Watson join forces to outwit and bring down their most cunning adversary, Professor Moriarty, played by Jared Harris. The film is specifically influenced by Conan Doyle's work The Final Problem, but it is an independent story rather than a strict adaptation. Based on this world famous author and even more famous character, I prepared some worksheets I'll gladly share with you :)
As you can imagine, going to the movies implies some further effort from my students. Nevertheless, they are as excited as I am and willing to have some nice time together away from school.
By now, let's have a look at the trailer:

Hallowe'en... but not only!

GOOGLE HALLOWEEN DOODLE 2011 - A fun time-lapse video of the Google doodle team & friends carving giant pumpkins in the Halloween spirit. Shot on location at Google's Headquarters

For many, Oct 31st only means Hallowe'en but this has become a very important date for many and different reasons.
Surely you are all aware through the media that the United Nations Population Fund has designated today - 31st Oct 2011 - the Day of Seven Billion, a milestone to mark the planet's population growth based on data interpolated from 5-year-period estimates. However, did you also know that...

Source: moneybox clipart

- since 1924 this day has also been celebrated as World Savings Day ? Never in recent times has this thought become so relevant...at least a day devoted to the promotion of savings all over the World!!! But cheer up anyway if you're Portuguese and desperate with so many cuts: check an online platform  for donations and reuse of what has become useless to their owners presented today at Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation: dou.pt !
- on this day in 1892, "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" by Sir Arthur Connan Doyle was published? That's right: the first collection of the beloved British detective whose adventures the author had been publishing loose in magazines since 1887 ;)
- some centuries ago, back in 1517, Martin Luther posted the famous 95 theses? According to traditional accounts, this priest and scholar first nailed a piece of paper onto a church door containing the 95 revolutionary theses that marked the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.

Source: Halloween clipart

As you can see, these are only some of the most important events on this day throughout history but relegated to the background (not to say to a state of oblivion) because of Hallowe'en euphoria.
As I've already posted here, here and here about Halloween for now check this: a gallery of gorgeous jack-o’-lanterns that honor literary greats like Edgar Alan Poe, William Shakespeare, and the Brothers Grimm!!!
It's getting late for those willing to face the cold and darkness for a trick or treat; as for myself, I will stay home with the family having a nice dinner. What about you?
Whatever the case...  HAPPY HALLOWEEN !!!