ENGLISH LEARNING
THROUGH
ARTS, DIGITAL MEDIA, AND WEB 2.0
Aiden Yeh
TESOL 2009
VDMIS Academic Session
Wenzao Ursuline College of Languages

OBJECTIVES
Collaborative photostory project designed for

intermediate EFL learners which blends
arts, English songs, digital media and web 2.0
 Students’ learning context and needs, and the
integration of project-based learning assessment
 Exhibit student-produced videos that presents
unique interpretations of art pieces, music, lyrics
and images that are visually and emotionally
captivating

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Develop • through a photostory project
listening/speaking designed to increase
competence and confidence in
and reading/writing
these areas
fluency
• Such as Digital technology
(PPT, video, audio)
Enhance technical • Such as Web 2.0 tools
(blogs, podcast, etc)
skills
• Skills needed to complete
language learning task s

MULTIMEDIA TOOLS
Audio Recording & Editing : Audacity, Goldwave
Video Recording & Editing: Digital Camera, Windows
Movie Maker
Audio Visual Presentation:
PowerPoint, Graphics, Fonts

WEB 2.0 TOOLS

ARCHIVING RESOURCES FOR AUDIO & VIDEO
MATERIALS
Video
Audio/Video
Audio/Video

COLLABORATIVE TASK PROCESS
• Samples
1st
• Framework
Stage
• Planning
2nd
LEARNING • Writing/Editing
Stage
PROCESS • Producing
• Final work
3rd presentation
• Group/self-
Stage
evaluation

BLENDING ARTS & MUSIC IN LANGUAGE
INTERPRETATIONS:
A PHOTOSTORY PROJECT

ARTIST SELECTION
If you were to introduce an artist, who would

choose and why?
 Choose an artist (someone who paints) and provide
information about him.
 Provide reasons why you chose this artist.
 Describe his art. What is his style or philosophy in
creating art?
 Show one or two examples of his/her art.

ART (VISUAL & MUSIC) SELECTION
Create a short photostory (2-3 minutes) using powerpoint

(PPS) or WMV
Include pictures of the artist’s work that match the

lyrics/message of the selected song
The background music should express any of the following:

i. Theme of his/her work
ii. Artist’s personality
iii. Any aspect of the artist’s work and/or life
Students should listen and understand the lyrics. What is the

music telling the audience and how does it match the
illustrations that will be shown?
Use the Van Gogh photostory as an example.

http://www.vangoghgallery.com/painting/starryindex.html
See Samples, http://ienglish2006.blogspot.com/


LANGUAGE GOALS
Oral Language
Interpretation
Presentation
(Music & Visuals)
Deeply understand
Use descriptive the message of the
language to song beyond the
describe the artist’s literal definition of
life and work the lyrics
Apply that
Present strong
understanding by
position statements
matching the texts
for choosing the
with appropriate
artist and song
visuals from the
composition
artist’s art collection

PHOTOSTORY SAMPLE USED IN CLASS

SOME OF VINCENT VAN GOGH'S
PAINTINGS, REFLECTING HIS SEVERE
DEPRESSIONS: DON MCLEAN'S LYRICS FOR
STARRY, STARRY NIGHT

SAMPLE STUDENT PROJECT /ARTIST: JIMMY

STUDENTS FIND AND REPORT INFORMATION
ABOUT THE ARTIST

STUDENTS DESCRIBE ARTIST’S TRAGIC LIFE

STUDENTS DESCRIBE THE ART
ARTIST: JIMMY

STUDENTS EXPLAIN SONG PREFERENCE

STUDENTS DESCRIBE ART BEYOND LITERAL
INTERPRETATION OF THE LYRICS

VISUAL INTERPRETATION:
LIFE IS FULL OF CHAOS

VISUAL INTERPRETATION:
PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES…BUT THERE’S HOPE

SIMPLE MUSICAL INTERPRETATION USING
ARTIST’S WORK
藤田惠美 - At the End of the Day (Emi Fujita)
Home by Michael Buble

LINKS
http://tinyurl.com/salvadore-dali

 http://tinyurl.com/Egon-Schiele
 http://www.archive.org/details/Jimmy-
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