Richard Haill
I am Richard Haill and a lifelong film fan. As regards my background, I have a Master’s degree in Film & Literature and taught English in various countries around the world for several years, then at a university where, among other roles, I developed a course which focused on a whole range of British films and their backgrounds.
I taught this course for 15 years, and this website is partly based on my work with students (both international and UK) during that period. Here, through my website, are many of the films which received the highest ratings from these students. I’ve developed the materials further and added detailed advice so that you and your students can enjoy good films and lively discussions. I hope you enjoy using the website as much as I did in preparing it!
Teach British Films
This website is devoted to British films, and is designed for teachers and students all over the world.
The films which are featured on this website are in most cases classic British films (and two Irish ones) which have won awards and achieved great popularity with audiences.
Please note that the films themselves are not provided here: you will have either to buy them or download them from the internet.
A note for teachers
If you want to work with your students on one or more of these films, then a set of answers is provided to the questions posed and ideas as to how to develop work on the film (e.g. written work, group discussion, vocabulary tasks, role play) are also given. I have also given the length of each film as well as the Certificate it received from the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). This system (http://www.bbfc.co.uk/what-classification/guidelines) should help you judge whether the film is appropriate viewing for your class/ age-group.
The questions used in the worksheets aim to encourage your students to develop their powers of observation and analysis in looking at such aspects as the film’s style and narrative, and the way it depicts character, settings, relationships, and contemporary social attitudes. I hope the questions (and the additional suggested activities) give students at most levels of language competence the chance to contribute their own thoughts and insights to the discussion.