Chinese Wedding in "The Joy Luck
Club"
ESL through Chinese Film and Culture
By Janeth Wynter-Bell, Teacher
Theodore Roosevelt HS, NY
Click here to view sample QUESTIONAIRES
TEACHER BACKGROUND
This is a lesson I taught to an intermediate ESL class at Theodore Roosevelt
Evening High School in the Bronx. Ages are 17 and above. In teaching
a series of lessons on comparatives, I thought it would be more interesting
to cross the globe and incorporate some Chinese culture. I chose the
movie, The Joy Luck Club. I thought it would be interesting to compare
the wedding scene with what my students knew as wedding traditions in
their own cultures. I introduced the concept of the matchmaker and started
the movie where the mother gives her daughter away, which is the scene
just before the wedding. I ended where she brings tea to her mother
in law.
Objectives:
Students will be able to use 'er' 'est', 'more', and 'most' appropriately
Students will be able to correctly compare cultural issues in the movie
and discuss similarities and differences in small groups
Students will complete a short worksheet leading to a paragraph based
on their discussions
Aim:
How do traditional weddings in China compare to weddings I know?
Do Now: Copy vocabulary
matchmaker, mother in law, wedding, suit, bride, wedding night, reception,
groom, bridal gown, bridal veil
Application:
Brainstorm What are some elements that all weddings have in common?
-Does a matchmaker have to be a special person or are we all matchmakers
in a way? Examples.
-Hand out question sheet and discuss what to look for
-Watch movie
-Students complete the sheet.
-Compare answers with a partner
-Group discussion
-Paragraph writing "How does a traditional wedding in China compare
to weddings I know?