FILTA - Film in Language Teaching Association

The FILTA website was launched in July 2010. Since then, FILTA has attracted over 250 language teachers who have joined the association from 20 different countries worldwide. FILTA's main goals are:

• to encourage a better understanding of the importance of languages in society through film;
• to provide a multilingual forum for language teachers;
• to promote educational research on language and film;
• and to enhance linguistic diversity and intercultural awareness.

They also aim to forge reciprocal links with other language associations, media education organisations, and practitioners of the media industries. 

FILTA membership provides access to a Ning network, a social space on film for language teachers, and a bank of resources. FILTA create and collect teaching materials based on films for use in the language classroom. Currently they have over 50 study guides for Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English (as a Foreign Language), French, German, Italian, Spanish and Urdu. These resources are complemented with podcasts and vodcads; for example an introduction to the film, a review, or an interview with the director. More than 10 new study guides are currently being created along with more podcasts. FILTA is encouraging teachers to design and contribute related materials and plans to create more resources in the above languages and new resources in Gaelic, Welsh and Japanese.

FILTA supports professional development of teachers through training events and also works directly with schools and colleges to promote languages and film across and beyond the formal curriculum through film workshops for language learners. The FILTA Ning network portal provides information on these and other relevant events through the FILTA blog and calendar.

Joining the association is free. You can become a member by requesting an invitation through the website or by sending an e-mail to filtacommunity[at]googlemail.com.

Dr. Carmen Herrero, Department of Languages, Manchester Metropolitan University, c.herrero[at]mmu.ac.uk.