So... it's about that time of year! You know... when the students are pretty much finished with all their exams and couldn't care less about anything school related (as if they ever did in the first place ;)).

For my own sanity, I always show a movie the last 2 weeks of the semester. The problem is, my middle school students are expert complainers and have impossibly high standards when it comes to any movie I show them.

I am looking for a Christmas movie that will interest them. Last year, I showed them "Elf" and they were slightly entertained. Though, the humor was hard to grasp and they all felt sorry for him for being "mentally handicapped" (they refused to believe he was a real elf and instead felt sorry for the grown man in tights with serious issues).

Here's what I am looking for in a Christmas movie (or should I say, what won’t result in complaints):

1). Something NOT animated. My middle schoolers are “too cool” for that stuff right now. “Teacher, we not baby!” 

2). Something with NO SONGS. Usually, this is something that occurs in the dreaded animated film. Songs result in heavy sighs and eye rolling.

3). Something with limited “tender moments.” Cue the single falling snowflake, soft music, and man with tear rolling down his cheek as an innocent child teaches him the real meaning of Christmas. Cue middle school students with whispered swear words and heads plopping on desk.

4). Something not too popular in Korea. Sometimes when I say “Christmas movie,” they all start naming the same 3 Christmas movies they’ve been forced to see year after year (i.e. Home Alone).

5). Something popular enough so I can find Korean subs. We’re still working on making sentences longer than 2 words… The subs are definitely needed.

6). No offensive material. Though they would love to watch something highly inappropriate, I obviously cannot show anything with questionable content (sexual scenarios, swear words, blood… you get the point).

The only movie my students ever went crazy for was Karate Kid (Best Kid) with Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith. It had elements they crave: pre-teen boys fighting over a girl by kicking each other’s butts. Now, if only this movie took place around Christmas time, it would be perfect.

So, I welcome any suggestions that follow the guidelines above. There are so many good Christmas movies out there. What worked for your students?

Thank you!

Love Actually.... its ok for 3rd graders. not so sure it would be first and second graders - but my 3rd graders liked it!

Love Actually would be a great one to show for older students!

If you do 'Love Actually' make sure you get the edited Korean version rather than the Hollywood version. My coteacher didn't realize they were different and showed it to her students. They were all very surprised about the stand in couple who is basically naked in every scene they appear in. Another thing about Love Actually, is that a lot of your students have probably seen it. It's really popular in Korea.

Christmas with the Kranks is pretty funny.
Home Alone is classic (but also popular in Korea I think)
Gremlins? Sorta a Christmas movie... right?
Edward Scissorhands
The Family Man

Home Alone worked great.

I am also trying to decide which movie to show my students.
I teach at an all girls middle school. I think I can take up two class periods with a movie hopefully the last two weeks of December. Easy for me and for them

I asked some of my students and they claim that everyone has seen Home Alone.
Love Actually sounds like a good one, but I don't know how to get the video with subtitles.
Another suggestion is the movie Serendipity. It isn't all christmas themed but I LOVE THIS MOVIE.. and it almost always makes me feel in the mood for Christmas. I would love to show it but need subtitles.. still searching for them.

Also could be cool to teach them a neat vocab word. Serendipity. And you could lead the class to talk about missed connections and hold a discussion about what you would do if you met someone you really liked but then didn't know how to contact them. How would you feel? What would you do?

I will keep checking back on this post to see what the other suggestions are.. I am really pumped to relax the final two weeks of December xx

I am also trying to decide which movie to show my students.
I teach at an all girls middle school. I think I can take up two class periods with a movie hopefully the last two weeks of December. Easy for me and for them

I asked some of my students and they claim that everyone has seen Home Alone.
Love Actually sounds like a good one, but I don't know how to get the video with subtitles.
Another suggestion is the movie Serendipity. It isn't all christmas themed but I LOVE THIS MOVIE.. and it almost always makes me feel in the mood for Christmas. I would love to show it but need subtitles.. still searching for them.

Also could be cool to teach them a neat vocab word. Serendipity. And you could lead the class to talk about missed connections and hold a discussion about what you would do if you met someone you really liked but then didn't know how to contact them. How would you feel? What would you do?

I will keep checking back on this post to see what the other suggestions are.. I am really pumped to relax the final two weeks of December xx

I'm also pumped for the last 2 weeks! I started counting down ^^

You're very fortunate to teach at an all girls school. You can stick to girly topics and those girls probably eat it up! I'd love to show a more sentimental movie (i like the stuff) but I have more boys in my school than girls. The boys are the ones who control the class. They are the ones that talk and engage in lessons, whereas the girls are too shy or too busy slathering on loads of make-up to care. I think I could show any movie and girls would watch it-- that's the lovely thing about girl students! It's the boys who are constantly complaining if it's not up to their macho standards.  Maybe I could edit Serendipity to have an explosion scene half-way through  ;)

If anyone has links to where I can download any of these Christmas movie suggestions, with subtitles please, can you please post them here. I have no idea where to try and find them.
Thank you so much!
By the way, Edward Scissor Hands would be a good movie and my middle school girls seem to love Johnny Depp...

torrentdown.kr
Have a Korean friend help you register.

Or you can just download the subtitles separate and add them in.

woah! great find!....might totally focus class for the next month around this....BIG THANKS!!!

Hi,

I tried to download the movie, but I cant. Is the only option to pay?

unfortunately, I was unable to find any korean subtitles for it. I have tried and tried but all I get is English subtitles.