ELA- Shakespeare

English Language Arts Resources

Shakespeare

*Shakespeare can even be difficult for native speakers of English, and it is particularly challenging for EAL students. If you need simplified texts of Shakespearean plays, please come to see Andrea or Heidi. We have easy- to -read, modern English versions of most of the plays listed below (many of which also have an audio CD).
Visuals help students to understand the storylines. Below are links to some great online video resources.

An EAL-friendly introduction to 'the Bard'.
The powerpoint (saved as a pdf) linked below offers an introduction to Shakespeare that could be used in a variety of ways. For example, it could be printed and offered as notes for an EAL student or it could be projected in class and used as a backdrop to a more in-depth discussion.
Also attached below, there is a cloze notes exercise which could be used in conjunction with the powerpoint presentation.
Intro to Shakespeare- EAL-friendly powerpoint
Introduction to Shakespeare cloze notes to accompany powerpoint


 
Hamlet- video resources
BBC Shakespeare Animated Tales Hamlet
Watch the entire play in an animated, narrated & closed captioned version in about ½ hour- divided into three segments.

Part 1- about 9 minutes long
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-S0M1PkNcQ
Part 2- about 9 minutes long
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTZr3BuyHbU
Part 3- about 9 minutes long
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AAPQi7XMgI

Video Sparknotes- Hamlet summary-fairly well-done, comprehensive overview of the play, characters etc. -about 8 minutes long.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0CqUTmwKiM

Hamlet– the ’60 second recap’series.
There are also a series of well-done short videos that summarize the important aspects of the play, plot, characters, etc. Each aspect of the play is discussed in a minute-long video. Here’ s the link to the summary/overview- follow the related links for the rest.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne5N1vHMttw

Macbeth video resources:
BBC Shakespeare Animated Tales Macbeth
Watch the entire play in an animated, narrated, closed captioned version in about ½ hour- divided into three segments.

Part 1- about 9 minutes long
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC9G_CZVAL8
Part 2-about 7 minutes long
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZQOyiHDptU
Part 3- about 10 minutes long
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8riYRDFp7A

Video Sparknotes Macbeth summary- fairly well-donecomprehensive overview of the play, characters etc. – about 9 minutes long
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzAujyWpK_s

Macbeth– the ’60 second recap’ series.
There are also a series of well-done short videos that summarize the important aspects of the play, plot, characters, etc. Each aspect of the play is discussed in a minute-long video. Here’s the link to the summary/overview- follow the related links for the rest.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j-q6DJctLA


Romeo and Juliet video resources:
BBC Shakespeare Animated Tales Romeo and Juliet
Watch the entire play in an animated, narrated, closed captioned version in about ½ hour- divided into three segments.
Part 1- about 10 minutes long
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr1gk9nwTYY
Part 2- about 9 minutes long
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig1-P-YQSxo
Part 3- about 6 minutes long
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU98mtZSkmg

Video Sparknotes Romeo and Juliet - fairly well-donecomprehensive overview of the play, characters etc. - about 9 minutes long
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRrvQ1vZxcg

Romeo and Juliet– the ’60 second recap’series.
There are also a series of well-done short videos that summarize the important aspects of the play, plot, characters, etc. Each aspect of the play is discussed in a minute-long video. Here’s the link to the summary/overview- follow the related links for the rest.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c36aACiRoDA

Midsummer Night's Dream video resources
BBC Shakespeare Animated Tales Midsummer Night’s Dream
Watch the entire play in an animated, narrated, closed captioned version in about ½ hour- divided into three segments.
Part 1- about 10 minutes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCZndWMALOo
Part 2- about 9 minutes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqGEQ-832rI
Part 3- about 6 minutes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOYAfq_7Xjg

Video Sparknotes- Midsummer Night’s Dream
fairly well-donecomprehensive overview of the play, characters etc. - about 7 minutes long
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1wMfOwlAZ8

Midsummer Night’s Dream – the ’60 second recap’series.
There are also a series of well-done short videos that summarize the important aspects of the play, plot, characters, etc. Each aspect of the play is discussed in a minute-long video. Here’s the link to the summary/overview- follow the related links for the rest.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt6DkpT9PpI&feature=fvst