Can i ask what would be the purpose of it? For some sort of educational reason, maybe to analyse the episode afterwards or just for entertainment?

Columbo is probably a bit too slow, i don't think it would hold the attention of a class of teens. Just my feeling on it though, of course i could be wrong.

I certainly won't predict what a 13-year-old will think -- I have a 17-year-old, whose enthusiastic and indifferent reactions to various entertainments are all over the map. But I have thought that, for a Columbo newbie of whatever age, "Negative Reaction" is a good intro. It has a LOT of clues and deductions, comedy relief that is character-based, and it has a "trap" ending, based on Columbo's mastery of psychology. Whether someone likes it or not, it's a fair summary of Columbo's appeal, even if it's not the "best" beloved by true enthusiasts.

The main purpose of our watching films in the classroom, from my point of view, is that the students can hear real English, instead of the slow, somewhat forced utterances of the textbook CD tracks. From their point of view, the main purpose is skipping one or two 'normal' classes. Watching films is one of the most recommended activites to make a clase entertaining and productive (I have my doubts about the productive part of it, and, in some cases, about the entertainment part, too).

An analysis of the episode/film/song afterwards is something I like to do, but only with advanced students, and the school where I'm working this year has few of those. They can give their opinion of what they've seen, but few of them would be able to do so in English.

JustOneMoreThing, you've summed up very well my qualms about Columbo in the classroom. I don't know, either, whether it would grab the teens' attention. I've been working as a teacher for several years, and I can't say I know anything about their tastes and distastes yet. To me, it's a completely unpredictable mystery.

Ted, thanks for your suggestion. I know what you mean about the good points of 'Negative Reaction'. I'll watch it again myself, trying to figure out what my students would think if they watched it, too.

You know, after all these years, I haven't used a Columbo episode in the classroom yet. I don't think it would be the best option, but I'd like using it SO MUCH I thought I'd ask, in case you know more about teen psychology than I.

Thanks!

Not sure why you'd just point to the NBC ones, I think an ABC one like "Columbo Goes to College" might really intrigue them. You have the whole cheating-at-school element, along with the ending where Columbo baits his suspects into incriminating themselves.

But if you want it to be NBC, I do think "Exercise in Fatality" would amuse them. I mean, there are some funny scenes in the gym with shirtless guys working out who really should have no business being shirtless anywhere but in the privacy of their own homes...lol.

Sorry, I missed your post (or perhaps it took so long for me to write mine that yours was sent meanwhile).

The only reason why I need it to be an NBC episode is because those are the only ones which have been released on DVD with subtitles in Spanish, and I do need subtitles in Spanish if I want someone to pay attention beyond the first two minutes of it.

I had already thought of "Columbo Goes to College", but I had discarded it for the above reason. But I'll certainly have a look at "Exercise in Fatality", too. At least the shirtless guys will catch the students' attention (the girls' for one reason, and the boys' for another).

Thanks for the idea!

I think perhaps Suitable for Framing, Publish or Perish and Now You See Him would be good choices. They all have relatively straightforward plots with detestable bad guys that are fun to watch when their fat is thrown in the fire. The Dale Kingston reveal is classic.

I think I'm going to have to watch them all again, to figure out what in them might be appealing to teenagers. An excuse as good as any other to watch some Columbo :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

Thanks for the suggestions!

A Friend in Deed and Publish or Perish.

"A Friend in Deed" added to the list! ("P&P" had already been suggested).

Thanks!

I agree A Friend In Deed might be a good one. It gets straight to business and has some dark moments. A memorable villain and a clever ending.

I'm late to say this, Vergara, but it is great to see you posting. I never knew you were a teacher.

I've read through all your posts in this thread and you keep mentioning Spanish subtitles. Are you in the US teaching English to Spanish speaking students? If so, the episode A Matter of Honor might appeal to them. It's not one of the best episodes, but it's set in Mexico around an old bullfighter.

There's the spy story sub-plot (not that I've ever really understood it) of "Identity Crisis."