English Literature

The Standard Deviants - Learn Writing Basics

Writing Basics is a great DVD for anyone - students and non-students alike - who wants to write a terrific paper or polish his or her writing skills. This DVD will teach you everything from how to state and support a position, to collecting supporting information and writing a thesis statement. The Standard Deviants will help you become a better writer in no time!

Standard Deviants: Grammar For All - Learning English Grammar - The Parts of Speech

English grammar is serious stuff, and there's only so much that can be done to make it entertaining. But the Standard Deviants, an energetic troupe of young performers whose specialty is making serious academic subjects engaging, happily dive into what they call "The Split-Infinitive World of English Grammar." The lessons on this DVD have been prepared by a panel of serious academics, but flashy graphics abound. And the performers do their best to liven up presentations of basic concepts. Nouns, verbs, adjectives, and other parts of speech are explained with some offbeat examples (for instance, a film of a lizard is used to demonstrate why "gecko" is a common noun). While introducing a section on verbals, a young woman mentions that a "funky thing" verbs can do is function as other parts of speech. Eventually all parts of speech are covered, and basic sentence structures are introduced. At the end of each set of lessons a quiz is presented, which a student can either take or skip. After proceeding through all the lessons on this DVD (which contains about two hours worth of material), a student can take the "Gram Slam," a comprehensive exam. English grammar will never be a barrel of fun, but the Standard Deviants deserve credit for making this review course as engaging as the subject is ever likely to get. --Robert J. McNamara

Understanding the fundamentals of grammar is the first step to impressive writing. A few of the topics covered in this DVD include: the parts of speech, common nouns and pronouns, verb tenses, conjugations, and compound sentences. The Standard Deviants provide you with a fun, effective way of learning with their unique blend of helpful study tips and comic relief. (Formerly titled "English Grammar 1 DVD")

The Standard Deviants - Learn Public Speaking

Does the idea of speaking in front of an audience fill you with dread? Relax! The Standard Deviants will help you overcome your fear of public speaking and help you deliver your message with style and flair! Using proven attention-getters, illustrations and delivery suggestions, this DVD will help you organize your thoughts and present them in a clear and persuasive manner.

The Standard Deviants - Habla Espanol? (Learning Spanish)

The first hint that this isn't your normal, staid Spanish review course is the subtitle that's flashed across the screen: the "Salsa-riffic World of Spanish." The Standard Deviants, a cast of ebullient young performers who believe no joke is too bad as long as its memorable, bring their talents to a course in introductory Spanish in this video. Lots of flashy graphics keep things lively, but the course material itself is rock solid--it's been approved by an academic panel. Following some basic information on where Spanish is spoken, the real lessons begin with instruction on pronunciation and the Spanish alphabet (which, of course, uses some typographical symbols not used in English). A bit of vocabulary is imparted as the pronunciation lessons progress, and after some pointers on capitalization, simple lessons in practical conversation begin. The video proceeds to the inescapable bane of many language students, conjugating verbs. While this production won't be a substitute for an actual course in Spanish (and the cast specifically points out that it doesn't intend to be), the presentation is consistently energetic, with the lessons easy to remember. Someone who is interested in learning (or reviewing) basic material will no doubt gain from watching it. --Robert J. McNamara

Learning how to speak Spanish is easy with ¿Habla Español? Learning Spanish: The Basics! The Standard Deviants will begin by introducing you to the Spanish alphabet, vocabulary, and pronunciation. You will also learn greetings, punctuation, the gender of nouns and pronouns, some essential verbs, and much more. This DVD will give you the essentials to help you begin to understand the Spanish language. (Previously titled "The Salsa-Riffic World of Spanish, Part 1 DVD")

The Standard Deviants - Parlez-vous Francais? (Learning French - The Basics)

In this tutorial, you will master the French alphabet, learn lots of vocabulary and how to conjugate verbs. This CD-ROM is full of examples and mnemonic devices to help you retain what you learn as you begin to speak and understand this amazing language!

The Standard Deviants: French, Part 1
If you're looking to really learn the French language, as opposed to briefly memorizing a few phrases to help you find a bathroom or complain to the doctor of your traveler's stomach, the Standard Deviants have the video for you. Their French, Part I is a language lesson for the MTV generation. Short segments, funky graphics, and personable youthful teachers make watching this tape entertaining, rather like Sesame Streets for grownups. Using the functional approach (making sure people can communicate and accomplish tasks in the new language), the video introduces French with phrases and full sentences, introducing ideas through demonstration. The idea is to help you think in French. Dialogue is clearly transcribed on the screen, so you can see what the words look like, and two cards are included with the tape that give translations of some of the dialogues and useful vocabulary. Note, though, that all of the explanations are given in English, as opposed to an immersion program (meaning all in French, including explanations), such as French in Action. Which style works best is purely a matter of personal preference. Skits put the conversations into context and provide levity. Yet, as is clearly stated in the beginning of the lesson, this series is intended to be a supplement to a class, and French really needs to be practiced through speaking and writing. The benefit of video, though, is you can rewind as much as needed to master pronunciation and to let the concepts sink in. The video opens with pronunciation, with close-ups of faces as they pronounce the alphabet to help you learn how to shape your mouth around the French letters. The video then covers a range of topics including -er verbs, gender, articles, adverbs, être, adjectives, pronouns, avoir, numbers, aller, and faire. While the video could benefit from more native French speakers, this is a delightful introduction to the language and a fun complement to a high school or college French class. Don't miss the flubbed lines during the credits. --Jenny Brown

The Standard Deviants: French, Part 2
French, Part 2 picks up, not surprisingly, where the Standard Deviants French, Part 1 leaves off. Using the same functional approach to French, this tape uses fun graphics, humorous skits, transcriptions, and translations to help you learn the language (and once again the video begins with the caveat that these videos are intended to supplement, not replace, a class). Two cards are included with the tape that give translations of some of the dialogues, conjugations, and useful vocabulary. Beginning with a subject near and dear to le français, we visit a café where we learn about food while also discovering le partif, prendre, and different ways of asking questions. Three more sections cover describing yourself, shopping, and morning and evening rituals, covering topics such as irregular verbs (including décrire, vouloir, and dire), regular verbs, more adjectives and adverbs, conjugations, the past tense, direct and indirect pronouns, and reflexive verbs. Occasionally dialogues are repeated with the English translation beneath them, which seems superfluous given that the translations are provided on the enclosed cards. While the video could benefit from more native French speakers, this is a delightful introduction to the language and a fun complement to a high school or college French class. --Jenny Brown

The Standard Deviants - Learn Advanced Spanish - Building on the Basics

Do you have a little bit of background with the Spanish language, but want to build on that foundation? Then ¡Estes el programa para ti! (translation: This is the program for you!) First, the award-winning Standard Deviants will review the basics of Spanish, like gender, agreement, conjugation—all the stuff you should already know. Then they'll go over irregular verbs, new verb constructions, making comparisons, adverbs, prepositions, direct and indirect object pronouns, and even prepositional pronouns. This DVD is also chock full of fun scenes and conversations that will help you master the concepts covered.

The Standard Deviants - Learn Advanced Spanish - Verbs

Teaches all aspects of Spanish verb tenses.
Genre: How To - Language
Rating: NR
Release Date: 18-JUN-2002
Media Type: DVD

The Standard Deviants - Parlez-vous Francais? (Learning French - Beyond the Basics)

French, Part 2 picks up, not surprisingly, where the Standard Deviants' French, Part 1 leaves off. Using the same functional approach to French, this tape uses fun graphics, humorous skits, transcriptions, and translations to help you learn the language (and once again the video begins with the caveat that these videos are intended to supplement, not replace, a class). Two cards included with the tape give translations of some of the dialogues, conjugations, and useful vocabulary. Beginning with a subject near and dear to le français, we visit a café where we learn about food while also discovering le partif, prendre, and different ways of asking questions. Three more sections deal with describing yourself, shopping, and morning and evening rituals, covering topics such as irregular verbs (including décrire, vouloir, and dire), regular verbs, more adjectives and adverbs, conjugations, the past tense, direct and indirect pronouns, and reflexive verbs. Occasionally dialogues are repeated with the English translation beneath them, which seems superfluous given that the translations are provided on the enclosed cards. While the video could benefit from more native French speakers, this is a delightful introduction to the language, and a fun complement to a high school or college French class. --Jenny Brown

So, you already know the French alphabet and pronunciation? In Beyond the Basics, the Standard Deviants will teach you more complex topics, such as articles, idioms, past tense, demonstrative adjectives, and much more. This DVD will help you master the most difficult concepts in the French language and have you packing your bags for Paris in no time!

The Standard Deviants - Habla Espanol? Beyond the Basics (Learn to Speak Spanish)

In the opening jingle, the oddball lyrics "Careful or you're speaking Spanglish, then your grade will cause you anguish" provide a glimpse into the premise of this production from the Standard Deviants. In this, their second trip to the "Salsa-riffic World of Spanish," the energetic young cast performs skits and unleashes some clever and elaborate computer graphics while providing a reliable review course in the Spanish language. Starting with what's billed as "Really Basic Stuff," the cast reviews practical matters such as how to count, talks about what time it is, and discusses the weather. Moving into more advanced material, there are pointers on grammar, with a focus on the rules of particular verbs. It should be noted that the curriculum has been approved by a panel of professors, but the cast members tend to present the material in a relaxed format, which often involves the use of costumes and some bad (and hopefully memorable) jokes. Each major portion of the program is followed by a quiz, which the student can either take or skip, and the entire DVD concludes with an exam titled "La Tormenta." This DVD isn't a substitute for classes in Spanish, but as review material the unorthodox presentation would be helpful to a student. --Robert J. McNamara

¿Habla Español? Learning Spanish: Beyond the Basics provides you with the tools you need to expand your understanding of the language. In this DVD, the Standard Deviants will teach you the numbers 100-120, adjective placement, -ar, -er, and -ir verbs, expressing time, date, and weather, and more. Using the Standard Deviants unique and effective learning style, you will soon be packing your bags for Spain so you can show off your new language skills! (Formerly entitled "Spanish Part 2")

The Standard Deviants - Master English Grammar 2

The Standard Deviant team explains the parts of speech.
Genre: Educational
Rating: NR
Release Date: 8-JUN-2004
Media Type: DVD