Mona Lisa’s Smile

22nd July 2010 (Thursday)

Mona Lisa’s Smile was the first movie that we watched for the EDU 3234 course. This movie really attracts me as the main character was Julia Roberts, and I know that she do well in every characters she took.
Today, we watched the first movie of EDU3234. In Dr Jayakaran’s class, it is sort of a custom to watch inspiring movies about teaching. Each movie lie hidden messages about what makes a great teacher, who does not only educate but also inspires. The movie we had watched was “Mona Lisa’s Smile”, starring Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Julia Stiles.
Set in the year of 1953, Mona Lisa Smile tells the story of Katherine Watson (Julia Roberts), a new young art history professor at Wellesley College, an all-female campus with a prestigious reputation for academic excellence. Unfortunately for free-minded Berkeley grad Watson, her East Coast teaching stint comes during a less-progressive time that finds most of her students -- among them Betty Warren (Kirsten_Dunst), Joan Brandwyn (Julia_Stiles), and Giselle Levy (Maggie_Gyllenhaal) -- more interested in nabbing a good husband than achieving scholastic and intellectual growth. Watson challenges her students and the Wellesley faculty to think outside of the current mores of the community and redefine what it means to be a success; meanwhile, she tries to come to terms with her own heart's desires.

How the movie does affect me?
From the movie I learned that teachers has to be ready for any circumstances that they might face, even the students might be ready more from the teacher in the classroom. Besides, teachers shouldn’t be afraid and also shouldn’t let the students know this fear in teacher. Teachers have to stand firm and be respected by the students always. Teachers also have to be good in showing the students what lies behind their door of life, means that some students may think conservatively about certain things, and the teachers should guide them to think out of the box, and show them how to be more open minded. Good teacher can inspire the students to pursue their dreams.