i assume you have some experience with 
foreign films...or else you wouldn't be using
the form to teach it right?  

anyhow...the idea of learning cultures from film
is not utilize enough i think.
i recommend the films of ozu though his films are
very subtle much like their culture.  your audience may
not have the attention span though(very slow).  tokyo story
illustrates the generational conflicts which is a topic rarely brought up in contemporary american films.

i also recommend the recent yi-yi by taiwanese edward yang.  modern melodrama about family life in taipei.  

you might want to show the slower paced films last cause
most people are programed to hollywood action types.

---nana