Language Learning Behind the Screen: Movies for Second Language Acquisition

Abstract

Teaching English through movies, TV-shows, and video clips is a relatively modern way of enhancing language acquisition. The benefits of using American movies for improving students’ English language proficiency have been studied by many researchers (e.g., Webb, 2011; Gormly, 2013; Lavaur & Bairstow, 2011; Etemadi, 2012) who supported the idea that, unlike traditional language instruction, authentic American TV-shows are able to target all major language aspects as a unit without separating each individual skill, thus increasing the effectiveness of language instruction. This paper explains the benefits of using video materials for English language instruction. It will cover the organizational process of implementing TVshows into language learning course which includes (1) objectives, (2) relevance and appropriateness criteria, and (3) genre selection. The author will also introduce the principles of developing the course structure, which will consist of different types of pre-watching, while-watching, and post-watching activities. These principles and strategies form a comprehensive guideline to effectively implement TV-shows into second language instruction.