"Film in the target language is an efficient and effective link to the target culture(s) in that it is highly visual; it is authentic in that it is made for the target culture audience; it is readily available; and it is attractive to students accustomed to a multimedia environment" (Sturm, 246).
"In addition to their cultural and communicative value, films in the 21st century have practicality to recommend them as well. Sherman (2003) noted that authentic video is available in great quality, quantity, and variety and is relatively inexpensive (via the Internet, for example). Beyond these virtues, students like movies..." (Sturm, 247).
"If students are to use the second language communicatively in the real world tomorrow, then they must begin to encounter the language of that world in the classroom today" (Rogers & Medley 467).
"They must see and hear the second language being used as the primary medium of communication among native speakers-as 'language with a purpose.' This can best be done through the use of authentic materials" (Rogers & Medley 467).
- Series en español (Netflix, Edunovela)
- Cortometrajes (YouTube, Kanopy)
- Películas (YouTube, Kanopy)
Series en español: I use a program called Edunovela, where students watch a series in Spanish throughout the semester. It is not free, but it is very inexpensive and includes many resources that are ready to use for the instructor.
- Students LOVE the Spanish series! They often tell me that our homework doesn't even feel like homework and that my class is the only class they look forward to every week (I open up 3 episodes a week!)
- Students often tell me that their whole family gets involved with the Spanish series. The family gets together to watch and discuss the assigned episodes. This is a great way to bring in the family as the students learn about their own culture.
Cortometrajes / Short Films
- Always make sure that the short film is appropriate for your age group.
- Students can learn new vocabulary, grammar concepts, colloquial expressions, linguistic variations, culture, and so much more in a short amount of time.
- Instructors can use short films to introduce a class topic, to engage students in real world (life) conversations in Spanish, to discuss different cultures in our Spanish-speaking world, to review grammar in context, etc.
- Instructors can prepare detailed questions or discussion questions ahead of time.
- Students can answer their questions as they watch the short film (writing) and then get into small groups to discuss their observations and answers (speaking/critical thinking).
Películas / Movies
- Always make sure that the movie is appropriate for your age group.
- Students can learn new vocabulary, grammar concepts, colloquial expressions, linguistic variations, culture, and much more.
- Movies open up opportunities to create different assignments and projects that can be creative and fun for the students.
- Instructors can choose to watch in segments, where students will be able to discuss what they have seen in the classroom (speaking), or instructors can assign the movie to be watched at home. Students get excited about movies! It gets them talking in Spanish about something they like! They can't wait to discuss the movie with their classmates. Many students feel passionate about certain topics; they don't even realize all the Spanish they are using.
Works Cited
Rogers, Carmen V., and Frank W. Medley. "Language with A Purpose: Using Authentic Materials in the Foreign Language Classroom." Foreign Language Annals, vol. 21, no. 5, 1988, pp. 467. ProQuest, https://libweb.lib.utsa.edu/login?url=https://www-proquest-com.libweb.lib.utsa.edu/scholarly-journals/language-with-purpose-using-authentic-materials/docview/1311699301/se-2?accountid=7122.
Sturm, Jessica L. “Using Film in the L2 Classroom: A Graduate Course in Film Pedagogy.” Foreign Language Annals, vol. 45, no. 2, WILEY, 2012, pp. 246–59, doi:10.1111/j.1944-9720.2012.01187.x.
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Created with images by onkelglocke - "cinema curtain theater" • MasterTux - "film film roll filmstrip"