Classroom Use of Culturally Authentic Images A Practical Approach Michael Bush Brigham Young University
Images in the Language Classroom Approach for Yesterday Learn about language Learn about language Memorize vocabulary Memorize vocabulary Memorize grammar rules Memorize grammar rules
Images in the Language Classroom Education in the Information Age Humans have learned through sights and sounds for thousands of years. Humans have learned through sights and sounds for thousands of years. Images and sounds are compatible with today's students. Images and sounds are compatible with today's students. How do our students learn today? How do our students learn today? The textbook!
Images in the Language Classroom Big Question Primacy of text? Primacy of text?
Images in the Language Classroom Socrates’ view on writing… This discovery of yours will create forgetfulness in the learners' souls, because they will not use their memories; they will trust to the external written characters and not remember of themselves. Plato’s “Phaedrus”
Images in the Language Classroom Socrates’ view on writing… The specific which you have discovered is an aid not to memory, but to reminiscence, and you give your disciples not truth, but only the semblance of truth; they will be hearers of many things and will have learned nothing; they will appear to be omniscient and will generally know nothing; they will be tiresome company, having the show of wisdom without the reality. Plato’s “Phaedrus”
Images in the Language Classroom History of Communication A story of humankind bridging time and space with increasing fidelity… A story of humankind bridging time and space with increasing fidelity… Multimedia (not only text, but images, sounds, and video): A natural step in the evolution of communication and information technology. Multimedia (not only text, but images, sounds, and video): A natural step in the evolution of communication and information technology.
Images in the Language Classroom Audiovisual Organism Vision and images were critically important to our survival as a species, along with speech and hearing,” Vision and images were critically important to our survival as a species, along with speech and hearing,” Mary Alice White, Columbia's Teachers' College
Images in the Language Classroom “Story” as Medium People think in terms of stories. They understand the world in terms of stories that they have already understood. New events or problems are understood by reference to old previously understood stories and explained to others by the use of stories. (Roger Schank, Tell me a Story) People think in terms of stories. They understand the world in terms of stories that they have already understood. New events or problems are understood by reference to old previously understood stories and explained to others by the use of stories. (Roger Schank, Tell me a Story)
Images in the Language Classroom Why use pictures? Learning psychology Multi-modal, multi-sensory presentations Multi-modal, multi-sensory presentations Connections to schemata Connections to schemata Binding Binding Semantization Semantization
Images in the Language Classroom Binding Binding is the term I propose to describe the cognitive and affective mental process of linking a meaning to a form. The concept of binding is what language teachers refer to when they insist that a new word ultimately be associated directly with its meaning and not with a translation. Terrell (1986)
Images in the Language Classroom Semantization Evidence is mounting that the use of visual representations may precipitate the semantization process. Especially with concrete picturable words (e.g. table, house) the picture serves as an associative aid to constructing the conceptual network that is connected with a word. Pictures not only represent reality but they can, through selective presentation of cues, provide a prototypical meaning. Pictures appear to be importantly implicated in concept formation and in this respect they obviously affect how well we remember verbal material Evidence is mounting that the use of visual representations may precipitate the semantization process. Especially with concrete picturable words (e.g. table, house) the picture serves as an associative aid to constructing the conceptual network that is connected with a word. Pictures not only represent reality but they can, through selective presentation of cues, provide a prototypical meaning. Pictures appear to be importantly implicated in concept formation and in this respect they obviously affect how well we remember verbal material Beheydt (1987, p. 62)
Images in the Language Classroom Culturally authentic pictures? Varying Perceptions of reality Varying Perceptions of reality Denotation versus connotation (pain) Denotation versus connotation (pain)(pain)(pain) Conceptual accuracy Conceptual accuracy Functional culture (un chariot) Functional culture (un chariot)(un chariot)(un chariot)
Images in the Language Classroom
Joy’s study Vocabulary and culture Vocabulary and culture Significant differences Significant differences
Images in the Language Classroom
Gina’s study What made the difference? What made the difference? Think aloud protocols Think aloud protocols faire les courses faire les courses un chariot un chariot Direct versus indirect Direct versus indirect
Images in the Language Classroom Quand on va au supermarché, on veut un chariot pour transporter les produits.
Images in the Language Classroom Les Français aiment ces petits magasins parce qu’ils sont près de chez eux, et aussi parce que les produits sont frais. Beaucoup de personnes préfèrent aller aux petits magasins parce que la qualité est très bonne.
Images in the Language Classroom En général, les Français font les courses plus souvent que les Américains.
Images in the Language Classroom Current Images Database Approximately 4,000 photos Approximately 4,000 photos France, Canada and Senegal France, Canada and Senegal BYU library electronic archives BYU library electronic archives High quality PhotoCD High quality PhotoCD
Images in the Language Classroom Organizing Images Framework Framework Threshold Level Threshold Level Council of Europe Council of Europe –Database Database One approach One approach Pre-fabrication Pre-fabrication Pre-fabrication Roll your own Roll your own Folder structure Folder structure Folder structure Folder structure
A Thousand Words: The Power of Authentic Cultural Pictures
LA POUTINE
QuébecFrance (Nice)
Une journée comme une autre… Ecoutez l’histoire ET regardez les images…
Nice
la mer
la plage
le petit déjeuner
nager
le marché
la mer
la boulangerie
le pain
les bons gâteaux
une tarte aux fruits
des millefeuilles
un caddie
du lait
des oeufs
du beurre
des pâtes
chez le charcutier
du pâté
des saucisses
du jambon
du fromage
à la poissonnerie
du poisson
des calmars
des huîtres
des crevettes, du crabe, des moules et des coquillages
au marché
des haricots verts, des tomates et des endives
des fraises
des framboises
des fleurs
une salade
à la plage
La Fin
Images in the Language Classroom Approach for Today “Constructing” knowledge “Constructing” knowledge Learn by doing Learn by doing
Images in the Language Classroom Grammar? Yes! Yes! Change the role of grammar: Change the role of grammar: From the starring role From the starring role To a supporting role. To a supporting role.