Audio-visual media in L2 teaching Film

What media do you use? 2 Videos with transcription Available on YouTube or Deutsche Welle ( or public broadcaster sites: ZDF, ARD

How do you use it? 3 As ‘content’ input in class to prepare discussions, as homework to prepare written commentary; as input for vocabulary and grammar work

Why do you use it? 4 It provides learners with up-to-date information on topics we discuss in class Increases students’ topical knowledge and their language skills o Topical and communicative- functional vocabulary o Pronunciation and intonation o Increases debating skills

What are the benefits? 5 Students hear and see new information and vocabulary and the combination of listening and reading increases retention, while images further contextualize the information Students can watch the video in their own time Encourages students to watch German media Supplements and prepares students for longer written texts

What are the challenges? 6 If transcripts or subtitles are not provided on the website, they have to be produced, which is rather time intensive Videos can “disappear” form websites Copyright as well as “space” issues when videos are downloaded

What are the technical requirements? 7 Headset with microphone Access to the Internet Subtitling software

What is the teacher’s evaluation? 8 Student’s written production as well as accuracy of the completed worksheets General progress of students

What is the students’ evaluation? 9 Students can self-evaluate their work before submission and peer-review their contributions General student feedback indicates that students appreciate the use of videos

What is the copyright implication? 10 None as long as only links to videos are used, Transcripts can be used (or produced) for educational purposes

Any further comments? 11 Students appreciate a variety of inputs – transcript or subtitles add a further dimension and help retention

Recommendations It is suitable for what levels? B1 – C1 It is best used to train what linguistic skills? Primarily receptive skills (listening & reading the transcribed texts), but it also aids students’ productive skills via vocabulary expansion How long is the production time? Transcribing a 5 minute video can take up to an hour, the preparation of worksheets depends on topic and use Is it for general or specific purposes? Here used for teaching German with a social science focus, but adaptable to general purposes 12