The Use of Videos in the Teaching of Foreign Language - Assignment Example

? The use of Videos in the Teaching of Foreign Language Introduction There has been a wide use especially in the developed countries in teaching and learning. This has been very effective as a method accompanying other teaching and learning methods. Learners get entertained and also they are involved in the teaching and learning process. In the teaching of a foreign language, videos have been incorporated. This has led to a lot of changes in the teaching and learning of the subject. The paper provides the definition of a video, the teaching of foreign language through the use of video and advantages of using videos in the teaching of a foreign language. The paper provides the possible constraints of using the method to facilitate teaching and learning and the paper also provides the assessment of the use f the method in teaching. The paper concludes with recommendations and summarization of the main points discussed in the paper. Video refers to anything that relates to or the use transmitted images or the whole process or receiving images through a television or a computer. A video can involve images which are normally displayed on television sets or n computers. Videos can be exploited in various ways in order to make sure that there is creation of motivation, memorable instance and involvement of all the learners. On the other side, watching a video can sometimes be passive and therefore, other teaching methods should be used together with the use of video in the teaching and learning of a foreign language (Brian 2008 p. 77-79). Before any teacher uses the video in class, it is important for him or her to check it or go through it to make sure that it only contains the relevant materials to be taught in class. Such a teacher should also compare his or her lesson plans from other institutions which use videos in the teaching and learning of a foreign language to make sure that it is effective and how such a lesson plan can be improved. The teacher should also make sure that the chosen video demonstrates the specific topic that it was meant for. With so doing, the teaching and learning of a foreign language through the use of a video can be effective and the same time successful (Hadley 1993 p. 16-21). Benefits of using Videos The use of video materials in the classroom environment can give a big favor to the learners through providing them with motivation to learn the foreign language. The learners are motivated to learn the foreign language since they are presented the real language and this provides the learners with a positive look and perception at the culture. Video clips give a representation of the authentic environment of the foreign culture and also provides the learners with practical examples of how the foreign language operates and functions. The use of video clips presents the learners with authentic language interaction and also it shows both the verbal and nonverbal components of the language. In the non verbal components of the language, the videos materials provide the eye movements and facial expressions, body language, and space language of the native speakers of the language (Joseph 1999 p. 206- 209). One of the benefits of using videos in the teaching and learning of foreign language is that it creates experience in learners. With creating the experience, the video clips provide sensory experience which makes the ideas and the concepts in the video to be like real life experiences thus guiding the learners in the adventure. The other benefit of using video is that it turns a classroom to an interactive place throughout the learning process. This makes all the learners to enjoy the learning session and at the same time retain most f the information and knowledge they get from the videos. The other benefit is that the use of video in the teaching and learning complements traditional approaches which are used in the learning process. Effective use of the videos connects the knowledge already with the learners with the learning objectives contained in the course. Through the use of video clips in the teaching and learning, there is the engagement of the learners and also assists the learners to retain all the concepts that they gain from the videos. The use of the videos also contributes to the motivation of interest among the learners in the teaching and learning of a foreign language. In addition, the use f videos gives illustration of relevance of the various concepts taught. The other benefit of using videos is that it is usually rich in information. This is because they provide clarification and explicitness which cannot be found with pictures and even with words alone. The use of videos provides a medium that learner are comfortable with therefore help in keeping all the learners attentive and also it increases their concentration levels especially when the method is used together with other teaching and learning methods. This makes it very easy t deliver t the learners. The other benefit is that it is ready made and therefore it can easily be reused or shared by many institutions or classes as resource. The equipments used in the delivery of the images are very easy to operate since nearly all the learners are familiar with televisions or computers. This makes the material accessible anytime any learner is in need of it. Constraints of using Videos Although the use of videos in the teaching and learning of foreign languages can be effective, the method has some constraints as discussed below. One of the constraints is that some f the learners can perceive the opportunity as resting time and therefore divert from classroom process. This may make them miss out on the important concepts. The other constraint is that it is hard to differentiate the learners when the learners are watching the video. The other constraint is that most of the videos contain difficult language and vocabulary materials which may be hard for the learners. The complex language structures contained in the clips can demotivate the learners and also can be a burden to both the teachers and the learners (Cowen 1984 p. 135-137). The other constraint is that some of the videos can be more on the cultural values of the foreign language therefore resulting to cultural constraint. In order to solve the above constraints, the teacher should chose the videos clips wisely considering the different abilities of his or her learners. The teacher should also provide the learners with appropriate exercises which would play a great role in helping the learners overcome challenges and difficulties in apprehending the new language. The exercises would also enable the learners to remember and also make use of the new materials provided (Jack 1992 p. 51-59). Conclusion In conclusion, teachers should note that the use of videos in the teaching and learning of a foreign language can be very effective and also facilitate the learners to interact with the real language and its content instead of the normal vocabulary and grammar. The use of video in the teaching and learning of a foreign language can be an effective tool and at the same time, there is no single method of teaching and learning that can suit all the learners under consideration. If a teacher decides to use a video for teaching, such a teacher should make sure that he provides transcripts or even audio descriptions in order to involve all the students and to make sure that they all understand what is going on. To sum it all, the use of the videos provides the learners with many opportunities of learning and understanding the foreign language and the videos can also be used outside the classrooms, therefore preparing the learners for real communication. References Champoux, Joseph E. (1999) Film as a Teaching Resource. Journal of Management Inquiry, 8(2): 206–217 Cowen, P. S. (1984) Film and text: Order effects in recall and social inferences. Educational Communication and Technology, 32, 131-144. Lonergan, Jack. (1992). Video in Language Teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Tomlinson, Brian (ed.) (2008). English Language Learning Materials. A Critical Review. London: Continuum Omaggio-Hadley, A. (1993). Teaching language in context. 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