Across the global learning landscape there’s an ongoing debate about the role of smartphones and digital tools / resources in education. Yet the debate typically ignores the fact that today’s learners are digital natives, who have grown up with such devices and see them as an essential part of their lives and selves.
Language educators would, we suggest, be well served by leaning into this and using these tools to support learning. One area where this can be particularly powerful is around the use of native language video content. After all, your learners will be well accustomed to the fast-paced, visually engaging world of social media and video content. Video seamlessly integrates with these media formats making it a powerful tool for educators.
From captivating documentaries to authentic interviews, videos offer a window into the heart of the language and culture. In this blog post, we’ll look at the advantages and challenges associated using video content in language education, equipping you with practical strategies to integrate them effectively into your language classroom.
Why should you use video content in language education?
Video, obviously, is a recording of moving images and sound. As such, it can encompass many diverse formats, from short clips to feature-length movies.
Similarly, its content can range from fictional narratives to documentaries, animations, and educational materials. In the context of language learning, it usually refers to recordings featuring native speakers in authentic contexts, with the aim of enhancing language acquisition and cultural understanding.
This blog post will consider video from two different angles. Firstly we’ll look at video content, which has already been created by a third party. This might include a film on Netflix, a video on YouTube or a TikTok. We’ll also look at how educators could use video creation tools to encourage students to practise using their L2 speaking and communication skills.
In both cases, educators can use video content to transform learning into a captivating, dynamic and highly-personalised experience that resonates deeply with today’s social media-driven generation.
Watching native video content
It’s a fact of life that many students learning a language have never, or may never, actually get to visit a country where their L2 is spoken by local people. How can they get a sense of what Arabic, Korean or Spanish should sound like if they’ve never heard it spoken by a native speaker?
Well, video content is perhaps the easiest way to give learners that authentic experience. It can provide a window into the living, breathing world of your target language. No more textbook dialogues and staged scenarios. With native videos, your students gain exposure to real language, real situations, real emotions and actual native speakers. Here’s what makes it so powerful:
Advantages:
- Students can hear natural speech rhythms, intonation, and slang that enriches their understanding beyond textbook learning.
- Videos provide authentic glimpses into daily life, traditions and humour. This helps develop deeper cultural understanding and an awareness of the context in which their L2 is spoken and used.
- Visuals and real-life scenarios capture learners’ attention and spark curiosity, which makes learning more fun and interactive.
- There’s a wide variety of different types of content – all of which is easily available online including documentaries, music videos, interviews and movie clips.
- It’s easy to find content that ties in with your students’ passions and interests, whether that’s football content in French or sushi cookery videos in Japanese.
Disadvantages:
- Depending on the video, the content might be too advanced for beginners. Pre-teaching vocabulary or providing transcripts can help.
- Accents and fast-paced dialogue can sometimes be tricky. Think about scaffolding learning for some students by including subtitles, slow playback options or guided listening activities.
- It may be difficult to tailor the content to your specific curriculum or learning objectives. Be as specific as possible when searching for material and choose videos carefully.
Practical tips:
- It sounds simple, but make sure that you’ve watched every clip before you play it in a class. Watch out for adverts and be careful to use all content legally!
- Introduce key vocabulary beforehand, break down complex dialogues, and offer follow-up activities like discussions or quizzes.
- Yes, videos can be useful learning tools. But just watching a video for 30 minutes non-stop is not good teaching. Pause videos for discussions, predictions or role-plays based on the content. Use the video as a starting point for extension activities and homework tasks.
Creating their own video and empowering student voices
While watching native language videos can ignite students’ passion and fuel their understanding, there’s an even more powerful learning experience available for students: creating their own videos using the target language!
This harnesses students’ creativity and transforms them from passive viewers into active creators. They’re able to use their own video content to improve their language skills, build fluency in expressing themselves and explore their personal language journey.
Of course, the final product is important. But so is the journey to get there. Collaborating, scripting, filming, and presenting – each stage cultivates valuable language skills like communication, creativity and critical thinking.
Advantages:
- Students can choose to create videos on topics they’re passionate about, reinforcing grammar and vocabulary in a meaningful context.
- The production process offers plenty of opportunity to practise key language skills.
- Students can work across different roles – script writer, proofreader, presenter etc.
- Share students’ videos with peers and native speakers online for authentic feedback and connections.
Disadvantages:
- Using filming and editing software does require initial setup and testing. Unless students just use their phones!
- Video creation (and editing!) can take time, so plan well and set realistic expectations.
- Inevitably some students will be hesitant about speaking on camera. Work with all students to create a supportive environment and encourage everyone to participate.
Practical tips:
- Start small and begin with simple projects like short presentations or video dialogues.
- There’s nothing wrong with using phones to create video content. Students are learning a language not directing Citizen Kane!
- Allow students to choose individual or group projects to cater to preferences.
- Share tutorials, online tools, and storyboarding templates to guide the process.
- Try to focus on the learning journey, not just the final product.
- But where possible, celebrate success and share (with permission) the films created across your institution.
As we’ve explored, native language video content can offer a treasure trove of opportunities for language learning. Whether watching or creating, they can help improve communication skills, build deeper learner engagement and provide rich cultural insights for all learners.
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