The Effectiveness of Using Movies in the EFL Classroom – A Study Conducted at South East European University

Abstract

Being exposed to different media and technology resources, from audio to printed material students lack the motivation for learning in conventional way. This is the main reason why English language teachers always keep searching for more motivating teaching sources. Course books and CD‘s offered in English classes turn out to be artificial and not very engaging for students. One way of bringing variety into the classroom is the use of movies in EFL teaching. . This paper analyzes the effects of using movies in the EFL classroom. It reveals its effects on developing students listening and communication skill. The study was conducted on a sample of two groups: an experimental and a control group taught conventionally .The study was carried out at the South East European University in the academic year 2011/2012. The participants in this study were pre-intermediate and intermediate level of students, aged 18-25. The results of the study have shown that significant differences between experimental and control group of students on integrated skills, using video incorporated in the teaching material. The study concluded that movies attract students’ attention, present language in a more natural way that found in course-books. What is more important movies offer a visual context aids which help students understanding and improve their learning skills.

DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2012.v2n4p121