Audio-visual material and Second Language Acquisition courses: An analysis for English Philology / English Studies

Abstract

The use of audio-visual material in the second/foreign (L2) language classroom has been the focus of research in many studies to date, with findings generally pointing to benefits for the acquisition of the L2. However, to the best of our knowledge, using audio-visual material to lecture on the contents of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) courses in higher education, more specifically, in English Philology/English Studies has not been the focus of published research yet. Hence, the present study delves into the use of film and series excerpts, which showcase concepts in the field of SLA, to analyse and discuss contents in our university SLA classes. From the authors’ experience, using audio-visual material in such a context may yield benefits both for students (higher motivation and engagement) and for lecturers (more engaging, dynamic, and integrated lessons).