Exploiting English Movies in Language Learning Classes: Teachers’ and Students’ Perceptions for Developing Speaking Skills in Vocational Education in Saudi Arabia
摘要
This paper examines the attitudes of Saudi learners as well as language teachers in vocational education on integrating English movie clips in language classes as a tool to develop speaking skills. The study was based on Krashen’s monitor theory and Communicative Language Teaching approach. A sample of 35 vocational students for a questionnaire and 4 language teachers for semi-structured interviews have been selected. The study aims at providing language teachers with the advantages of employing English movies as one of the effective out-of-class activities to enhance oral English. Also, the study provides language teachers with the best strategies and techniques to incorporate this activity in language systems and skill-based lessons alongside textbook’s activities. The results showed that in-class activities are insufficient to improve communication skills. Also, the study found that employing movie clips is one of the effective out-of-class activities to improve students’ spoken English as it provides authentic language in different settings. Finally, the study found that utilizing movie clips inside the classroom increases students’ motivation to learn, meets students’ interests, and lowers their stress and anxiety. In relation to the pedagogical aspects, the study has three implications according to the findings. Student-centered lessons, enhancing language acquisition and the best strategies to employ movie clips in language systems and skills-based lessons.