Assorted techniques are offered for introducing authentic German video into the intermediate language curriculum. Television commercials, weather forecasts, and news programs are described as tools for enhancing listening comprehension and expanding students' cultural awareness. Various preparatory activities and follow-up assignments are…

Authentic video documents produced for an audience of native speakers can provide a valuable complement to traditional teaching materials. Foreign language teachers will find the task of choosing materials both enriching and less demanding by working in teams. Practical ways the teacher can use "off-air" materials more effectively are suggested,…

A college French civilization course based on the important role of television in French contemporary culture, as formative of cultural habits, and on its similar importance to contemporary American students is described. (MSE)

Discusses radio and television programing in Finland by the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) and describes programs that have been developed to cover the country's three official languages: Finnish, Swedish, and Saame. Language courses offered by the YLE are described, and the importance of languages in the community is considered. (LRW)

After the passage of a resolution by the South Dakota Board of Regents to place greater emphasis on the study of foreign language, Northern State College introduced commercial video programs in Spanish for classroom use. After installing a parabolic antenna and the other necessary equipment, the department selected and edited a series of programs,…

Analyzes the positive contributions of TV to language learning, especially on the semantic and cultural levels. Compares TV with film strips, discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the two media, and points out the technical and methodological obstacles to a more widely spread use of commercial television for instructional purposes. (MES)

Authentic video material designed for its entertainment value rather than language teaching is a rich and exciting source of video software for instruction in English as a second language (ESL). Available authentic material falls into two categories: off-air recordings of television broadcasts and videocassettes for rental or purchase. This…

A collection of papers gives ideas for exploitation of resources easily available to the language teacher. Although the papers apply specifically to French instruction, the ideas may be of interest to all language teachers. "Realia in the Classroom" (Norman Hill) concerns the contribution to language instruction of such materials as containers,…

In 1987, a project was undertaken to expand and further develop "France-TV Magazine," a French language and culture video magazine series featuring cultural and political topics and current events taken from actual French television broadcasts. The project addressed needs for the following: (1) culturally authentic, timely, live…

While access to international television and videotapes would provide important support to foreign language curricula, foreign television generally cannot be received, recorded, duplicated, or even played on American equipment due to differences in technical standards, norms, and format. There are five basic solutions to problems of foreign…

These instructional materials are designed for students with some French reading skills and vocabulary in late beginning or early intermediate senior high school French. The objectives are to introduce students to a French newspaper, "Le Figaro," and develop reading skills for skimming, gathering specific information, and relying on cognates. The…

Begun as an experimental channel of the European Institute for the Media within the DELTA research program of the European Community, Channel e is Europe's first educational, training, and informative programming service. Programs are broadcast by communications satellite to a potential mass audience of 320 million people. Designed for use on the…