Target Language Cultural Materials in the Spanish Classroom
Submission Type
Event
Expected Graduation Date
2013
Location
Lower Level, Ames Library, Illinois Wesleyan University
Start Date
4-20-2013 9:00 AM
End Date
4-20-2013 10:00 AM
Disciplines
Education
Abstract
When students enroll in a foreign language in high school, many see the course as an elective or requirement for college entrance. Getting students to see the significance of the language is a challenge. To build a bridge, realia offers students the opportunity to view the target language as meaningful and significant. This paper investigates the use of media, a form of realia, in high school Spanish classrooms as a way to motivate students, connect target language to prior knowledge, and increase the importance of language acquisition. Data for this collaborative, qualitative study was collected in two different Spanish classrooms within two different schools. Data sources include classroom discussions, worksheets, field notes, and reflections on daily activities. Findings indicate realia is a useful tool to encourage student interest in learning Spanish. The hope is that this interest might carry over to a lengthened pursuit of language learning.
Target Language Cultural Materials in the Spanish Classroom
Lower Level, Ames Library, Illinois Wesleyan University
When students enroll in a foreign language in high school, many see the course as an elective or requirement for college entrance. Getting students to see the significance of the language is a challenge. To build a bridge, realia offers students the opportunity to view the target language as meaningful and significant. This paper investigates the use of media, a form of realia, in high school Spanish classrooms as a way to motivate students, connect target language to prior knowledge, and increase the importance of language acquisition. Data for this collaborative, qualitative study was collected in two different Spanish classrooms within two different schools. Data sources include classroom discussions, worksheets, field notes, and reflections on daily activities. Findings indicate realia is a useful tool to encourage student interest in learning Spanish. The hope is that this interest might carry over to a lengthened pursuit of language learning.