Using TV Shows in the Language Classroom with Samvidha Srinath

Using TV Shows in the Language Classroom with Samvidha Srinath

Author: TESOL Pop March 5, 2024 Duration: 13:11

Teacher Samvidha Srinath talks about using clips from popular TV shows in her classes, the benefits it brings to her teenage learners, and how she uses the material in class.


KEY TALKING POINTS


Advantages of Using Authentic Media:

Samvidha explains how using clips from films and TV shows in the classroom motivates and engages students. Authentic material also exposes students to the target language and various topics covered in the media. Examples from Samvidha's classes, including the TV show "Young Sheldon," illustrate the effectiveness of using relevant media.


Selecting Appropriate Material:

Samvidha shares her top priorities when choosing media for language classes, emphasising cultural appropriateness and relevance to students, and matching the material to students' language proficiency levels.


Implementation Strategies:

Differentiated materials and support are essential for addressing the diverse needs of learners in the classroom.

Long-term media use (2 to 4 months or a school semester) allows for deeper engagement and language production from students.


ABOUT

Samvidha is currently training to become a teacher at secondary school level and specialises in teaching languages. She not only loves teaching, but is also a passionate language learner herself. She is fluent in five languages and is learning Korean and Japanese. 


Apart from this, Samvidha is also a writer and blogger. She runs her own blog called books and coffee (BOCO for short) where she writes about language learning, education and everything else she’s passionate about.


To learn more about Samvidha's work, visit her blog.


TRANSCRIPT

Watch with closed captions.


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CREDITS

Producer Laura Wilkes

Editor Haven Tsang

Thanks to our lovely guest, Samvidha Srinath.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Ever feel like the best teaching ideas come from a quick chat in the staffroom, but your schedule never allows for it? TESOL Pop captures that spark. Designed for the busy English language teacher, this mini podcast delivers compact, meaningful conversations with TESOL, TEFL, and ESL educators globally. Each episode is a focused interview, kept under fifteen minutes, packed with practical ideas and personal insights that can genuinely shift your approach in the classroom. You’ll hear stories about career pivots, reflections on what actually works with students, and clever uses of technology, all shared in a casual, accessible tone. It’s the audio equivalent of a refreshing coffee break with a colleague who gets it. The podcast understands that profound professional development doesn’t always require a lengthy seminar; sometimes, a single, well-timed insight is enough to reinvigorate your teaching. By tuning in, you join a global conversation that feels both personal and immediately useful, making it easy to integrate new perspectives into your daily routine without overwhelming your calendar.
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