YouTube has revolutionized my teaching. It is hard to believe I started teaching before YouTube. (And, that YouTube came out in 2005 is simply mind-blowing!) When I began teaching, showing any kind of video was a hassle (to say the least). Now, I cannot picture my classroom without it. I use it almost daily for a myriad of different reasons - cultural videos, funny videos, content specific videos. Two years ago one of my AP classes (post-AP exam) created a funny video explaining the use of the subjunctive mood in Spanish. I suggest this as a resource for students once they have been exposed to the subjunctive and just want a quick explanation of what exactly it is. As a Spanish teacher, I believe there are few better ways to teach culture than authentic video. Today we are very fortunate to live in a time where video is readily accessible to us via YouTube. It gives my students a chance to hear various accents and see first hand a variety of cultural similarities and differences. Whenever possible, I show film clips, television shows or complete films that are in Spanish when they are relevant to my curriculum. First, one of my favorite YouTube videos is ‘Oh how hard it is to speak Spanish’ (I only share this with upper level high school seniors as it addresses a few mature topics.) This video highlights some of the many linguistic differences throughout the Spanish speaking world in a humorous way. I use it at the start of my AP Spanish Language & Culture course, to remind my students of the challenges (and sometimes funny aspects) of learning such a widely spoken language. Second, I love showing the yearly ads for the ‘El Gordo’ Christmas Lottery in Spain. The first one I had ever come across was the 2014 ad. I tied this in with my teaching of the story El décimo by Emilia Pardo Bazán about the love and marriage of a couple who were initially brought together by a ticket for the ‘El Gordo’ lottery. The 2015 ad is my personal favorite. It is hard not to fall in love with the main character, the charming Justino, who works nights as a security guard at a mannequin factory. Here is an activity from Martina Bex that goes along with the 2015 ad. So many of her awesome resources can be found in her Teachers Pay Teachers store. I have yet to purchase one of her activities and not been completely satisfied. With the 2016 ad, I had my students use this Breakout activity also by Martina Bex. My students had an amazing time with this activity. I didn’t have a Breakout box/kit available so I used a locked Google Form. Here is a video explaining how to make a Google Form to use for a Breakout type activity. Lastly, as teacher of world language, I would be remiss not to mention Movie Talk (this link has a detailed explanation). Essentially, it is a way to have students acquire language with comprehensible input and the short film/video clip is the subject of the conversation. Some of my favorite clips to ‘Movie Talk’ are linked below. Even if you are not interested in using Movie Talk in your classroom, you will really enjoy these animated shorts. Día de los Muertos Oktapodi El Regalo The initial #BLOGAMONTH challenge was to suggest one or two videos you have used in the school setting and explain how they can be used in the classroom. I might have gotten carried away here, but I can’t say enough about using YouTube and other videos in the classroom!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorHigh school Spanish teacher in NJ. Proficiency-oriented teacher. Always looking to try new things in my classes. Foreign Language Educators of New Jersey 2019 Teacher of the Year. Archives
December 2019
Categories
All
|