The role of short films in vocabulary and cultural learning in the Spanish language classroom in Ghana: A learner-centred perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15648/cedotic.2.2025.4545Keywords:
Intercultural education, acquisition of vocabulary, foreign language, EspañolAbstract
Recent pedagogical research highlights the benefits of using films in the language classroom to expose learners to authentic language use and cultural perspectives, which traditional resources like textbooks may not provide. While full-length films may pose challenges such as time constraints and student disengagement, short films accessible through digital platforms like YouTube and TikTok offer a practical solution to these challenges. This study explored the impact of using short films as an alternative pedagogical tool for vocabulary and cultural learning in the classroom, exploring the experiences of Spanish students at the University of Ghana. The findings showed that short films effectively enhance vocabulary and cultural understanding, with students favouring comedy, educational, and romantic genres. The results provide language educators with valuable insights into the effective use of short films as a practical resource for facilitating vocabulary learning and cultural understanding in the context of teaching and learning Spanish as a foreign language.
Author Biographies
Josephine Araba Duncan Ofori, University of Ghana
Josephine Araba Duncan Ofori is a Tutor at the Department of
European Languages, Spanish Section at the University of Ghana. She
holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and Linguistics from the
University of Ghana. She also earned an MA in Hispanic Linguistics
from the University of Florida in 2021. She is currently doing a PhD
in Linguistics, Literature and Translation at the University of Málaga.
Her research interests include bi/multilingualism, technology in the
language classroom, phonetics and phonology and second/foreign
language acquisition. She is also a dedicated member of “Hispanistas”,
an Association of Hispanists in Ghana and Togo.
Franklina Kabio-Danlebo, University of Ghana
Franklina Kabio-Danlebo is a Tutor at the Spanish Section,
Department of European Languages, University of Ghana. She holds
a B. A in French and Spanish from the University of Ghana. She
also earned an M.A. in Hispanic Linguistics from the University of
Florida. Currently, she is a Ph.D. student in Linguistics, Literature and
Translation at the University of Málaga. Her research interests include
Language Acquisition and Pedagogy, Technology in the Language
Classroom and Collaborative Learning. She is the patron of El Club
Hispánico, University of Ghana.
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