Intermediate Learner Opinions on Captioned Video Cartoons for Language Acquisition

Abstract

Second language acquisition researchers seem to agree that compared to traditional textbook-bound instruction, the use of video for pedagogical purposes provides significant enhancements in terms of context, discourse, paralinguistic features, cultural aspects, and student motivation. This study explores the use of the cartoon series Peppa Pig as a resource to enhance listening comprehension skills, vocabulary, and grammar acquisition, and to motivate students. Specifically, it enquires on how intermediate students of Italian perceive the effectiveness of the use of same-language captions while watching Italian (dubbed) children's cartoons in class. The qualitative data that were acquired throughout a 16-week semester show that greater accessibility to the videos was attained with captions on. While helping learners pick up the pronunciation of Italian words, captions also assisted them in isolating and noticing lexical elements, thus clarifying indistinct input and enabling word/phrase recall with more accuracy.