Furthermore, if an authentic video meets instructional objectives and is motivating to the learners, it may serve as a springboard for discussing differing cultural norms as well as the issue of censorship. These discussions can serve to enhance learners' critical thinking skills while increasing their acquisition of language and cultural information. Selecting Videos Whether using authentic or instructional videos, there are criteria to be followed in their selection. Here the teacher is vital. Preparing the learners to understand what they are going to watch makes the difference between time wasted and time well spent.
Many authentic videos move at a pace difficult for a nonnative speaker to follow.
Even an instructional video may be too fast paced and dense for adults new to English. In some instructional videos, graphics, charts, and even language patterns may be on the screen too briefly to be fully comprehended. With second language learners, segments that are less than five minutes are often sufficient. Teachers need to decide whether it's worth investing the time and effort to prepare learners to understand the context of certain language and cultural nuances, or distinctions. With videos designed to be used for English language instruction, the accompanying textbooks, resource books, and workbooks need to be examined carefully to see if they meet the instructional needs of the learners.