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Database of Teaching Sources

A database of selected, reviewed, tested, assessed and validated e-learning based language teaching sources addressed to Higher education students for the learning of 18 different European languages.

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Yle Kielikoulu / Yle Language School

Date of Publication

n/a

Target Group

Lecturers
Students

Domain Area

Arts & Music
Journalism & multimedia
Sustainability
Teacher Education
Tourism

Learning Scenario

Autonomous learning
Classroom Context

Target Language

Finnish

Language of Instruction

Finnish

CEFR level

A2
B1
B2

Type of Material

Video

Linguistic Features

Vocabulary
Pragmatics
Prosody

Skills

Listening

Description

Yle Kielikoulu is a public TV broadcast service enabling students to study Finnish by watching media contents subtitled for language learners. Subtitles are provided with the possibility to click on new words to get support translation in the language of learner’s choice. The service can be used in browser or in mobile application. Different programs are offered with subtitles: from general contents to more specific fields (for example history, science, environment, culture) that permit the student learn special purpose vocabulary. The contents are suitable for different teaching methods as for ex. flipped classroom. Some contents may not be accessible outside Finland.

Case study

This teaching source was used in advanced level Finnish language course for Foreign Languages and Literatures students. The teaching source was used in the following two ways:
1) regularly, throughout the academic year: once a week the last part of a language practice lesson was dedicated to listening to the news in simplified Finnish (Yle Uutiset selkosuomeksi);
2) during a specific lesson, with the aim of increasing and practicing the vocabulary of a specific semantic area (nature) and to enhance listening skills.
The result of the first work mode was the creation of a glossary relating to "current affairs terminology" (current issues), with particular reference to the lexicon linked to the Covid 19 pandemic. The second work mode focused on a video dedicated to the oldest tree in Finland; the students were assigned the task of extrapolating, with the aid of subtitles, 10 new words relating to the lexicon of nature and identifying 5 keywords of the topic covered in the video. The students discussed the extrapolated new words, after which, starting from each single word, an in-depth work was carried out on the semantic area relating to the word itself, reflecting at the same time on the different possibilities of translation into Italian, which made fruitful activity also from the point of view of translation studies. In addition, the students were assigned the task of writing a text on the topic of nature, based on the 5 keywords identified. The activities as a whole proved to be quite stimulating for the students; the material used, constituting an excellent starting point for an in-depth study of a semantic nature and offering the starting point for an immediate practical use of the new words learned, proved to be particularly useful in learning the vocabulary. Finally, the teacher selected some videos on specific thematic and semantic areas to be offered to students for self-study, based on the interests of the individual students themselves.

Guidelines

Speaking skills: flipped classroom
Step 1
Select program for the needs of your student group. Ask students to watch the program and to prepare 3 questions and 2 comments to share with others.
Step 2
Classroom activity: Work on vocabulary. What new words did learners find in the program? What would be the keywords of the argument treated in the program (choose 5 keywords)? Did any difficulties arise?
Small groups conversation with questions and comments prepared.
Step 3
Writing skills: write a short text on the program using the keywords discussed together. You can either speak generally about the program or choose to concentrate on the specific argument it talked about.

Review

Category
Rate
Comprehensive approach
Capacity to match the needs of lecturers and students

4

Added value
The provided tangible improvements

4

Motivation enhancement
The capacity to motivate students to improve their language skills

5

Innovation
Effectiveness in introducing innovative, creative and previously unknown approaches to LSP learning

5

Transferability
Measurement of the transferable potential and possibility to be a source of further capitalisation/application for other language projects in different countries

2

Skills assessment and validation
Availability of appropriate tools for lecturers to monitor students’ progress and for students to assess own progress and to reflect on learning

1

Adaptability
Flexibility of the contents and possibilities for the LSP lecturers to adapt the contents to their and to students’ need

2

Usability
Assess the technical usability from the point of view of the lecturer and the student

5

Accessibility
Assess the accessibility from the point of view of the lecturer and the student

5

Comments:
Yle Kielikoulu is very useful and innovative way to improve general and specific language skills by authentic media contents. As the consumption and creation of various kinds of video material is becoming increasingly commonplace in the current society, most students are accustomed to some kind of video consumption: Yle Kielikoulu offers valid and differentiated material to integrate into classroom teaching or to propose for autonomous study. The subtitle service and the possibility to check new words help students to get the most from the material proposed. The service is offered on various programs, even though not all of them are available outside Finland.
Website of the Teaching Source:
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