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Leave it out! The use of soap operas as models of spoken discourse in the ELT classroom

Year 2014, Volume: 4 Issue: 1, 1 - 14, 14.07.2016

Abstract

This study analyses spoken language from a small corpus of the popular UK soap opera EastEnders in order to understand the extent to which the language used may be a useful model of conversational English at intermediate levels and above. Results suggest that the spoken language used in EastEnders has a number of similarities to unscripted conversational language in general spoken corpora. It involves extensive use of the two thousand most frequent words in the British National Corpus (BNC) spoken lists and the most frequent words and two-word chunks are comparable to general spoken corpora and a larger soap opera corpus. The findings suggest that soap operas of this type may be a useful model of spoken language as they have more similarities to unscripted, naturally occurring conversations than dialogues often found in ELT textbooks.

References

  • Allwright, R. (1979). Language learning through communication practice. In C. Brumfit, & K. Johnson, The Communicative Approach to Language Teaching (pp. 167-182). Oxford: OxfordUniversity Press.
  • Al-Surmi, M. (2012). Authenticity and TV shows: a mutlidimensional analysis perspective. TESOL Quarterly 46(4), 671-694.
  • BBC. (2012, November 1). Script Peeks . Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m86d/features /script-peeks
  • BBC. (2012, November 1). Writers Room. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/scripts/
  • Biber, D., Johansson, S., Leech, G., Conrad, S., & Finegan, E. (1999). Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written English. London: Longman.
  • Brown, P., & Levinson, S. (1987). Politeness: Some Universal in Language Usage. . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Brtish National Corpus (BNC) (2012, October 3). Retrieved from http://www.natcorp.ox.ac.uk/
  • Carter, R., Hughes, R.., & McCarthy, M., (2000). Exploring Grammar in Context. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Carter, R., & McCarthy, M. (1997). Exploring Spoken English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Carter, R., & McCarthy, M. (2006). Cambridge Grammar of English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Chung, M., & Nation, P. (2004). Identifying technical vocabulary. System 32(2), 251-263.
  • Compleat Lexical Tutor. (LexTutor) (2012, October 2). Retrieved from http://www.lextutor.ca/
  • Cook, G. (1998). The uses of reality: a reply to Ronald Carter. ELT Journal 52(2), 57-63.
  • Cullen, R., & Kuo, I. (2007). Spoken grammar and ELT materials:a missing link? TESOL Quaterly 41(2), 361-386.
  • Davies, M. (2012, October 4). Corpus of American Soap Operas. Retrieved from http://corpus2.byu.edu/soap/
  • Fahey Palma, M. (2008, November 1). Speech acts as intercultural danger zones: a corpus-based analysis of
  • apologising in Irish and Chilean soap operas. Retrieved from http://www.immi.se/intercultural/nr8/palma.htm
  • Gilmore, A. (2004). A comparison of textbook and authentic interactions. ELT Journal 58(4), 363-374.
  • Gilmore, A. (2011). “I Prefer Not Text”: Developing Japanese Learners' Communicative Competence
  • with Authentic Materials. Language Learning 61(3), 786-819.
  • Grant, L., & Starks, D. (2001). Screening appropriate teaching materials:closings from textbooks and television soap operas. IRAL 39, 39-50.
  • Hu, M., & Nation, I. (2000). Vocabulary density and reading comprehension. Reading in a Foreign Language 13(1), 403-430.
  • IMDb. (2012, November 5). Eastenders Memorable Quotes. Retrieved from http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0088512 /quotes
  • King, C. (1990). A linguistic and a cultural competence: can they live happily together? ForeignLanguage Annals 23(1), 65-70.
  • Little, D., & Devitt, S. S. (1989). Learning Foreign Languages from Authentic Texts: Theory and Practice. Dublin: Authentik.
  • Little, D., & Singleton, D. (1991). Authentic texts,pedagogical grammar and language awareness in foreign language teaching. In C. James, & P. Garret, Language Awareness in the Classroom (pp. 123-132). London: Longman.
  • McCarthy, M., & Carter, R. (1994). Language as Discourse:Perspectives for Language Teaching. Harlow: Longman.
  • McCarthy, M., McCarten, J., & Sandiford, H. (2006). Touchstone Intermediate Sudent's Book. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • O’Keeffe, A., McCarthy, M., & Carter, R. (2007). From Corpus to Classroom. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Oocities. (2012, November 10). EastEnders. Retrieved from http://www.oocities.org/tvtranscripts/eastenders/ index.htm
  • Peacock, M. (1997 ). The effect of authentic materials on the motivation of EFL learners. ELT Journal 51(2), 144- 156.
  • Quaglio, P. (2009). Television dialogue: The Sitcom Friends vs Natural Conversation. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
  • Schegloff, E., & Sacks, H. (1973). Opening up closings. Semiotica 8, 289-327.
  • Tannen, D. (1987). Repetition in conversation:towards a poetics of talk. Language 63(3), 574-605.
  • Watkins, J., & Wilkins, M. (2011). Using YouTube in the EFL classroom. Language Education in Asia 2(1), 113-119.
  • Widdowson, H. (1990). Aspects of Language Teaching. Oxford : Oxfrod University Press.
  • Widdowson, H. (1998). Context, community and authentic language. TESOL Quarterly 32(4), 705-716.
  • Wilkins, D. (1976). Notional Syllabuses. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Year 2014, Volume: 4 Issue: 1, 1 - 14, 14.07.2016

Abstract

References

  • Allwright, R. (1979). Language learning through communication practice. In C. Brumfit, & K. Johnson, The Communicative Approach to Language Teaching (pp. 167-182). Oxford: OxfordUniversity Press.
  • Al-Surmi, M. (2012). Authenticity and TV shows: a mutlidimensional analysis perspective. TESOL Quarterly 46(4), 671-694.
  • BBC. (2012, November 1). Script Peeks . Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m86d/features /script-peeks
  • BBC. (2012, November 1). Writers Room. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/scripts/
  • Biber, D., Johansson, S., Leech, G., Conrad, S., & Finegan, E. (1999). Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written English. London: Longman.
  • Brown, P., & Levinson, S. (1987). Politeness: Some Universal in Language Usage. . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Brtish National Corpus (BNC) (2012, October 3). Retrieved from http://www.natcorp.ox.ac.uk/
  • Carter, R., Hughes, R.., & McCarthy, M., (2000). Exploring Grammar in Context. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Carter, R., & McCarthy, M. (1997). Exploring Spoken English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Carter, R., & McCarthy, M. (2006). Cambridge Grammar of English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Chung, M., & Nation, P. (2004). Identifying technical vocabulary. System 32(2), 251-263.
  • Compleat Lexical Tutor. (LexTutor) (2012, October 2). Retrieved from http://www.lextutor.ca/
  • Cook, G. (1998). The uses of reality: a reply to Ronald Carter. ELT Journal 52(2), 57-63.
  • Cullen, R., & Kuo, I. (2007). Spoken grammar and ELT materials:a missing link? TESOL Quaterly 41(2), 361-386.
  • Davies, M. (2012, October 4). Corpus of American Soap Operas. Retrieved from http://corpus2.byu.edu/soap/
  • Fahey Palma, M. (2008, November 1). Speech acts as intercultural danger zones: a corpus-based analysis of
  • apologising in Irish and Chilean soap operas. Retrieved from http://www.immi.se/intercultural/nr8/palma.htm
  • Gilmore, A. (2004). A comparison of textbook and authentic interactions. ELT Journal 58(4), 363-374.
  • Gilmore, A. (2011). “I Prefer Not Text”: Developing Japanese Learners' Communicative Competence
  • with Authentic Materials. Language Learning 61(3), 786-819.
  • Grant, L., & Starks, D. (2001). Screening appropriate teaching materials:closings from textbooks and television soap operas. IRAL 39, 39-50.
  • Hu, M., & Nation, I. (2000). Vocabulary density and reading comprehension. Reading in a Foreign Language 13(1), 403-430.
  • IMDb. (2012, November 5). Eastenders Memorable Quotes. Retrieved from http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0088512 /quotes
  • King, C. (1990). A linguistic and a cultural competence: can they live happily together? ForeignLanguage Annals 23(1), 65-70.
  • Little, D., & Devitt, S. S. (1989). Learning Foreign Languages from Authentic Texts: Theory and Practice. Dublin: Authentik.
  • Little, D., & Singleton, D. (1991). Authentic texts,pedagogical grammar and language awareness in foreign language teaching. In C. James, & P. Garret, Language Awareness in the Classroom (pp. 123-132). London: Longman.
  • McCarthy, M., & Carter, R. (1994). Language as Discourse:Perspectives for Language Teaching. Harlow: Longman.
  • McCarthy, M., McCarten, J., & Sandiford, H. (2006). Touchstone Intermediate Sudent's Book. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • O’Keeffe, A., McCarthy, M., & Carter, R. (2007). From Corpus to Classroom. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Oocities. (2012, November 10). EastEnders. Retrieved from http://www.oocities.org/tvtranscripts/eastenders/ index.htm
  • Peacock, M. (1997 ). The effect of authentic materials on the motivation of EFL learners. ELT Journal 51(2), 144- 156.
  • Quaglio, P. (2009). Television dialogue: The Sitcom Friends vs Natural Conversation. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
  • Schegloff, E., & Sacks, H. (1973). Opening up closings. Semiotica 8, 289-327.
  • Tannen, D. (1987). Repetition in conversation:towards a poetics of talk. Language 63(3), 574-605.
  • Watkins, J., & Wilkins, M. (2011). Using YouTube in the EFL classroom. Language Education in Asia 2(1), 113-119.
  • Widdowson, H. (1990). Aspects of Language Teaching. Oxford : Oxfrod University Press.
  • Widdowson, H. (1998). Context, community and authentic language. TESOL Quarterly 32(4), 705-716.
  • Wilkins, D. (1976). Notional Syllabuses. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
There are 38 citations in total.

Details

Other ID JA46BE36YR
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Christian Jones This is me

Tania Horak This is me

Publication Date July 14, 2016
Published in Issue Year 2014 Volume: 4 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Jones, C., & Horak, T. (2016). Leave it out! The use of soap operas as models of spoken discourse in the ELT classroom. The Journal of Language Learning and Teaching, 4(1), 1-14.