Why American TV dramas?: To enhance conversational awareness

Rho, Yoon ah

Article

Journal of English Teaching through Movies and Media 2010;11(2):67-95.
Published online December 30, 2010.

Why American TV dramas?: To enhance conversational awareness

Yoon ah Rho

왜 미국 드라마를 사용하는가?

노윤아

Abstract

This study used American TV dramas to raise students' conversational awareness. Conversational competence should be distinguished from language competence. In most English conversation classes, however, the two competencies are often confused. A lot of activities which are designed to strengthen conversational abilities are in fact only language practice. Students are unaware of conversational structures and strategies and therefore don't fully understand the nature of conversation. Participants in the study were 40 college students. The students analyzed the structures and strategies of conversations which appeared in scripts for TV dramas. To collect data, participants completed a questionnaire and were tested on conversational analysis. The data showed that students who didn't express any interest in conversation began to give attention to conversational structures and strategies. They were also generally positive toward the way of learning conversation through the use of American TV dramas. Conversational awareness can be developed by improving students' understanding of the nature of conversation, its structures, and its strategies. Using American TV dramas could be an excellent way to strengthen conversational competence.

Key Words: conversation;conversational awareness;American TV dramas