A study of language learning using depth of processing: Based on the character Ross in Friends

Lee, Ji Hyun; Lee, Ja won

Article

Journal of English Teaching through Movies and Media 2012;13(1):129-148.
Published online March 30, 2012.

A study of language learning using depth of processing: Based on the character Ross in Friends

Ji Hyun Lee, Ja won Lee

정보처리의 깊이를 이용한 학습방안 연구

이지현, 이자원

Abstract

This study considers how to help learners concentrate on the contents of movies and television dramas in order to develop long-term memory of language. Craik and Lockhart (1972) and Craik and Tulving (1975) claimed people remember things that they have thought about and that deeper (semantic) processes are associated with higher retention of target words. Seven scenes based on Ross in Friends were explained through depth of processing. The depth of processing in this study occurs in three steps: 1) a stimulus and goal step, 2) an interaction step, and 3) a connection step. The teacher and students have conversations about funny scenes in the first step, they talk about why the scenes are funny in the second step, and in the third step, connection, the stimulus and the goal are repeated. The main feature of this process is that no explanation about language functions or form is given. The focus of the conversations between the teacher and students are only on what happens to the character. The expectation of this process is that while the learners concentrate on the contents of the drama, the language will be acquired and stored in long-term memory.

Key Words: depth of processing;long-term memory;Friends;Ross