The Implementation of Media Literacy in English Language Teaching: Learning to Think Critically in the Web 2.0 Age

HELÁN, Robert and Pavel SEDLÁČEK. The Implementation of Media Literacy in English Language Teaching: Learning to Think Critically in the Web 2.0 Age. In 13th Conference of the European Confederation of Language Centres in Higher Education, Fribourg, Switzerland. 2014.

Basic information

• Original name: The Implementation of Media Literacy in English Language Teaching: Learning to Think Critically in the Web 2.0 Age
• Authors: HELÁN, Robert (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution) and Pavel SEDLÁČEK (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution).
• Edition: 13th Conference of the European Confederation of Language Centres in Higher Education, Fribourg, Switzerland, 2014.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Presentations at conferences
• Field of Study: Literature, mass media, audio-visual activities
• Country of publisher: Switzerland
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• WWW: URL
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14640/14:00076375
• Organization unit: Language Centre
• Keywords in English: media literacy; Web 2.0; manifest; latent; cumulative messages; connotation; denotation

Abstract

The paper discusses the merits of employing media literacy strategies (via analyzing e.g. manifest, latent, and cumulative messages contained in the media) in the context of teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL). These strategies help students acquire the ability to distinguish mediated from real images of people, places, and cultures. Specifically, it reports on an interdisciplinary collaboration between a language instructor and media specialist in organizing a content- and language-integrated course for MA students called Theory and Methods of Genre Analysis, held at Masaryk University, Faculty of Social Studies. The theoretical part of the paper deals with the definition of the concepts of media literacy and Web 2.0 in relation to TEFL. The practical part illustrates the ways media literacy can be used for the development of students’ critical thinking skills in the Web 2.0 age as an important part of language education. It is argued, in line with Quinlisk (2003), that by helping our students become more media literate we simultaneously help them become more successful as language learners.

Links

• CZ.1.07/2.2.00/28.0233, interní kód MU: Name: Inovace, metodika a kvalita jazykového vzdělávání a odborného vzdělávání v cizích jazycích v terciární sféře v ČR (Acronym: IMPACT)

Investor: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR, 2.2 Higher education