Increasing motivation and communicative orientation of the German language lessons with the use of authentic video materials and modern approaches of neurodidactics

Abstract

The article considers modern principles of neurodidactics in the aspect of the effectiveness of studying a foreign language at a higher education institution by using authentic video materials. Based on the principles of neurodidactics and the characteristics of the human brain, the learning process should be organized in a variety of ways, optimally varying the complex theoretical material with practical tasks, using effectively all the senses. The process of learning should give pleasure and above all be guided by the actual interests and needs of students. The object of the methodological and didactic analysis taken by the author is the short film “Dufte” (2001) shot by the German director Ingo Rasper. Among other short length films that are worthy of attention in German lessons is “Bjцrn oder die Hьrden der Behцrden” (2001) by the German director Andi Niessner. The subject of this research is motivation to learn the German language and increase of the communicative orientation using authentic video resources. The methodological and didactic expediency of using video materials in foreign language lessons is analysed: motivational and stimulating functions, compactness, ease of perception, differentiated approach. The unconditional advantages of using videos are authenticity, creativity and diversity in the educational process. The author gives several practical examples of some German learning activities with the use of authentic video materials and modern approaches of neurodidactics. The study of the “multichannel” learning principles is an effective basis for productive foreign language studying. A perspective aspect of the research is the consideration of students’ individual psychological characteristics, in particular, their belonging to certain types of foreign language learning styles (audit, visual, communicative, motor-kinesthetic).