Using Video to Support Teacher Reflection and Development in ELT (Book Review)

Abstract

Videos have been a popular tool for language learners and teachers in the classroom for several decades now. The positive effects of using videos in the language classroom make intuitive sense, as learners are provided with the rich multimodal input that they cannot otherwise obtain from texts or audio-only listening. For example, videos that feature nonverbal behaviors, such as facial expressions and gestures, can enhance the comprehension of video content (Sueyoshi & Hardison, 2005). Other visual aids that are present in videos in the form of graphic (Suvorov, 2015) and textual resources (Gass et al., 2019) promote comprehension of verbal information and facilitate vocabulary learning. All in all, videos feature a wide range of semiotic resources that enhance communication in all contexts, not just the language classroom. Highlighting these benefits and pedagogical potentials, the recently published book Using Video to Support Teacher Reflection and Development in ELT by Laura Baecher, Steve Mann, Cecilia Nobre serves as an excellent example of how the use of video and its tools can facilitate reflective teaching, establish communities of practice, and enhance classroom instruction. The book contains a preface, introduction, and eight chapters, which are organically connected to each other and introduce relevant themes. [First paragraph of review]