Watch and Learn: EFL Students’ Perceptions of Video Clip Subtitles for Vocabulary Instruction

Abstract

Implementing the online learning process requires qualified EFL teachers as agents of change to get hold of effective learning resources to help students achieve learning goals. This pilot study explores EFL students’ perceptions from two private Islamic senior high schools in urban areas in Aceh Province, Indonesia, towards using video clips with subtitles (bimodal of English-Indonesian) while learning English in the classroom. The study applied the mixed-methods design by disseminating a questionnaire to 78 participants and conducting a semi-structured interview with ten selected participants. Findings revealed that most students positively perceived using subtitled video clips in learning English vocabulary. However, some encountered setbacks in learning English words due to the poor use of the elements in the video clip subtitles. Therefore, the subtitling procedures still need revisiting to assist students better in digesting subtitled movies in a more well-organized manner.