Essay On Sitcoms
I. Rationale
When it comes to teaching a foreign language, there is a wide range of classroom resources that could be exploited in order to improve the effectiveness of teaching process. Thanks to the technical equipment and the Internet available, using videos such as situation comedies in the classroom is becoming more accessible than it used to be. The product of this research paper will be the guidelines for English teachers, as it consists of the students’ attitude towards the use of a well-known sitcom and a list of follow-up exercises after watching the sitcoms.
II. Literature review
II.1. Sitcoms and their worldwide popularity
A situation comedy, or sitcom, is a genre of comedy centered on characters who share a common environment
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Today, sitcoms still attract all generations of viewers for several reasons. Besides being a source of entertainment, sitcoms mirror modern society and reflect social changes. Not only do sitcoms present current social problems but they also suggest solutions to them. Since the sitcom is interconnected with its audience, it tries to socialize us, change our habits and make us better (Berman), cited in Markéta Hložková (2013).
II.2. The importance of using sitcoms as a teaching tool
It goes without saying that sitcoms are valuable sources which can be exploited in English language teaching.
Firstly, sitcoms provide students with authentic English. In sitcoms, there are more realistic contexts of the English language compared to English course books. The English taken from sitcoms is more likely to be everyday English – in other words, it is more “real”.
Secondly, sitcoms are usually praised for its contribution to motivation enhancement. When students enjoy watching exhilarating series, they will end up becoming addicted. Therefore, the students are motivated to learn English, which can help the learning process more effective.
Thirdly, sitcoms offer students opportunities practice and improve skills. For example, students’ listening skill could be sharpened, as students will have the chance to hear a variety of different accents (Katherine Bilsborough,
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