Have you ever considered learning a foreign language by binge-watching a TV series in its original language? Research in linguistic studies suggests that series aren’t just a useful language-learning tool but might even surpass traditional grammar books, especially when aiming to improve colloquial language skills.

Elena Nuzzo, an associate professor of Modern Language Didactics at the University of Roma Tre, delves into this phenomenon from the perspective of pragmatics—a lesser-known aspect of language that encompasses how language and its context are intertwined. It’s about more than just transferring information; it’s about the impact language has on reality.

As Nuzzo explains, “These pragmatic acts are significantly influenced by the cultural framework of interaction. A seemingly harmless compliment might be offensive in a different communicative context. While often mistaken as matters of personality, these pragmatic aspects are, in fact, as firmly established as grammatical norms.”

While textbooks have long been the go-to learning materials, they often lack real conversational language elements. Even with the integration of multimedia like videos and audio recordings in recent years, they still fail to capture the spontaneity and intricacies of real spoken language.

Nuzzo conducted various studies on this topic. In one study published in Revista de Italianistica, she analyzed 17 Italian textbooks for foreigners and 26 episodes of TV series like “Che Dio ci aiuti,” “Cotti e mangiati,” and “Fuoriclasse.” Her findings revealed inadequacies in linguistic acts of gratitude in textbooks compared to those in the TV series. In another study featured in “Teaching, Learning, and Investigating Pragmatics,” she examined compliments and invitations, reaching a similar conclusion.

However, while TV series might lack the spontaneous conversational style typical of talk shows, they offer two significant advantages. Firstly, they expose viewers to various communicative contexts, and secondly, they provide a less standardized language than that found in movies and textbooks. This variety aims to create a stronger viewer identification, thereby necessitating the most accurate portrayal of real language use.

The benefits of TV series extend beyond pragmatic aspects; they can also aid in pronunciation and vocabulary development. Consider the range of accents and lexical choices found within our own language. The regional Italian spoken in “Il commissario Montalbano” differs drastically from that in “Suburra.”

Unfortunately, TV series and similar tools are often overlooked by language teachers. Even younger educators frequently replicate the methods they were taught. The approach remains rigid, emphasizing grammatical rules and written language. Nuzzo fears many Italian language teachers believe teaching the grammar rule alone is sufficient. However, as she states, “Merely teaching the grammatical rule doesn’t explain how someone who relocates to a foreign country can spontaneously use a new language without attending a single lesson or explicitly knowing the grammatical rules.”

For Nuzzo, learning a foreign language requires three things: immersing oneself in various written and oral language inputs, seeking interaction opportunities, and investing ample time and patience. Both students and teachers need time and dedication—learning a language isn’t solely about memorizing grammatical rules but about living and interacting with it.

Source: https://www.wired.it/play/televisione/2018/03/03/imparare-lingua-straniera-serie-tv/