Integrating TV Materials into English Learning at a Rwandan University

This study explores the possibility of integrating television materials into English teaching and learning at the National University of Rwanda for the benefit of second year English students. It is believed that television can captivate the learners' interest as it communicates through sound and image. Incorporating TV materials (i.e. live as well as recorded materials such as news, documentaries) can contribute to the acquisition and development of the students' language skills. Different research techniques were used to obtain the data. These included interviews, questionnaires and document analysis. The findings reveal that students and lecturers acknowledge the importance of using TV in the English class and support the integration of television materials into the English teaching and learning processes. However, the lecturers expressed their disappointment with the lack of facilities to implement this. This study concludes that TV materials can help students to improve their speaking and listening skills. It also advocates the promotion of a communicative approach where a focus on activities promoting fluency rather than accuracy in English should be the guiding principle.

Autorentext

Pravda Mfurankunda is a lecturer at the National University of Rwanda. He holds a B.A in English language and Literature and an M.Ed in Applied Linguistics and Language Education. He is currently exploring as part of his PhD research the inter-relationships between English language learning, identity construction and digital practices in Rwanda.