YOUTUBE IN THE CLASSROOM

Given what we know nowadays about the differences in individual student's learning styles (whether that is logical, verbal, kinesthetic, aural or visual), it becomes the teacher's responsibility to prepare lessons that strategically integrate each of these types of learning. There are many materials teachers can use to supplement their lessons which appeal to each of these learning styles such as: crossword puzzles and word searches for logical learners; plays, skits and role-plays for verbal learners; TPR and physical games such as "Simon says" for kinesthetic learners; Songs, rhymes, and drilling games for aural learners; and flashcards, pictures and videos for visual learners.
Videos are a great tool for visual and aural learners, and video-sharing websites like YouTube, with its seemingly endless supply of content which can be downloaded and used in the classroom, make it easy to find the perfect video to integrate into your lesson. Videos have become a mainstay in my classroom for the following reasons:

1. Videos allow teachers to present authentic or "real" language to their students. It's important that students aren't exposed to only one source of language i.e. me, but other native speakers as well to improve their abilities.
2. Videos allow students to see the language used in context. When students watch a video they aren't just hearing the language, they are also seeing it thus improving their comprehension.

NOTE: Despite the many benefits of using videos in class, it's important to note that while well-curated videos used to supplement a lesson have a place in the classroom, playing videos for entertainment's sake without a clear teaching objective is a waste of time and often times leads to passive and unengaged students. That being said, when used and curated carefully, videos have the ability to transport students from the classroom and discover language in authentic contexts.