Learning the English language is a complex undertaking. As with learning any language, non-native speakers have to navigate a river of vocabulary, grammatical exceptions and language nuances. The task of learning English is even more complex for non-native speakers who move to an English speaking country and are immediately immersed in the language. There are an assortment of useful tools that English teachers can use to help non-native speakers in developing their English skills. One of these tools is the use of videos in language education. By integrating videos into the learning process, teachers allow non-native speakers to see authentic examples of language use and build their language skills by observing the language use of others.

Use a variety of videos. While there are videos specifically made for use in educational settings, do not feel that you must stick to these specialized videos. Movies, TV shows and even commercials can all be helpful in teaching non-native English speakers as they provide an authentic representation of language use. These alternate video forms are also commonly more interesting to non-native speakers than the basic language-learning videos.

Select vocabulary from videos. Instead of picking an arbitrary list of vocabulary words, select words that appear in videos. Present the learners with the words prior to playing the video clip, and allow them to use context clues from the video to determine the meaning before providing them with the definition. By giving them the opportunity to determine the meaning for themselves, you are helping them practice their context-clue-deciphering skills and increasing the likelihood that they will be able to determine the meaning of unknown words that come up in conversation.

Use videos to practice listening skills. Provide students with questions prior to watching the video, and ask them to use their listening skills to discover the answers. As non-native speakers learn English, they need the opportunity to practice understanding information that is presented orally. By providing students with video questions that they must answer through the watching of a video, you allow them to practice careful listening and decoding.

Challenge learners to practice their parts of speech skills by picking out words of different types from the videos watched. As students advance in their English-learning skills, use videos as a vehicle to practice parts of speech. Instruct students to write down all the nouns, verbs, adjectives or adverbs that they hear in a section of video. Play a short clip, and see how many words of the featured part of speech the student accurately identified.

Study culture with films and TV shows. Along with learning the language, non-native speakers can benefit from lessons in American culture. Use contemporary movies and televisions shows to teach them standard cultural practices. Explore holidays, standard practices or common rituals by watching videos featuring these cultural elements.