Educational Media Reviews Online

Conversation Pieces for Improving ESL Communication is a collection of nine brief (2 – 4 minute) filmed conversations arranged by topics (Greetings, House, Interview, Food, Directions, Work, Health, Weather, and Shopping). After each conversation finishes, watchers see and hear the written transcript of the previous segment. The selected topics are those commonly needed by second language learners, and the vocabulary is introduced in context. The conversations are spoken at normal speaking rate by a variety of actors and actresses, so the focus is on conversational fluency rather than a systematic approach to learning vocabulary.

At the end of the nine short conversations is a review section consisting of vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and discussion questions. Vocabulary selected from the conversations scrolls down the screen as it is pronounced; the vocabulary section is divided by topic in the same order as the original conversations. In the “informal expression” section, common expressions and idiomatic expressions from each section are pronounced as they scroll down the screen. In addition, pronoun verb combinations are pronounced followed by the appropriate contraction. Finally, after the language expressions section finishes, the listener can hear and see nine discussion questions for each topical conversation.

The audio quality of the recording varies widely, with frequent echoes and radical differences in sound level. The actors and actresses speak with a variety of American English accents although some speakers are themselves second language speakers. For example, in the “House” section, an Asian couple accompanied by a real estate agent is looking at a house they might buy. The stilted intonation used by the actors and actresses and the stiffness with which they play out the scenes detracts from the quality of the product.

In addition to the difficulties presented by the technical quality of the taping and the skills of the actors, the placement of follow-up material at the end of all the conversations rather than immediately following each topic is puzzling. In addition, the vocabulary and informal expression review sections merely restate the difficult words without offering definitions, further use in context, or interactive opportunities for the DVD user. The “discussion” questions frequently employ a yes/no or either/or question format, and any resulting reply could end after a very short response. Many of the discussion questions could stimulate thoughtful answers and extended conversations however.

In the promotional material for this DVD, the producer suggests it is intended for use with learners who are not beginners. The difficulty of vocabulary and the normal speech speed also are correspondingly appropriate for second language learners with more than just basic English vocabulary and listening comprehension. However, the grammar section which reviews contractions from the conversations presents material that is typically taught in very beginning level English classes.

Because of the lack of professional quality filming, the stiffness of the acting including the unnatural intonation of the actors and actresses, and the failure to provide opportunities for listeners/watchers to be interactive with the DVD, its usefulness to language learners is limited to watching the conversational segments and repeating the conversations and difficult words as they appear on the screen.