Oral and written resources are two complementary tools you should use to enhance your learning. However, it’s important to keep in mind what are the differences between them.
In an earlier post I highlighted the importance and value of using authentic resources, or natural language input. You can fin the article HERE.
Today, we’ll be comparing the two main different type of resources and looking at different ways of working with them.
Which is which?
In case you are wondering, Oral resources are things like:
- YouTube videos
- Movies
- TV shows
- Interviews
While Written resources are things like:
- Transcripts of YT videos
- Scripts from movies/TV shows
- Articles
- Social media posts
- Tweets
- Short stories
- Novels
- Newsletters
As I often say, tailoring the resources to your specific needs is fundamental and there is no final say on the matter, but take these aspects as a guideline to make an informed decision.
| Oral | Written |
|---|---|
| hesitations | more structure |
| usually more concise and direct | more information |
| you have to follow the speaker | you set the pace |
| you listen for the gist | you can follow word by word |
| you can pay attention to prosody | more opportunities to learn new vocabulary |
| you can guide yourself with tone, intonation and stress | can sometimes be misinterpreted without nonverbal cues |
| you are listening | you are not listening |
| colloquial expressions and idioms are used | more gramatically correct |
Which one should I pick?
It depends on your learning style and goals. But generally speaking, the best type of resource is an oral resource which can be followed with an accurate transcript. That’s why I always advice my students to use the CC filter in the YouTube video advanced search tab.
Oral resources can be a great way to practice your speaking and listening skills. It can also help you to improve your pronunciation, fluency and comprehension. However, it can be intimidating or stressful for some learners.
Written resources can be a great way to practice your reading and writing skills. It can also help you to improve your grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension. However, it can be difficult to understand written texts, especially if they are not yet proficient in the target language.
Pst! Read THIS ARTICLE to learn how to work with a movie in Spanish.
Happy Spanish learning,
Enjoy!
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