Towards Meeting Elementary MFL Learners’ Needs Through Audio-Visual Materials In Conjunction To Mandarin Drama Series & Movies

Abstract

Among many learning resources, are Mandarin drama series and movies needed by elementary Mandarin as a foreign language (MFL) learners’ in Malaysia in enhancing Mandarin learning? Nearly 70% of the respondents emphasised the importance of having ‘audio-visual materials’, and more than 50% of the respondents declared that they were interested in watching Mandarin drama series or movies. However, there is no suitable elementary level audio-visual materials available for use in conjunction to Mandarin dramas and movies. In regards to respondents’ favourite Mandarin drama series or movies, top 10 Mandarin drama series or movies were identified. To fulfil the needs of elementary MFL learners in Malaysia who want to use audio-visual material, the material compiled should be focused on learners’ interests. For this purpose, learners’ favourite Mandarin drama series & movies could be used to determine which drama series or movie are suitable for selection. To propose ways to produce suitable audio-visual materials in conjunction to Mandarin drama series & movies favoured by majority of elementary MFL learners, the Framework of Developing Small Corpora for Mandarin Drama Series & Movies was proposed to provide guidance on how to derive high frequency vocabulary from learners’ favourite Mandarin drama series & movies. Further effort could be carried out to compile audio-visual materials for teaching and learning purposes based on high frequency vocabulary from corpora of Mandarin drama series & movies.