Facilitating acculturation through the use of videotapes : guidelines for development and recommendations for use

This thesis incorporates aspects of the author's three majors: anthropology, teaching English as a second language, and student personnel administration. A review of the literature on adaptation, teaching English as a second language, and orientation programs, demonstrated that being proficient in English and having gone through an orientation program have been said to aid in a foreign student's acculturation. To test this, previous video projects for orientation and teaching English as a second language were identified "and described and a pilot videotape and accompanying instructional manuals designed both to orient the student on one aspect of American culture and to contribute to the student's understanding of English were developed and tested. The thesis consists of a report on this project, including recommendations for further development of this approach and instructions on the use of such tapes in teaching English as a second language and in foreign student orientation programs.The pilot video dealt with how to open a checking and savings account. This videotape was developed by working closely with Ball State's Media Services and Merchants National Bank. People in Media Services did the actual taping and editing of the video, while Merchants National Bank gave permission to tape the video at the Merchants Bank branch located in the Ball State Village area using bank personnel. To accompany the tape, a seven-day syllabus for using the tape for instruction in ESL classrooms and a "financial handbook" for foreign student orientation programs were developed.Arrangements were made to teach with the tape in an ESL classroom to test the effectiveness of it and the lesson plans. Effectiveness was measured by comparing the knowledge levels of the students before and after viewing the videotape. Additionally, the tape was shown to a group of foreign students during an orientation program. In both groups it was found that skills and knowledge of check writing, giving and receiving information, and financial terminology improved after seeing the video. Finally, both groups were asked for recommendations on ways the tape could be modified to make it more effective.This project produced guidelines for the development of further tape-based lessons to assist in the acculturation of foreign students to American life.