The impact of the use of audiovisual material in students' motivation in the Spanish classroom: are we doing it right?

In recent years there has been an increase in the interest of audiovisual entertainment platforms to broadcast material in the Spanish language, particularly TV series and films. These materials constitute a unique tool for Spanish language teachers, as they provide instructors with resources that reflect daily life, in which grammar and vocabulary are used in context, and where the use of visual images aid students' in their learning. Given the importance of independent learning in Higher Education and the reduced number of contact hours with students, teachers have to take advantage of language classes. This can be achieved by bringing materials that encourage students to continue learning and challenge themselves outside of the classroom. The use of audio-visual resources, specifically the use of TV series and films, can play an important role in students' motivation. They contribute to create a more dynamic and engaging teaching environment, as they receive a better response to traditional activities from students as TV series/films viewers. This paper aims to provide an overview on the use of different audiovisual activities within the Spanish Language classroom in Cardiff University, analysing the impact these activities have in the students' motivation and attitudes towards learning a second language