The Effect of Watching English Movies on Fostering Students’ Cultural Awareness and its Impact on Their Speaking Skill: A Study on English Students of Velayat University

This study examined the impact of integrating cultural elements into language instruction through English movies on the cultural awareness and speaking skill of Iranian intermediate English language learners. Conducted at Velayat University, the research involved twenty students who were randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group. The experimental group engaged with cultural content embedded in some selected English movies, whereas the control group continued with traditional language instruction without the use of movies. A mixed-methods approach was employed for data collection, including both quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative data were gathered through pre- and post-tests, which measured the students' cultural awareness and speaking proficiency. These data were analyzed using paired t-tests to identify any significant differences between the two groups. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews, which were analyzed using thematic analysis to gain deeper insights into the learners’ experiences and perceptions of the instructional approach. The results of the study show that the experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in both cultural awareness and speaking skill compared to the control group. In addition, students in the experimental group reported increased motivation, higher levels of engagement, and a greater sense of confidence in their communicative abilities. The findings highlight the potential of incorporating cultural content into language learning, not only as a means to enhance linguistic skill but also to foster a deeper understanding of cultural contexts. The study emphasizes the role of movies as an effective pedagogical tool in addressing the challenges of globalization and enhancing students' cross-cultural communication abilities.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cultural Awareness ، English Movies ، Iranian English language learners ، language learners ، Speaking Skill