Shane Koyczan’s (2014) illustrated reading of his poem Trolls provides a great demonstration of how visual media is a form of literacy. In this illustrated reading, the reader benefits from being read the poem out loud, as well as the illustrations that help tell the story and interpret the poem. Rather than the reader being left to interpret the poem on their own, they are given visual cues as to the writer’s interpretation. This visual support helps develop a student’s appreciation for poetry and interpret metaphors and meaning in text. What’s more, the visual support that accompanies the reading can even help with simply understanding the written text for students who struggle with reading comprehension in their first or additional language. Visual illustrations of written text are an inclusive strategy in the language learning classroom (Bourgoin, 2017).
Much like Koyczan’s illustrated and narrated poem, videos of songs can help students to understand, interpret and appreciate songs in the language classroom. While many teachers are making great use of music videos in the language classroom, there is so much more that can be done to take full advantage of this motivating medium for our second language learners. Sharing examples of how to use music videos in the language classroom with teachers could be a great way to further our understanding of how to integrate this media into our teaching.
One example of a music video that helps tell an important story is Samian’s song “Les Mots”. Samian is an Anishnabe francophone rapper, film director and actor who has devoted his artistic career to raising awareness about injustices facing Indigenous communities in the past and the present. While all of his music videos could be used to teach about Indigenous history as well as critical thinking skills, the music video “Les Mots” explains to students the importance of the written word to social justice. The video shows young children working away in class to write in their workbooks and adults writing at their desks. The chorus essentially explains that words have no fear, words come from our spirit, and words are our weapon. These words, along with the video, are an important message to students of the value of using our words to work towards justice, to write poetry, to solve problems, to heal and to create a better world.
The video also incorporates other visual elements, such as a graffiti artist completing an image of a woman whose mouth is zipped shut. This powerful image, seen below, can be connected to the lyrics and help students to reflect on the metaphors and messages represented.
Many music videos, such as Les Mots, can be an introduction to important issues or topics in Social Studies. Depending on the age of the reader, a teacher could use Les Mots to delve into many issues related to colonialism and Indigenous justice issues in the past and present.
Like all literacy practices, reading a music video needs to be explicitly taught. While some students may notice the image of the woman mentioned above and make connections to the written text, most will need guidance in interpreting the video and connecting into the lyrics. Using this video at a meeting with language teachers could be a great way to start to tease out the many ways we can use a music video to teach comprehension, interpretation, voice, history, and other important skills for language learners.
In addition to interpreting the intended meaning of a music video such as Samian’s Les Mots, students could develop and demonstrate their own interpretation of a song by creating their own video. While the video helps students to understand the author’s voice, the reader will of course interpret the words in their own way and can demonstrate that through their own creative works. A song like Les Mots is one where students could find connections to how words inspire them and help give meaning to their life.
Lyrics for Les Mots by Samian
Avec de simples mots, on a le pouvoir de tout détruire
Et avec les mêmes mots, on a le pouvoir de tout décrire
Les mots prônent la haine, mais ils chantent l’amour
Les mots n’ont peur de rien, car les mots ont de la bravoure
Les mots ont de la colère, mais ils ont une douceur
On se forge un caractère quand on chante ses douleurs
C’est grâce à l’écriture que je surmonte mes épreuves
Mot par mot, je suis en train de bâtir mon œuvre
Les mots ont du pouvoir, ils sont audacieux
Et on s’inspire d’eux, car ils sont courageux
Les mots ont de la tristesse, les mots ont une noblesse
Et ils se collent à ma vie, car les mots sont modestes
Les mots… me grugent de l’intérieur
Ils me font voyager en attendant un monde meilleur
C’est grâce aux mots que je raconte mon histoire
Les mots peuvent me guérir, les mots me donnent de l’espoir
Les mots chantent les drames, les mots viennent de l’âme
Les mots n’ont peur de rien, car les mots sont une arme mots
Les mots sont bohèmes, ils prônent le blasphème
Ils chantent nos problèmes, mais les mots récitent nos poèmes
Les mots ont une devise, les mots ont plusieurs thèmes
Et ils sauvent des vies, car ils donnent de l’oxygène
Les mots marquent le temps, racontent le présent
Les mots s’envolent et nous éclairent en tombant
Les mots sont optimistes, ils pansent nos cicatrices
Les mots nous font peur, car ils sont réalistes
Ils sont plutôt espiègles, les mots n’ont pas de règle
Ils racontent nos vérités, car les mots sont intègres
Les mots valent mille images, s’expriment dans plusieurs langues
Mes mots donnent la vie, car mes phrases sont vivantes
Ce qui m’inspire, c’est la vie que je respire
Les peines comme les sourires, la beauté de mes souvenirs
Et les mots m’ont appris qu’on se doit d’être sincère
Quand les mots sortent du cœur, il n’y a pas que nous qu’on libère
Les mots chantent les drames, les mots viennent de l’âme
Les mots n’ont peur de rien, car les mots sont une arme
Source: Lyricfind
References
Birth of Image (2010). Visual Grammar: The 4 Basic Elements. [Video]. Vimeo. https://vimeo.com/17900961
Bourgoin, R. & Arnett, K. (2017). Accès au succès. Pearson
deGuzman, C. (2013). I Forgot My Phone. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OINa46HeWg8
karenxcheng (2013). Girl Learns to Dance in a Year. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daC2EPUh22w
Koyczan, S. (2014). Troll. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=670if6Etx0o
Samian (2010). Les Mots. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnlW0_Os5QI
Technology in the language learning classroom and library 