Peer Review

España y sus acentos

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Reviewed:: Mar 30, 2009 by World Languages

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Overview:: "España y sus acentos" offers video-taped interviews of Spaniards representing different regions and accents with an introduction by Professor Juan Carlos Gallego. The site poses five central questions regarding accents and uses interviews to gather the opinions of various Spaniards on how they and their compatriots speak. Through these personal perspectives, one is able to see the cultural value that people from each region place on their accent and dialect. First, each speaker narrates Snow White, then comments on his or her own accent and shares what he or she knows of others' opinions of his or her accent. Lastly, the speakers are asked to provide their opinion on others' peninsular Spanish accents and what accent they wish their children to have. Academics from Spanish universities enrich the video by providing their expertise on different linguistic phenomena. The names and origins of each interviewee (apart from the expert speakers, whose names and affiliations are provided during the video) are revealed at the end of the video.The documentary could help students of Spanish understand the influence that accents have on a culture. It could also teach them about the different geographical regions of Spain.
Type of Material:: This is a 45 minute documentary with interviews on the diverse accents from several regions of Spain. It is enhanced by cultural imagery and a musical background.
Recommended Uses:: The site is ideal for educators, advanced language learners, culture classes, and students of Spanish linguistics. It provides provocative insights concerning the cultural significance of accents in Spain. The video's intended audience is students of Spanish linguistics.
Technical Requirements:: QuikTime or WMV Player
Identify Major Learning Goals:: "España y sus acentos" brings Spanish-speaking individuals representing diverse communities, ages and education levels into the homes or classrooms of students in other countries. The interviews allow students to make comparisons among the different accents in Spain as well as to compare the accents of English speakers in the United States or in their own countries. Students may also connect to other subject areas, especially Spanish history, when speakers mention the role the Spanish Civil War and immigration from the peninsula to Latin America play in the evolution or change in accents. The immigration patterns are made particularly clear when listening to the speaker from the Canary Islands and comparing her speech pattern to those of Caribbean Spanish speakers. Psychology and Sociology also come into play when speakers comment on the role individual's accents play in securing jobs in television as well as their perception of people based on their manner of speaking. Political posters in the background of one interview location provide criticisms of Bush and Aznar and feature a misspelling of "liar" in English, which may be used to engender a tangential discussion on language and spelling or globalization. The purpose is to expose students to the variety of accents in Spain and to examine their cultural content. Students hear accents from Galicia, Asturias, Aragon, Cataluña, León, Las Castillas, Madrid, three regions of Andalucía, and the islands around Spain. They learn how people place a cultural value on accents. The overall presentation is enhanced by the music of Elizeo and by beautiful images of Spanish architecture.
Target Student Population:: College and graduate level. The site is intended for advanced language learners and linguistics students. However, it may be used for oral comprehension with third-year students. It is also appropriate for culture courses and for courses that explore the history of the Spanish language.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: Fluency in Spanish and knowledge of linguistic terms as well as an awareness of differences in Spanish accents.

Content Quality

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Strengths:: "España y sus acentos" is an invaluable tool for presenting students of Spanish with real-life examples of linguistic differences throughout Spain coupled with expert analysis. The settings of the interviews, whether in individuals' homes or in cafés and restaurants, enriches the viewer's experience, exposing them to cultural differences in everyday experiences. The site is self-contained and has several components that can be made part of a cultural lesson on the Iberian Peninsula. The material would benefit advanced language learners by helping them improve their listening comprehension and providing them with a better idea of the linguistic differences within Spain.
Concerns:: If educators want to expose intermediate-level students to the accents of Spain, it needs to be done gradually. This site must be used with scaffolding for those with less experience as it is much too difficult for lower-level language learners. Students could become frustrated if they are unable to understand enough of the language.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

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Strengths:: Educators can use this website to teach linguistics and demonstrate the variety of accents within one Spanish-speaking country. Advanced students will benefit by using it as a unique listening activity since Latin American Spanish is often the only Spanish they hear. The site is also a good resource for instructors who teach the culture of Spain. The interviews bring linguistics to life, providing students with visual and auditory input not accessible through textbooks or audio clips alone.
Concerns:: The interviews are from several regions and even native speakers may find some of them difficult to understand. There is no table of contents that would allow users to select the sections individually. Being able to break up the video over several listening sessions would enhance the learning experience. The documentary would most likely be too long for one class session.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

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Strengths:: The video loads immediately upon accessing the site. Onsite interviews in a supermarket, homes (one taped in front of the Christmas tree), or in a farmer's field allow students to witness speakers communicating in their own communities rather than in a television studio or university setting. Images of street musicians, folk dancing, cathedrals with stork nests and parades provide aesthetically pleasing introductions and transitions.
Concerns:: While the video itself contains text titles, Professor Gallego's introduction would be strengthened by the inclusion of text on the screen. This would be especially helpful when he points to a rather diminutive map of Spain. Viewers wishing to return to a specific clip will have to guess where to return as there is no menu to access different "chapters".

Other Issues and Comments:: While the speakers represent a wide array of linguistically distinct regions, Andalusians seem to be favored above others. While Catalonian and Galician interviewees provide interesting insight, there are no Basque speakers of Spanish included. Knowing the names of each interviewee prior to the ending would familiarize students with the speakers and assist them not only in following the video itself, but also in discussion of linguistic similarities and differences afterwards. Although their university affiliations are provided, it would be interesting to know where the professors are from, too.
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