The authentic versus easy conflict in foreign language material—A report on experiences with production and exploitation of video in FLT

Abstract In this article we argue that video material for foreign language teaching should be designed in such a way that it can also serve as a model for immediate language production (and not only for listening comprehension and ‘culture’). To serve the needs of a language student this model must consist of comprehensible language which is at the same time spontaneous and interpersonal. To bring out such language we have turned to Wilkins' communicative functions for the direction of native actors. Video as such, along with what we consider to be ‘the complete video teaching strategy’, are discussed in the last part of the article.