THE IMPACT OF WATCHING ANIMATED CARTOONS ON WORD STOCK IMPROVEMENT

Abstract

This article focuses mainly on vocabulary development process and on using animated cartoons as a language input. A suitable media is chosen for word stock teaching, in particular, cartoons are viewed in this study. Students feel easy to follow the story and understand the words. The familiarization of words is definitely strengthened by repetition. Consequently, vocabulary improvement occurs incidentally while watching animated cartoons. The three stages that are generally taken during the teaching/learning process are very essential to follow, i.e. warm-up activities, brainstorming the material that has already been learnt and introducing the new material. These steps go in line with animated cartoons turning the educational process into a lively and enthusiastic class. Animated cartoons include live actions that are integrated with music, voice-overs and texts that all support language learners’ vocabulary acquisition. Sound and music effects deepen students’ understanding of meaning and content. Therefore, watching an animated cartoon allows the two hemispheres of the brain to work fully and they are embedded with facilitating tools such as music, sound, and color. In this respect, a cartoon as an audio-visual learning material can make a valuable contribution of immediate understanding in the educational system.