These days, many coursebooks and syllabi are topic-based. A video on a topic you are focusing on in class, especially one which concerns an issue of contemporary interest, can clearly be a great way to enhance a lesson. In contrast to most of the other activities in this book, the activities in this chapter are based on specific topic-related videos, all of which are available on the Cambridge University Press ELT YouTube channel (bit.ly/CUPDigitalVideo). However, there are tips for working with clips of a similar type below and extension tasks about dealing with these topics in general.

Although each video focuses on a particular umbrella topic, the video styles here vary enormously. The video in Activity 5.2: Water is entirely image-based with no script as such and could be used with basic levels, while the video in Activity 5.5: Memory is a visual representation of a complex text and is suitable for higher levels. As with any video, we recommend that teachers view each clip in this chapter before showing it to students to ensure that the content is suitable for particular learners.

Angles

Firstly, when selecting topic-based video material, it is important to choose a universal topic which you imagine will be relevant to learners’ lives. The clip should somehow explore an interesting or original angle on this familiar topic. For example, if the topic is sport, then finding a video based on a football team which didn't have a pitch to play on because they lived on a floating village (Activity 5.3: Sport ) could prove a quirky and surprising angle. In the case of the video in Activity 5.2: Water , the topic is introduced by explaining the process behind the creation of an ingenious water-saving device. Bear in mind that these videos are merely examples of clips that you could find linked to these topics or any others. Hopefully, you will be inspired by these videos to find ones relevant to your context – for example, the story of a local sports team or a video that explains the working process of another invention that is of local significance. Likewise, the topic of memory (Activity 5.5) is introduced here via a poem. Using this activity as a model, you could seek out a visual poem based on a different topic of interest.