A SHORT IS WORTH A THOUSAND FILMS!

The importance of visual input in the contemporary ELT classroom is such that it is commonplace to use audiovisual elements provided by pictures, films, clips and the like. The power of images is unquestionable, and as the old saying goes, an image is worth a thousand words. Following this line of reasoning, the objective of this article is to discuss the potential of one particular type of audiovisual material – live action shorts – in the ELT context. In the first section, reference to previous work is made. Then, the article explores the main features of live action shorts. In the second part possible uses are discussed and a descriptive framework is sketched so that it can be used systematically as a tool for analysis and language exploitation. The overall idea is to focus on shorts not as a complement or decoration but as the starting point of ELT lessons.