TEACHING ENGLISH WITH AUTHENTIC VIDEOS: PEDAGOGICAL BENEFITS, CHALLENGES, LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS

Modern global cooperation necessitates highly proficient engineers, particularly in electrical, power, and environmental engineering, who can effectively communicate in English as the international lingua franca.This growing demand has led to a significant shift in language instruction at technical universities.English for Specific Purposes (ESP) is evolving to meet realworld communication needs, including dynamic spoken interaction.This article addresses the relevance of teaching English with authentic videos as a notable pedagogical approach in higher education, specifically within technical universities.The research aims to analyse the pedagogical benefits, practical challenges, and legal considerations associated with integrating authentic videos into ESP curricula for engineering students.Employing a qualitative approach, the study involved a comprehensive thematic and analytical review of academic databases for peer-reviewed studies on authentic materials, multimedia learning, and ESP methodology, alongside official copyright guidelines.Key findings reveal that authentic videos, defined as real-life, unaltered content for native speakers, significantly enhance language acquisition by aligning with Mayer's Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning, fostering dual coding and integrated mental models.They demonstrably improve all four language skills, expand technical vocabulary, boost communicative competence and confidence, and cultivate cultural awareness and sociolinguistic skills.Furthermore, authentic videos are highly effective in increasing student motivation and engagement while reducing anxiety.However, challenges such as content difficulty, time-consuming preparation, balancing engagement with educational value, student barriers, methodological gaps, and critical copyright considerations persist.Legal compliance under "fair use" and "fair dealing" is crucial, requiring adherence to strict guidelines regarding educational purpose, transformative use, amount, market effect, and restricted access.This study provides a comprehensive analysis to guide the effective and legally compliant integration of authentic videos, enriching the educational landscape for future engineers.