MULTIMODALNOST U NASTAVNOM MATERIJALU ZA SRPSKI KAO STRANI PUTEM KRATKE VIDEO-FORME NA PRIMERU ŠKOLE SERBIAN CORNER

Abstract

This paper presents a qualitative analysis of short video forms, YouTube Shorts, on the channel of the Serbian-as-a-foreign-language school (S)erbian Corner. Shorts are a relatively new format designed for quick and simple communication with the audience, requiring minimal production effort. They are well suited for educational content because they are brief, focused on a single topic, and encourage viewer engagement. The research was conducted using a qualitative methodology, examining the various modalities employed within the video format. The following modalities were identified: video footage, speech in Serbian and English, subtitles in Serbian and English, static images, gestures, facial expressions, and audio elements. A development of the Shorts format was observed: from simple audio recordings accompanied by a static image to more complex videos combining three or four modalities within a single form. The use of multiple modalities facilitates message reception for learners whose native language is not Serbian and enables positive redundancy that supports comprehension. These Shorts simultaneously perform educational and promotional functions. Five types of Shorts were identified, with the frontal format - featuring the instructor explaining a particular lesson - being the most dominant. The analysis highlights the significant potential of multimodality in teaching Serbian as a foreign language within private language schools, especially in an era marked by the dominance of ICT technologies.