“Studies have shown that watching an activity excites the same areas of the brain as actually performing the activity. The same brain area responds when you observe someone else doing the action. So perceiving and performing an action activates the same regions.” –http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/evolution/what-makes-us-human-pro.html
With the above information in mind: each time an esl student watches or interacts with a character in the media (or in person) – they are activating that part of the brain being used to understand the new language. That particular development within the brain has already been defined by prior interest and learning experiences. – Jonathan Ellis 2013