Typisch deutsch? Die Landeskundevermittlung und das Deutschlandbild in italienischen DaF-Lehrwerken

This study highlights the significant role textbooks play in shaping learners’ perspectives on the target language and culture and examines the portrayal of German culture in three Italian textbooks for teaching German as a foreign language: Fertig, los! (2009), Kurz und gut! (2014) and Ganz genau! (2019). The research explores how aspects of German geography, society, history, etc. are represented in the books and whether contemporary issues and social challenges are included alongside traditional cultural elements. It also looks at how these textbooks encourage learners to compare their own culture with the target culture and to reflect on stereotypes and cultural misunderstandings. The results indicate that all editions rely on stereotypical depictions, illustrating a limited representation of the diversity present in the German-speaking world. The most recent textbook, however, has improved in some respects, linking cultural content and language learning more effectively and adopting a more intercultural approach.