DAT AND MA AS VIABLE TECHNIQUES TO IMPLEMENT LITERATURE IN LANGUAGE EDUCATION: A Modest Theoretical Proposal

The application of didactic Audiovisual Translation and Media Accessibility in second language learning has been the subject of much research over the last three decades. The types of audiovisual materials include feature films, TV series, documentaries, animated cartoons, and much else. However, little attention has been paid to the possibility of teaching English through AV adaptations of literary texts. This appears to be a relevant gap in research, given that English Literature is a fundamental component of syllabi in the high school context and in many higher education courses within the humanities, and that AV adaptations have proven to be engaging tools to be implemented in Literature classes. Hence, this paper proposes a method developed within the SL@VT project, being carried out at the time of writing at Sapienza University of Rome. In particular, we discuss the possibility of combining AVT tools to foster language learning via the teaching of English Literature. Although the main focus of this paper is general English, literary ESP, and their translation on the screen, we believe this approach is replicable in any foreign language context. A lesson plan is proposed to help students with AVT and MA techniques deal with different domains and jargons. To this end, we have selected a recent film, produced by Netflix, titled Love in the Villa (Mark Steve Johnson 2022), a loose adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet which combines General English (or Ordinary English) and literature ESP. Expected results and benefits include raising awareness about the practice of AVT and MA, as well as fostering the future replicability of the proposed methodology in the foreign language teaching classroom.