What is it about?
Language teachers are often encouraged to include mass media materials such as movies and print ads in their classes to boost learner interest and because such materials are seen as authentic. Work in critical media studies amply documents problematic social group representation - such as ableism, ageism and colorism - in the mass media. This study examined 319 online sources advocating the use of mass media materials for language learning. Results indicate little attention to the possibility of problematic social group representation. This raises the possibility that teachers using such materials may actually be unknowlingly promoting social injustice.
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Why is it important?
This research is important because of the possibility that the use of mass media materials for English language teaching may promote various forms of social injustice via their depictions of various social groups. Given the ubiquity and power of English language education worldwide this is especially troubling. This research suggests important implications for teacher training.
Perspectives
Take a look at the image associated with this work. When I typed "social groups" into the image search engine associated with this site to find a public domain image, the results were mostly of young, light-skinned, and able-bodied people. This speaks to the point I am trying to make.
Dr. Charles Allen Brown 白任遠
Purdue University System
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: ATTENTION TO PROBLEMATIC SOCIAL GROUP REPRESENTATION IN GUIDANCE FOR USING MASS MEDIA IN ENGLISH EDUCATION, LLT Journal A Journal on Language and Language Teaching, April 2024, Sanata Dharma University,
DOI: 10.24071/llt.v27i1.7927.
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