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The Shift to a Queer Pedagogy in the Italian-Language Classroom

The Shift to a Queer Pedagogy in the Italian-Language Classroom AbstractInstructors of Italian are tasked with teaching not only the language, but also the culture. However, critical matters such as sexual identity are frequently not addressed in the Italian-language classroom. Current Italian-language pedagogy solely focuses on language-acquisition proficiency via heteronormative discourses, ignoring the more-diverse reality of Italian culture. This article aims to showcase how using a queer pedagogy based on queer theory can affect learners’ language acquisition and understanding of Italian culture. I used memoing and personal experiences as an Italian instructor to analyse the related literature. I propose that current pedagogy and curricula silence the lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgenderquestioning/queer-intersex-asexual (LGBTQIA+) community, causing exclusion, anxiety and sometimes harassment from others. Open discussion through queer pedagogy would create critical conversations, allowing for the inclusion of all learners and topics. Italian instructors should promote these conversations, question the standard Italian-language pedagogy and use materials that are inclusive of LGBTQIA+ members. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Language and Cultural Education de Gruyter

The Shift to a Queer Pedagogy in the Italian-Language Classroom

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Publisher
de Gruyter
Copyright
© 2021 Giuseppe Formato, published by Sciendo
eISSN
1339-4584
DOI
10.2478/jolace-2021-0001
Publisher site
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Abstract

AbstractInstructors of Italian are tasked with teaching not only the language, but also the culture. However, critical matters such as sexual identity are frequently not addressed in the Italian-language classroom. Current Italian-language pedagogy solely focuses on language-acquisition proficiency via heteronormative discourses, ignoring the more-diverse reality of Italian culture. This article aims to showcase how using a queer pedagogy based on queer theory can affect learners’ language acquisition and understanding of Italian culture. I used memoing and personal experiences as an Italian instructor to analyse the related literature. I propose that current pedagogy and curricula silence the lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgenderquestioning/queer-intersex-asexual (LGBTQIA+) community, causing exclusion, anxiety and sometimes harassment from others. Open discussion through queer pedagogy would create critical conversations, allowing for the inclusion of all learners and topics. Italian instructors should promote these conversations, question the standard Italian-language pedagogy and use materials that are inclusive of LGBTQIA+ members.

Journal

Journal of Language and Cultural Education – de Gruyter

Published: Mar 1, 2021

Keywords: Italian; queer pedagogy; Foucault; LGBTQIA+; language education

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