The Depiction of Italian Youth & Culture

in foreign-language textbooks

Dr. Angelyn Balodimas-Bartolomei

CALANDRA ITALIAN AMERICAN INSTITUTE-NEW YORKCONFERENCE: BAMBINI, RAGAZZI, GIOVANNI

APRIL 24-25, 2015

http://www.keyposters.com/italianpeoplephotography-p3.html

Textbook StudiesTextbook studies have found:•Unfavorable & Inaccurate Depictions of Individuals•Minorities and cultural groups have little control of how they are depicted•The “others” are often eliminated, scarcely represented or completely misrepresented

Foreign Language Textbooks•Central to learning target language/culture•Often student’s primary source of cultural exposure•Attractive textbook photographs•71% are simply ornaments• Textbooks are not an authentic experience but a culturally coded educational construct

Importance of Textbook Studies

•Italian language study on the rise in high schools and universities

•Very few performed studies on Italian textbooks

•Studies research is needed in the areas of Italian studies, language teaching and curriculum development

•Current study aims to fill this void

Purpose of Current StudyThe current study examines: •the representation of Italian youth• photographs “Ecco” textbook series

Main objective:To determine how Italian youth are depicted in textbooks.Issues• gender, multiculturalism, class, professions, social class

Ecco Textbook Study•Middle school/high school series•3 textbooks with workbook•Only photos analyzedTextbook series contains •exciting photography•fun cartoon stories•authentic language.

Textbook Analysis•Content Analysis•Using only textbook photographs•Two types of Analysis•Objects• Places, sites, products, clothing, transportation, food

•People• Gender, race, age, profession, hair color, actions, appearance

http://www.libreriadelsanto.it/cd/8019118041227/un-amico-in-piu-laboratorio-di-lingua-italiana-per-alunni-stranieri-volume-1.html

Research Questions1. How are Italian youth

depicted in textbooks?2. What are some characteristics

of Italian youth?3. Are they presented as being

part of a homogeneous or multicultural society?

4. Are there many similarities, differences with American youth?

5. Do they appear to be depicted in a realistic way?

Criteria: Patrikis’ 4 Sins of Commission

Trivalization •silly, out of date, or quaint tokens of culture •Culture is only customs and cuisines

Stereotyping •an exaggeration some aspect or characteristic of a culture or its people.

Political bias •some elements of a culture are featured but others are ignored, either consciously or unconsciously. •gender, class, or regional linguistic differences

Dangerous incompleteness •entire subculture or other crucial part of a culture is not represented

http://destee.com/index.php?threads/italys-culture-of-racism-exposed-by-fans-abuse-of-black-football-star.59496/http://www.florencephotos.com/cat.asp?iCat=73

Multicultural

Family

Education

Fashion

http://www.chictopia.com/photo/show/745085-its+cold+outside-teal-bershka-jacket-navy-bershka-jeans-periwinkle-piazza-italia-t-shirt

Hobbies

http://www.ultimokilometro.com/2011/12/21/matteo-montaguti-un-forlivese-alla-corte-francese/

Work

http://www.greenreport.it/news/comunicazione/garanzia-giovani-per-la-toscana-65-milioni-di-euro-si-parte-il-1-maggio/#prettyPhoto

Environment

https://www.flickr.com/photos/34325628@N05/3204069793

Traditional Food

http://www.designerblog.it/post/12765/la-mappa-dei-prodotti-tradizionali-italiani-di-antoine-corbineau

Fast Food

http://www.ninjamarketing.it/2010/02/12/mcitaly-mcdonals-e-ministero-per-il-dubbio-rilancio-dei-prodotti-italiani/