The implementation of museum audio description in foreign language education: A pilot study
Chiara Bartolini & Eleonora Maldina
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Title
The implementation of museum audio description in foreign language education: A pilot study
Abstract
In recent years, audio description (AD) has been introduced in foreign language education (FLE) to develop language and intercultural skills. This article reports on a pilot study that focused on museum AD – that is, the verbal description of artworks for a visually impaired audience – and aimed to explore its pedagogical value in FLE. An English-language lesson on museum AD was designed and taught to two undergraduate classes (B2–C1 level). Students completed reception and production activities aimed at accomplishing a real-life media accessibility task, that is, describing an artwork to a visually impaired person. Data was collected through class recordings and observations, interviews with the instructors, and students’ surveys and writing tasks. The findings show participants’ appreciation of and engagement in the lesson, and highlight the value of museum AD for the development of empathy to enhance sense of citizenship, critical thinking, analytical and observational skills and, in turn, language skills. Furthermore, translating images into words seems to contribute to strengthening cultural awareness and creative thinking. By drawing on the affordances of museum AD, suggestions for classroom applications and research directions are also provided.
Keywords
Museum audio description, foreign language education, English as a Foreign Language, audiovisual translation
36(1) - 2024