126233 VK MEd 01A/B: VK Specific Issues in Language Learning and Teaching (2022S)

To be male, female or non-binary is closely linked to concepts, constructions and representations of being a gendered person and of having a gendered identity. Dominant versions of masculinities or femininities circulate in cultures while they are constantly contested and negotiated. Powerful social norms and social practices form identities from an early age and result in gendered identities that are taken for granted. This class will show that the EFL classroom offers ample opportunities to reflect upon gendered norms, to foster changes in perspective and to consider the role of language in this context. The aim of the course is twofold: first, to work through a number of academic articles on gendered identities and, second, to learn about ways and methods on how to sensitize pupils to issues relating to gender in the foreign language classroom. One focus will be on film representation in the context of gendered identities, and we will work on audiovisual media from both a receptive and a productive angle.