Series | Ca’ Foscari Japanese Studies
Edited book | New Steps in Japanese Studies
Chapter | Engaged foreign language pedagogy: Translating Hadashi no Gen

Engaged foreign language pedagogy: Translating Hadashi no Gen

Abstract

This study is aimed to show how even translating can be seen as an ‘engaged foreign language pedagogy’, when it comes to ‘sharing memories’ and contents that are highly significant for the well-being of the social actors involved in such a process: teachers, students, publishers, readers and all humankind. The case study is Hadashi no Gen (Barefoot Gen, Keiji Nakazawa, 1973-85; below: GEN), a translating workshop at an Italian University. The aspects explored are: 1) the critical ‘dialogues’ about histories and world-views as de-standardisation of teaching, professionalisation of teachers and critical education (Freire 1970); 2) the relevance of translated contents as motivating stimuli to reconsider social power balances and engagement; 3) the rule of social networks in aspects 1) and 2). We are finding that translating can be considered not only as a mere ‘foreign language exercise’, but as a starting point to reflect upon social responsibilities; we hope to find how this process is undertaken in teacher-learner relation.


Open access | Peer reviewed

Submitted: Jan. 12, 2017 | Accepted: Feb. 8, 2017 | Language: en

Keywords Hadashi no GenJapanese LanguageEngaged PedagogyWelfare Language PedagogyNuclear PowerForeign Language Education


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