In the recent years, foreign language teaching has advocated for an increasingly intermedial and interdisciplinary approach, one that enables instructors to expand course materials and integrate a wide array of popular and current cultural products. Advanced courses in literature and culture can develop curricula that more liberally incorporate popular culture into teaching. Yet intermediate courses must combine cultural components with the introduction or the review of grammar structures. This session seeks contributions that address the following: What are the challenges of transitioning from grammar-based to culture-based instruction in intermediate language classes? How can culture and grammar be combined to allow students insight into popular culture while still learning and practicing fundamental grammar structures? What kind of popular culture material is best suited for intermediate courses? How may change in syllabus design welcome an intermedial and interdisciplinary approach to popular culture?

The goal of this roundtable is to explore the experiences and outcomes of integrating popular culture material (films and TV series, songs and commercials, comics and graphic novels, video games, social media content, etc) in intermediate courses.

Participants are invited to illustrate challenges and solutions in designing syllabi, choosing class materials, and preparing assessments that both satisfy the requirements of intermediate language courses and introduce students to popular culture.

For info, email Sara Dallavalle at saradall@uchicago.edu