Taboos and controversial issues

Due to the omnipresence of taboos and challenging topics in learners’ lives, particularly through social media, this project aims to investigate the potential of such topics for foreign language education. Taboos, often described through the acronym PARSNIP (politics, alcohol, religion, narcotics, sex, isms, and pork), become apparent in language, communication, (pop) culture, and various areas of everyday life. As such, this research project aims to explore the perception of both learners and university students towards taboos in an EFL context. The aim is to develop a pedagogic concept for dealing with taboos in foreign language and teacher education.

Project partner: Dr. Christian Ludwig

Publications:

Becker, D., Ludwig, C., & Summer, T. (Eds.) (2022). Taboo(ed) Issues in ELT through the Lens of Critical Pedagogy. Teacher Development Academic Journal (TDAJ) [special issue] 2(2). https://tdsig.org/tdaj-v2n2/

Ludwig, C., & Summer, T. (2022). Integrating Taboo Topics into ELT: Investigating Future English Teachers’ Points of View. Teacher Development Academic Journal (TDAJ) 2(2), pp. 42-48. https://tdsig.org/tdaj-v2n2/

Ludwig, C., & Summer, T. (forthcoming, Feb. 2023). Taboos and Controversial Issues in Foreign Language Education. London: Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Taboos-and-Controversial-Issues-in-Foreign-Language-Education-Critical/Ludwig-Summer/p/book/9781032116075

Symposium:

Ludwig, C., & Summer, T. “Taboos Symposium Part III: Cultural taboos”. BaTEG summer school 2022, University of Bamberg. 25.09.-02.10.2022.