'Why Do They Hit the Headlines?': Critical media literacy in the foreign language class

Abstract

This paper reports a project aimed at the development of critical media literacy and language awareness by a group of Irish university students through the application of critical discourse analysis (CDA) tools in their Spanish language class. The participants were assigned various reading activities in which they had to reflect on the social representations conveyed by different press articles on immigration. They subsequently expressed their opinions in a classroom debate and a final written task. As a result, their awareness of the social implications of linguistic choices increased significantly. Assessment also showed a deeper understanding of immigration matters both in Spain and Ireland, and a clearer perception of their own stances on these issues.