CHILDREN’S AUDIO DESCRIPTION FOR THE PRACTICE OF MEDIATION AND THE ACQUISITION OF VOCABULARY IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Abstract

Even though teaching methods have evolved, translation remains an important and useful tool in the second language classroom (Lertola, 2018). Teachers have been adapting translation exercises to the new teaching trends, and this has allowed AVT to gain a new dimension as a didactic tool (Alonso Pérez & Sánchez Requena, 2018). Some researchers have already conducted projects to implement AVT modes to enhance students’ linguistic skills, but also to encourage intercultural education. Regarding DAT studies, the main modes that have been employed are dubbing and subtitling. However, accessibility modes like AD and SDH have not yet received as much academic attention as they deserve. A type of AD that has been ignored in academic fields is children’s AD. When creating a script for a children’s program, it is crucial to consider the specific needs of this group. This article discusses a case study in which an interactive activity based on children’s AD is employed to help English as a foreign language students practice their mediation skills and acquire vocabulary related to feelings and emotions while also developing their creativity. The results of the experiment show that students perceive that they have developed their creativity and their vocabulary and that the activity has helped them be more aware of the importance of accessibility nowadays. Keywords: accessibility, adaptation, children’s audio description, didactic audiovisual translation, language teaching