Call for papers Babylonia 2/2026 - Lights, Camera, Action: Films and Clips in Language Lessons

2025-02-21

Lights, Camera, Action: Films and Clips in Language Lessons

In this upcoming issue of Babylonia, we are curious about how full-length cinema, short films and clips and even shorter social media posts (reels) can be used to promote foreign language learning or learning about the world through the foreign language.

We are looking for contributions (max 4 pages, 14,000 characters including spaces) that:

  • are novel;
  • are concrete and backed by evidence from classrooms;
  • use films and clips for both language learning and deepening perspectives, for example on issues of social justice. We are looking for examples of activities that convey powerful and timely messages in the classroom and encourage deeper reflection;
  • clearly show how learners have benefited;
  • include ethical and other considerations and limitations on using films and clips in our current “screen age”.

We also welcome research projects on the topic.

Our ideas for this issue are the following, but we are open to suggestions as long as the criteria above have been met:

  • UNESCO Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)/ Visual literacy / Content learning: How can language and content aims be met through the use of film? How can we guarantee that our learners get both?
  • Perceptions: How do teachers use film in their classrooms for both language and content? Are there practices that are more sustainable than others and lead to better uptake by learners? How does one manage classroom discussions about the film? How can work on content and work on language be balanced?
  • Captions and dubbing: What evidence do we have that these support foreign language learning? What are the instructional possibilities of contrasting the original and dubbed/subtitled versions?
  • Projects: In what ways do task-based projects around films promote foreign language learning? What are the most common and effective tasks (creating a film script, making a film, commenting and discussing the film)?
  • Genres and language/languages: How are films used as authentic texts to deal with themes in the classroom, such as the history and evolution of language, styles and registers (e.g. cinema and youth language; written, oral, recited text), or the use of language-themed films for language-themed activities (e.g. film with characters speaking in an L2)?

Please send a short abstract (max. 2000 characters not including references) to Matteo Casoni (matteo.casoni@ti.ch) or Laura Loder Buechel (laura.buechel@phzh.ch) or by September 1, 2025.

Deadlines

  • Abstract submission: September 1, 2025
  • Notification of acceptance: November 1, 2025
  • Article submission: January 1, 2026
  • Feedback from the editorial team: by end of February 2026
  • Final version due: April 1, 2026
  • Layout: June/July 2026
  • Publication: August 2026