Memes are pieces of content—typically images, videos, or text—that use humour and cultural references to convey complex ideas and emotions quickly and effectively. Meme literacy for language learners is concerned with the ability to critically engage with and produce memes in second languages (L2s) or in multiple languages. It involves decoding and encoding skills that encompass not only interpreting words in L2s but also deciphering the information behind the interplay of semiotic resources, such as humour and cultural significance. This ability reflects linguistic, symbolic, intercultural, and communicative competence. Integrating meme literacy into language education offers benefits such as enhanced linguistic and cultural awareness, identity articulation, creativity, and engagement in the target language. Instructors can design meme-related activities, such as revising the text of the existing memes and writing stories based on given memes, to foster these skills. Autonomous L2 learners can use memes to explore their multilingual identities and engage in meaningful intercultural conversations. This entry proposes strategies for instructors to create engaging and meaningful meme-related activities and guides autonomous language learners in developing meme literacy to make their L2 learning more enjoyable and effective.

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Meme Literacy

  • Yiting Han,
  • Wen Wen

摘要

Memes are pieces of content—typically images, videos, or text—that use humour and cultural references to convey complex ideas and emotions quickly and effectively. Meme literacy for language learners is concerned with the ability to critically engage with and produce memes in second languages (L2s) or in multiple languages. It involves decoding and encoding skills that encompass not only interpreting words in L2s but also deciphering the information behind the interplay of semiotic resources, such as humour and cultural significance. This ability reflects linguistic, symbolic, intercultural, and communicative competence. Integrating meme literacy into language education offers benefits such as enhanced linguistic and cultural awareness, identity articulation, creativity, and engagement in the target language. Instructors can design meme-related activities, such as revising the text of the existing memes and writing stories based on given memes, to foster these skills. Autonomous L2 learners can use memes to explore their multilingual identities and engage in meaningful intercultural conversations. This entry proposes strategies for instructors to create engaging and meaningful meme-related activities and guides autonomous language learners in developing meme literacy to make their L2 learning more enjoyable and effective.