[Edling] 28 April | Fandom, Fan Translation and Language Education

[Francis M. Hult via Edling]

The UMBC Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Program Presents

a Virtual Session



Fandom, Fan Translation and Language Education



Dr. Boris Vazquez-Calvo

Assistant Professor, University of Málaga



Monday, April 28th, 2025

4:30 - 5:30 pm

Online - Eastern US Time



Summary

In this talk, I explore how fandom culture, fan translation, and memes
transform language education. Drawing on insights from the New Literacy
Studies and the concept of affinity identity, I examine how practices like
fansubbing, scanlation, and fanfiction found in digital affinity spaces
empower learners to learn and use languages, negotiate meaning,
co-construct knowledge, and shape their identities.

I will demonstrate how community-driven fan translation offers a dynamic
space for plurilingual and intercultural literacy, promoting self-directed
learning, peer feedback, and creative problem-solving with digital tools. I
also highlight the educational power of memes—drawing on my “Story by
Memes” project—to foster reflective and creative language use in the
language teacher training classroom.

By the end of the talk, you’ll walk away with preliminary, practical ideas
for integrating fan practices like fan translation and meme creation into
your language teaching, blending formal and informal learning to create
engaging, digitally informed environments.



Boris Vazquez-Calvo is an assistant professor of language education
(English and Spanish). His research explores technology-mediated language
learning, informal language learning, and digital literacies, including fan
practices that foster language use, development, and socialization in
online environments. Recently, his work has focused on preservice language
teachers’ identities and digital literacies. With 40 publications and over
60 conference presentations, including keynotes, he is preparing to
transition from the University of Málaga to the University of Seville,
established in 1502. There, he will assume a top-tier, research-focused
assistant professorship in language education, supported by the Ramón y
Cajal grant and funded by Spain’s and the EU’s research agencies.

Free Registration

Free registration in this form  <https://forms.gle/gkr6K8ncYgELJVgN8>



About the UMBC TESOL Program

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) offers a master of arts
(MA TESOL) and a four-course postbaccalaureate certificate (TESOL PBC) in
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.  Options are available for
those seeking to teach any age group from children to adults in the United
States or abroad, including Maryland P-12 teacher certification in ESOL.
Both the MA TESOL and the TESOL certificate can be completed on campus,
online, or through a combination of online and campus courses. Find out
more at

https://tesol.umbc.edu/learnmore.php
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