Abstract:

The Italian language is the fourth most studied foreign language, one of many aspects that makes Italian known worldwide is the music. There are two different types of music typically used in language classes; popular music (songs) and opera (arias, recitatives or others). Due to the specifics of operatic language, popular songs distinctively predominate all traditional and multimedia study materials while the use of opera is mostly limited to special courses, music schools and conservatories. This paper presents examples of work with concrete lyrical texts included in standard language classes and in special lessons for future opera singers. It compares the use of available tools in face-to-face and remote classes, including activities of pedagogical translation and the use of translation tools. The comparison is based on research conducted during Italian classes held at the University of West Bohemia, in the association Associazione Amici dell´Italia and at the Conservatory of Pilsen in the Czech Republic and it takes into consideration study materials of four main publishers for Italian as a foreign language (Edizioni Edilingua, Alma edizioni, Bonacci editore, Guerra edizioni) and several online resources and applications. The aim of the research was to discover whether popular music is more suitable for remote lessons than opera or vice versa. In accordance with the hypothesis, concrete activities were analysed to discover which of them can be smoothly implemented in remote classes.

Keywords:

Italian language, lyrical texts, popular songs, operatic language, remote classes.