The Benefits of Young Adult Literature in the Italian Language Class

Research carried out over a twenty-year span has pointed to the existence of a correlation between student choice and a growing interest in reading, even with low-achieving readers. This means considering student choice as an important parameter when making decisions about the type of text selections/books to include in a language class. Concerning the specific issue of student choice, recent research provides evidence that Young Adult Literature (YAL) occupies a central role in the lives of teenagers. Here, Di Martino discusses how YAL literature can be, in the Italian class, an excellent workshop to motivate students to learn the italiano dell'uso medio and the ability to negotiate and renegotiate identities in an age when positive self-representation is a crucial skill.