Deja Piletić interviews Yahis Martari and Borbala Samu on theoretical foundations and practical implications of incorporating (t)rap music into teaching Italian as a foreign language.
Logos et Littera, Issue 12 (2026)
DOI for video: 10.31902/LL.12.2026.10
Contemporary Sounds in a Plural Italy: (T)Rap and Drill – New Forms of Expression
(Suoni contemporanei nell’Italia plurale. (T)rap e drill - nuove forme espressive)
Prof. Yahis Martari (University of Bologna) and Prof. Borbala Samu (University for Foreigners of Perugia) in this video interview discuss the theoretical foundations and practical implications of incorporating (t)rap music into the teaching of Italian as a foreign language. They devote particular attention to the specific challenges and strategies involved in the didactic adaptation of authentic song lyrics from this musical genre, highlighting its pedagogical potential and its contribution to both language acquisition and the development of learners’ understanding of contemporary Italian culture. In the interview, they respond to seven questions posed by Prof. Deja Piletić (University of Montenegro). The interview was conducted in Italian.
Yahis Martari is Associate Professor of Modern Language Teaching at the University of Bologna, where he teaches Applied Linguistics, Technologies for Language Teaching, and Language Education. His research focuses on language pedagogy, multilingualism, migration studies, and innovative methodologies for teaching Italian as a second and foreign language. He is co-editor of the journal Scritture Migranti and director of the CRDI – Research Centre for the Teaching of Italian, where he coordinates research projects and educational initiatives devoted to linguistic inclusion and intercultural communication. He has published extensively on language education, literacy practices, and language teaching through mass media and contemporary communication environments in multilingual contexts.
Borbala Samu is Associate Professor of Modern Language Teaching at the University for Foreigners o Perugia, where she teaches Language Teaching Methodology and Intercultural Communication in undergraduate and master's degree courses, as well as Intercultural Pragmatics in the PhD program. She is involved in the training and professional development of language teachers both abroad and in Italy. She directs the second-level master's program in teaching Italian as a non-native language and participates in various national and international research projects. Her research focuses on the application of Cognitive Grammar to teaching Italian as an L2, the development and assessment of pragmatic competence in L2, the development of teaching methodologies and techniques to foster intercultural communication in multilingual and multiethnic learning contexts, and the new learning environments emerging from the spread of Technology Enhanced Language Learning. She is an active researcher and regularly publishes in the fields of language teaching, L2/FL pragmatics, intercultural communication, and technology-enhanced language learning.