Reflecting on Shakespeare’s Accessibility and Relevance in a Chinese University: The Case for Translanguaging and a GenAI-Proficient Educator

This paper reflects on the implementation of an approach that integrates Generative AI (GenAI), specifically the Chinese GenAI model Wenxi Yiyan (also known as Ernie Bot in English), along with translanguaging into the teaching of Shakespearean literature and language instruction.The approach, tested with a group of third-year English majors at Jimei University (JMU), Xiamen, China, using Sonnet 116 as the primary topic, leveraged Wenxin Yiyan using both Chinese and English, to enhance pedagogical strategies, simplifying complex Shakespearean language, instead of mere translation, to make it more accessible and engaging for Chinese English majors. This paper begins by exploring Shakespeare's relevance in the 21st century, then introduces an approach that integrates Wenxin Yiyan into a Shakespeare lesson through translanguaging. It also underscores the importance of translanguaging and educators' proficiency in GenAI.