The Use of Webquests in Teaching Italian As a Second and Foreign Language (L2)

This paper explores the use of WebQuest in teaching Italian as a second/foreign language (L2), emphasizing the integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) into modern educational practices. ICT enables new types of cognitive development and creative thinking. Therefore, it is crucial to employ these technologies in contexts that enhance students’ research skills. Contemporary students, defined as “digital natives” according to Prensky (2001), regularly use digital devices and social media. However, they are most often exposed to traditional teaching and learning methods, highlighting a gap between their everyday use of technology and its application in education. This underscores the need for better integration of ICT in education overall. Rivoltella (2018) advocates for a new teaching culture that integrates media and maintains a connection between personal and educational practices. A WebQuest is defined as a guided activity where students use online resources to research and solve pre-planned and agreed-upon tasks. Integrating WebQuests into the teaching of L2 Italian can enhance foreign language teaching and learning methods, fostering critical thinking, collaboration, and students’ research skills. This approach encourages a deeper thematic connection and a better understanding of the subject matter. By incorporating multimedia content that students select and create collaboratively, the learning process usually becomes more engaging and dynamic. This paper presents an example of a specific WebQuest aimed at improving text comprehension, critical thinking, vocabulary acquisition, and enhancing the understanding of contemporary Italian music, its performers, and one of the most significant cultural and social events in Italy ‒ the traditional Festival of Italian Song in Sanremo. This project can serve as a model for further applications of WebQuests in various educational contexts, contributing to the modernization of teaching methods and the improvement of learning outcomes.