Authentic Italian Film as a Resource for Developing Lexical Comprehension: A Study of Malaysian University Students

Films can provide authentic linguistic and cultural input while supporting foreign language learning through engaging audiovisual contexts. This study investigates the use of the Italian film Tutti Dentro, directed by and starring Alberto Sordi, as a pedagogical resource for developing lexical comprehension among Malaysian university students learning Italian. The study employed a quantitative, questionnaire-based descriptive approach involving 27 students enrolled in the third and final level of an Italian language course at the Faculty of Theater and Animation, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam, Malaysia, during the second semester of 2025. Two online questionnaires were administered via Google Forms: the first before the screening to examine students’ perceptions of using an Italian film for language learning, and the second after the screening to assess their comprehension of selected words, expressions, and idiomatic language encountered in the film, as well as their perceptions of the learning experience. The film was screened in Italian without subtitles to encourage students to interpret meaning through spoken language, visual and contextual cues, and the actors’ performances. Questionnaire data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, specifically frequencies and percentages, while responses to open-ended questions were examined descriptively. The findings indicate that most students successfully identified the contextual meanings of the selected lexical items and expressions. In particular, between 70.4% and 85.2% of participants correctly interpreted the seven selected items involving homophones, polysemy, contextual meaning, and idiomatic expressions. In addition, all 27 students reported that viewing Tutti Dentro had contributed positively to their Italian language learning. The findings suggest that authentic Italian films can provide a meaningful and engaging resource for developing students’ lexical comprehension and awareness of contextual language use. The study also highlights the potential of film-based instruction as a complementary approach to conventional language-learning materials.

Italian Language, Lexical Comprehension, Malaysian Students, Film-Based Language Learning

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