Fictional Linguistic Landscapes

This book explores how fan practices, such as fan art and fan fiction, and linguistic landscapes – the language surrounding us in everyday contexts – can be integrated into foreign language teaching through the innovative Fictional Linguistic Landscapes pedagogy. It offers practical models for educators to use multimodal fan activities to enhance second language learning, including designing semiotic landscapes, soundscapes, skinscapes and social mediascapes. Drawing on popular fictional universes like Dune, it illustrates how educators can utilize fan practices to foster deeper language learning, critical thinking and intercultural awareness. The result is an innovative pedagogical approach that blends entertainment, social media and popular culture with language learning in a way that promises to engage and inspire students. The book represents a step forward in EFL and TESOL pedagogy and demonstrates how theoretical advances can be used in ways that make language learning relevant to today’s students.

Author Biography

Osman Solmaz is an Associate Professor of English Language Teaching at Dicle University, Türkiye, and holds a PhD in Second Language Acquisition and Teaching from the University of Arizona, USA. He is the recipient of the 2025 TESOL Teacher of the Year Award. His research explores language teacher education, linguistic landscapes, and the integration of digital technologies and fan practices into second language teaching and learning.