O PAPEL DAS SÉRIES BOYS LOVE NA MOTIVAÇÃO PARA O APRENDIZADO DA LÍNGUA TAILANDESA: UMA ANÁLISE ATRAVÉS DO SOFT POWER

Abstract

Pop culture plays a significant role in disseminating values, traditions, and customs through its cultural products, such as films, TV series, and music. Consumption of these works can motivate individuals to become interested in the culture and language of a place. A prominent example is the impact of the Thai TV series Boys Love (BL), which has become a tool of soft power by sparking growing interest in the Thai language and culture. This study aims to analyse the role of these productions in motivating people to learn the Thai language, contributing to the enhancement of Thailand’s cultural image on the international stage. To this end, a literature review was conducted based on concepts of soft power (Nye, 2004), nation branding (Fan, 2010), and motivation in learning foreign languages (Dörnyei, 2003; Gardner, 2001), along with discussions on pop culture (Velasco, 2010; Soares, 2015). The methodological approach of the research was mixed, using the quantitative method, where a questionnaire was applied to students and non-students of Thai language to obtain data. The qualitative method, where the results obtained in the data collection were interpreted, addressed the impact of these productions on the interest in Thai culture and language. In addition, as a descriptive-explanatory research, the research showed the relationship between the consumption of BL series and the motivation to learn the Thai language, and explained the reasons why this relationship occurs. Through this analysis, the study highlighted how pop culture can serve as a powerful instrument of soft power, influencing the interest in the culture and language of a place. Specifically, how BL series influence the motivation to learn the Thai language.