Mapping Australian Culture and Society in the Animated Series Bluey—The Use of Audiovisual Material in Early EFL Learning

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

First of all, I would like to congratulate the authors for the innovative, novel and creative research developed in this article. The work demonstrates considerable effort, which is reflected in a product of high scientific quality and which has been based on the Bluey cartoon series, which is currently so relevant internationally, on the parenting styles and daily life of a nuclear family of dogs and their daughters, Bluey and Bingo, who, through the analysis of everyday situations, address relevant issues about today's society.

After a thorough review of the article, based on a detailed analysis of Australian culture and society in the series Bluey and its implications for English language teaching (specifically, the 52 episodes of the first season have been analysed), I consider that, after an exhaustive examination of its content, I recommend its publication as it is, without the need for additional revisions, given the high quality of the content presented and the results obtained during the methodological process carried out.

The summary of the article accurately sets out the essence of the research conducted, providing the key information in a concise form.

The Introduction is clearly written, setting out precisely the fundamental concepts that will be explored throughout the work, with a smooth and pleasant reading, which facilitates a deep and accessible understanding for any reader.

The same section offers a theoretical framework that provides a solid background, which facilitates the understanding of the challenges faced by the field addressed, both in terms of audiovisual resources and teaching innovation strategies. The detailed descriptions of the aspects covered in Bluey that are included are essential for the critical analysis of the subject, which contributes significantly to the richness of the content.

The Materials and methods address the context of the study, which was conducted in an undergraduate subject at a Spanish university. It also details the data on the sample of participants in terms of gender and age, as well as the design and procedure of the research, providing solid data on the study carried out, the methodology used and the various research tools implemented, such as systematic observation and the pre-established categories, previously selected in the Bluey chapters studied.

With regard to the Results, this section highlights the valuable findings obtained through the analysis and presents the key points in a coherent and specific manner, connecting the data obtained with a comprehensive analysis of the categories that have been selected and over the season analysed .

Particularly interesting is the organisation of the information in tables, presented in a very clear way, an aspect that is also highlighted in the following section, with the Discussion of the work, where everything contributed in the research process and in the findings obtained is analysed in depth.

The article ends with the Conclusions which, in a solid way, not only summarises the findings in a clear manner, but also offers the limitations encountered that underline the relevance and impact of the work and research carried out, as well as designing a line of future work to further deepen and broaden the analysis of the rest of the Bluey seasons. It is evident that a highly innovative and relevant topic has been addressed in the educational field, given the impact of the animated series and its implications for English language learning and Australian culture.

Finally, with regard to the formal aspect, the citations and bibliographical references are perfectly integrated into the text and are presented in an orderly manner in the final section of References, complying with the required academic standards.

In summary, the content is well contextualised with respect to the theoretical background on the topic, the research questions and methodology used are clearly defined, and the arguments and results of the work are consistent, meeting the standards of the journal Societies.

Author Response

Thank you very much for your positive feedback on our manuscript. We are delighted to hear that you found the study suitable for publication in its current form. Your encouraging comments mean a great deal to us, and we are grateful for the time and expertise you invested in reviewing our work. Knowing that our research meets the journal's standards without the need for further revisions is incredibly rewarding, and we appreciate your support and endorsement. Thank you again for your thoughtful review and for recognizing the value of our contribution.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This report is well-written, and the results support the analysis and conclusion. I have the following minor corrections: 

Line 62: Replace ‘competence’ with' competent’ in: “Being culturally competent . . .”

 

Line 155: This subtitle should be 2.1 Study Context (not 3.1).

 

Line 160-161: Replace ‘its’ for ‘the’ at the beginning of the sentence, as follows: “The main objective of this course . . .”

 

Line 219: This subtitle should be 2.2 Participants (not 3.2).

 

Line 249: This subtitle should be 2.3 Design and Procedure (not 3.3).

Author Response

The manuscript has been proofread accordingly. Thank you for your suggestions, which have helped us improve the writing style (Corrections are in attachments).

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf