Laughing at Moral Failings: A Qualitative Case Study of Character Strengths and Failures in Friends

Framed within the Values in Action (VIA) Classification framework, the present study investigated the pedagogical potential of sitcoms, a widely utilized form of authentic multimodal material, for supporting language learning while simultaneously serving as a vehicle for representing character strengths and failures. The study drew on the experiences and perspectives of ۲۰ Iranian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers and learners through in-depth interviews, complemented by a Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA) of character strengths and failures depicted in selected episodes of Friends. The findings indicated that both groups of participants recognized the influence of sitcoms across linguistic, cultural, and character-related domains, although the extent and durability of these effects varied. Moreover, the content analysis revealed that while Friends portrays instances of character strengths such as kindness and social intelligence, it predominantly depicts moral failings, including infidelity, poor self-regulation, and offensive humor. Despite its popularity in the Iranian language education context and its inclusion of certain positive character traits, the sitcom conveys Western cultural norms that sharply conflict with Islamic-Iranian values. These findings underscore the need for further scholarly inquiry into both the contributions and potential repercussions of authentic multimodal materials in shaping language learners' well-being and character development. The study offers practical implications for syllabus designers, EFL teachers, and learners by informing more critical, reflective, and culturally responsive selection and use of media in language education.

Keywords:

character strengths , character failures , Qualitative content analysis , English language learning , materials , positive education , sitcom , VIA classification