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Originally Posted by boczenka Hi :) Thanks for your opinions tdol and shane  Can you tell me how much culture do you teach? In what way? Do you just tell the learners that there is something like Boxing Day in UK or Thanksgiving ? Do you give them any exercises, texts to read? Is it common in your countries to teach culture elements of the country the language you teach? Is it popular among teachers to teach culture? I'm asking as very few teachers, as far as I've come across, talk about it. Sometimes it happens that they say: "Culture? What? What's that? How should I know what to do? I wasn't taught at my college anything about the culture so I can't tell them anything" or something like that: "I don't have time during the lesson to talk about such a thing" How does it look like in the place you teach? What's the teachers' opinion on this? |
Hello boczenka
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As far as "how much" culture does one teach, I think it depends on your lesson plans. How often per week do you meet and how long is your class time? That also will play a role in how you present culture to your students. For instance, we have a ministry through our church whereby we teach free English as a Second Language classes once a week for 1 1/2 hours. Usually, the week or lesson before a certain holiday would happen, we would teach about that particular holiday, and actually build the whole lesson around it. So, we would incorporate pictures, texts (appropriate to their level), sometimes even a game or song or two into the lesson plan. It makes for an interesting time! We even get the students to give examples from their own countries: whether or not they celebrate the same holidays and how. Holidays, therefore, are a learning situation for the students and teachers alike!
There are also other aspects of culture which are important for our students to understand. Such as, if our students are construction workers or computer personnel or stay at home mothers, they each need to understand what mannerisms are acceptable here in the States and how to go about getting help in various situations. Culture is an inherent part of what we teach because a country's culture is what affects its speech.
It is also useful for teachers to understand the cultures from where their students come. For instance, with my Central and South American students, I need to be a bit more formal in the classroom. I am the "teacher" and in their countries, the teachers are formal with their students. If I come across as friendly, they become uncomfortable. They always maintain a very respectful tone and attitude-never casual (this has been my limited experience thus far. amd quite consistent). However, when I see them out in town and greet them, they are more social with me (though still formal).
I hope this is of some service to you.
Smiles!
Sweet Momma Sue
