On techniques to integrate cultural learning within English language teaching classrooms

王丹邱

（沈阳理工大学，辽宁 沈阳 110159）

On techniques to integrate cultural learning within English language teaching classrooms

王丹邱

（沈阳理工大学，辽宁 沈阳 110159）

Culture is inseparable from language teaching and learning.Learning the target culture may arouse students’cultural awareness and avoid cultural misunderstanding in cross-cultural communications.It is important to integrate cultural learning within English language classrooms.This essay discusses the techniques of achieving this integration.

culture；ELT；techniques；integration

H319

A

1005-5312（2015）11-0221-01

一、Introduction

Foreign language educators consider the teaching of culture within the English language teaching(ELT)curriculum as a common practice.Linguists believe that cultural learning is now viewed as an integral part of communicative language learning.This essay mainly discusses the techniques of integrating cultural studies within ELT classrooms.

二 、Integration of cultural learning within ELT classrooms

（一）Relationship between culture and language

Language is a part of culture.It reflects culture and is reflected and shaped by culture.Culture is also the symbolic representation of a people since it is made up of by their historical and cultural backgrounds,and their ways of life,thinking and behaving.Learning the target culture is helpful to avoid cultural differences,shocks and conflicts in communication?

（二）Techniques of integrating cultural learning within ELT classrooms

Teachers should use the right methodology.Cortazzi and Jin (1999)stressed the importance of appropriate teaching and learning methods to ensure implement of tasks and activities.Teachers should bear in mind that language is a tool for communication;therefore,inside language classrooms students should acquiring new information and ideas about culture through English rather than learning the language only.

The techniques listed below give suggestions on how to integrate culture within an ELT classroom.

1.Right use of textbooks

Since textbooks carry most of the facts and figures of the background information of the target culture,it is the major source of cultural context for both teachers and students.But teachers should not be over dependent on textbooks because facts and figures there may not give an adequate picture of the target culture,of which everything is changing.As a result,teaching a dialogue or a text,teacher should explain to,negotiate with the students about the cultural implication of it.As Cortazzi and Jin(1999)saw that students’intercultural competence can be cultivated in“situations of negotiation meaning and identity in the context ofother cultures”.

2.Role play tasks

According to Johnson(2008),role play is an important technique in communicative methodology.Sometimes teachers can create learning situation for students to explore cultural codes based on their own interest by means of school-trip or role-playing,etc.Involving students into role plays helps them to understand target cultures.

3.Topic-based discussions

Teachers may select interesting topics to draw students’attention and meet their needs,like personal identity,families,relationships,food and drink,work,leisure,and education,and bring them to the classroom.While asking students to discuss on these topics, teachers may join in and help them.

4.Data response

Data response let students have access to ideas without reading dense texts.In fact,using graphs,charts,and diagrams is natural and common in exchanging information in descriptive texts.Whereas,using data response technique in ELT classrooms may provide students with flexibility to use language.Data response is one of the best ways to represent the message to communicate and at the same time develop learner’s general skills.

三、Conclusion

Learning a foreign language does not simply mean to grasp“an object of academic study”since it is the means of communication with people and a part of a target culture.Educators and teachers should acknowledge the difference and relation between language and culture and adopt techniques to arouse students’cultural awareness and develop their cultural competence in the ELT classroom.

Bibliography：

[1]Cortazzi,M and L.Jin.“Cultural Mirrors”.In E.Hinkel(ed)Culture in Second Language Teaching and Learning[M].Cambridge:CUP,1999.

[2]Johnson,K.An introduction to Foreign Language Learning and Teaching [M].New York:Routledge,2008.