CULTURAL AWARENESS IN LANGUAGE TEACHING

CULTURAL AWARENESS INCULTURAL AWARENESS IN LANGUAGE TEACHING LANGUAGE TEACHING

CULTURAL AWARENESS INCULTURAL AWARENESS IN LANGUAGE TEACHING LANGUAGE TEACHING

marizalmeida@ufpr.br marizalmeida@ufpr.br

MARIZA RIVA DE ALMEIDA

(UFPR)

MARIZA RIVA DE ALMEIDA

(UFPR)

According to the anthropologist According to the anthropologist Margaret Mead:Margaret Mead:

According to the anthropologist According to the anthropologist Margaret Mead:Margaret Mead:

“Culture” means human culture, the whole complex of traditional behaviour which has been developed by the human race and is successively learned by each generation...

“Culture” means human culture, the whole complex of traditional behaviour which has been developed by the human race and is successively learned by each generation...

A culture is less precise.It can mean A culture is less precise.It can mean the forms of traditional behaviour which the forms of traditional behaviour which are characteristic of a certain society, are characteristic of a certain society,

or of a certain area, or of a certain or of a certain area, or of a certain period of time.”period of time.”

MEAD, M. Cooperation and Competition among Primitive Peoples.MEAD, M. Cooperation and Competition among Primitive Peoples. N. N. York: McGraw Hill, 1973. p 17-18York: McGraw Hill, 1973. p 17-18

The elements of culture, The elements of culture, according to Gail Robinson:according to Gail Robinson:

The elements of culture, The elements of culture, according to Gail Robinson:according to Gail Robinson:

literature

art

beliefs

customs

habits

values

music

literature

art

beliefs

customs

habits

values

music

folklore

institutions

dress

foods

artefacts

leisure

folklore

institutions

dress

foods

artefacts

leisure

PRODUCTS

IDEAS BEHAVIOURS

The elements of culture, according The elements of culture, according to Gail Robinson:to Gail Robinson:

The elements of culture, according The elements of culture, according to Gail Robinson:to Gail Robinson:

PRODUCTS

IDEAS BEHAVIOURS

artart literatureliterature

artefactsartefactsfolklorefolklore

musicmusic

habitshabitscustomscustoms

foodsfoods

dressdress

leisureleisure

beliefsbeliefs

valuesvalues

institutionsinstitutions

“ In fact, cultures are dynamic. They undergo growth, development and change, which makes an analysis of cultural behaviour and values challenging. Also, there is a great diversity of values, beliefs and traditions within any one culture. Every generalization has many exceptions, and especially within the multicultural societies, where a broad continuum of attitudes and opinions exists.” Myra Shulman SHULMAN, M. Cultures in Context. Ann Harbor: The University of Michigan Press, 1998.

“ In fact, cultures are dynamic. They undergo growth, development and change, which makes an analysis of cultural behaviour and values challenging. Also, there is a great diversity of values, beliefs and traditions within any one culture. Every generalization has many exceptions, and especially within the multicultural societies, where a broad continuum of attitudes and opinions exists.” Myra Shulman SHULMAN, M. Cultures in Context. Ann Harbor: The University of Michigan Press, 1998.

Some people believe that a foreign language carries within it the power to impose cultural values. Therefore,studying a foreign language would mean submitting to a foreign culture.

Some people believe that a foreign language carries within it the power to impose cultural values. Therefore,studying a foreign language would mean submitting to a foreign culture.

    Others see the teaching and learning of a foreign language as a way to reflect upon their own language and identity, thus creating intercultural awareness.

    Others see the teaching and learning of a foreign language as a way to reflect upon their own language and identity, thus creating intercultural awareness.

Why teach culture?Why teach culture?Culture makes learning purposefulCulture makes learning purposeful

Avoid cultural misunderstandingsAvoid cultural misunderstandingsawareness of non-linguistic communicative cues (gestures, physical contact/distance);awareness of non-linguistic communicative cues (gestures, physical contact/distance);

language for communicationlanguage for communication

Realisation of cultural behaviourRealisation of cultural behaviourleads to development of tolerance and better understanding of diversity, as well as to a deeper understanding of one’s own

culture and behaviour;

leads to development of tolerance and better understanding of diversity, as well as to a deeper understanding of one’s own

culture and behaviour;

Not to change behaviourNot to change behaviourbut to arise acceptance and understanding of the cultural

influences affecting one’s attitudes.but to arise acceptance and understanding of the cultural

influences affecting one’s attitudes.

BUT WITHIN DIFFERENCES!BUT WITHIN DIFFERENCES!

Cultures as 'cakes'

"What are British, Brazilian, Polish people like? - well, it depends..."

REGION

ETHNICITY

GENDER

SOCIAL GROUP AND STATUS

AGE

CONTEXT

ACROSS TIME

EDUCATION

CLASS

NATION

TOWN/COUNTRY

‘Zoom In’, Hungarian textbook for secondary schools

Possible activities:Possible activities:

1. posters –contrasts and similarities1. posters –contrasts and similarities

2. postcards – observation/judgement2. postcards – observation/judgement

What is a stereotype?What is a stereotype?

“A tendency to look for the typical and

average; usually placed at the national level”

“A tendency to look for the typical and

average; usually placed at the national level”

Which kind of stereotype is being portrayed?

Which cultural aspect is being hilighted?

Which kind of stereotype is being portrayed?

Which cultural aspect is being hilighted?

3. punctuality 3. punctuality Decide whether you should arrive early, on time

or late for the following events in Brazil/UK:Decide whether you should arrive early, on time

or late for the following events in Brazil/UK:

• A class• A class •A business meeting•A business meeting

• A date• A date

•A dinner party•A dinner party

•A meeting with a friend•A meeting with a friend

Cultural Studies – a rich and motivating Cultural Studies – a rich and motivating

language-learning resourcelanguage-learning resource

“When trying to understand and appreciate a target culture we tend to assume that our own expectations and attitudes apply. One of the fundamental concepts of cultural studies is that there is no one fixed or correct way of doing things, but there are many equally different and valid ways of living, working and worshipping...

“When trying to understand and appreciate a target culture we tend to assume that our own expectations and attitudes apply. One of the fundamental concepts of cultural studies is that there is no one fixed or correct way of doing things, but there are many equally different and valid ways of living, working and worshipping...

The aim of Cultural Studies is to sharpen The aim of Cultural Studies is to sharpen observation, encourage critical thinking about observation, encourage critical thinking about

cultural stereotypes, and develop a tolerance of cultural stereotypes, and develop a tolerance of diversity while leading to a greater understanding diversity while leading to a greater understanding

of one’s own cultureof one’s own culture. .

The aim of Cultural Studies is to sharpen The aim of Cultural Studies is to sharpen observation, encourage critical thinking about observation, encourage critical thinking about

cultural stereotypes, and develop a tolerance of cultural stereotypes, and develop a tolerance of diversity while leading to a greater understanding diversity while leading to a greater understanding

of one’s own cultureof one’s own culture. .

In the end it is not the cultural differences that matter, but the fact that people share a common humanity”.

Jack Scholes

In the end it is not the cultural differences that matter, but the fact that people share a common humanity”.

Jack Scholes

Sites:Sites:

http://elt.britcoun.org.plhttp://elt.britcoun.org.pl www.seed.pr.gov.br/eltwww.seed.pr.gov.br/elt

Bibliographical references:Bibliographical references:

MEAD, M. Cooperation and Competition among Primitive Peoples. N. York: McGraw Hill, 1973.

SHULMAN, M. Cultures in Context. Ann Harbor: The University of Michigan Press, 1998.

MCLAREN, P. Multiculturalismo Crítico. São Paulo: Cortez, 1997.

PENNYCOOK, Alastair. The Cultural Politics of English as an International Language. London: Longman, 1994.

MEAD, M. Cooperation and Competition among Primitive Peoples. N. York: McGraw Hill, 1973.

SHULMAN, M. Cultures in Context. Ann Harbor: The University of Michigan Press, 1998.

MCLAREN, P. Multiculturalismo Crítico. São Paulo: Cortez, 1997.

PENNYCOOK, Alastair. The Cultural Politics of English as an International Language. London: Longman, 1994.