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The study shows that to learn a language you need to learn about the culture of the target language

also It has been emphasized that without the study of culture,teaching L2 is inaccurate and incomplete.

for this reason we are gonna learn about Syria’s culture. And I chose Syria for 2 reasons, first

because I am from, and second because of what is going on in Syria some of our solders might needed there so this can help then be prepared and know

what to expect.

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Syria is an important and influential country in the Middle East—it sits at the juncture of Africa, Asia, and Europe. Syria’s geography includes deserts, plains, a rich coastal

region, and mountains. The country’s northwestern corner runs along the Mediterranean Sea. Syria covers an

area of almost 71 thounsand square miles. Most of southeastern Syria is rocky desert.

Turkey borders Syria to the north, Jordan to the south, and Lebanon and Israel (including the disputed Golan

Heights) to the southwest. Iraq lies to the east and southeast.

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• History:• “Syria’s history dates back many centuries .In

ancient times, Syrian territory was much larger than today it included modern Lebanon, most of present-day Israel and Jordan, and part of Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

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• Ethnic Groups:• Syria’s population includes various religious and ethnic

communities.• The country’s 19 million people are divided into Sunni

Arabs (74 percent), Alawis (12 percent), Christians (10 percent), Kurds (9 percent), Druze (3 percent), Bedouin, Ismailis, Turcomans, Circassians, and Assyrians.

• Syrians are a blend of the Syriac groups and ethnic Greeks who lived in the region. Non-Arabic groups, such as Kurds, also make up part of the population

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• Religion group• The Alawis, originally a branch of Shi’a Islam, but they celebrate certain

Christian holidays different than the islam ones, such as Christmas and Easter. they have no religious buildings, preferring to meet in private residences. Members of the al-Assad regime belong to the Alawi Muslim sect, and thus this sect has been extremely powerful in Syria since 1971, when the country first came under Alawi leadership

• The religion of the Druze originated from Shi’a Islam but is not recognized by many Muslims,

• Christians make up about 10% of the population and belong to various sects, including the Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Chaldean, Maronite, Protestant, and Roman Catholic churches.

• There is very small Jewish communities in Syria• Some Kurds living near the Iraqi border follow a religion known as Yezidism,

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• Religion is important in the daily lives of Syrians. There are mosques throughout the country, and they are well attended. Churches, including Protestant, Catholic, and Anglican, are also well attended.

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• TRADITIONS:• Syria is a culture heavily influenced by its traditions.

A few of the traditions passed down through the years include: cuisine, folklore dance, and festivals.

• “Syria has a long cultural tradition. In general, Syrians place a high value on family, religion, education, self-discipline, and respect. Although Syrians tend to value identification with their religion, because the majority of the country are Sunni Muslims, strong feelings toward cultural unity also exist.”

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• Dress:• Clothing styles for Syrian people vary according

to region or ethnic background. Women in rural areas may wear decorations on their dresses, and men may wear long robes and head wraps. In the cities, clothing styles are more modern. Men in urban areas may dress in robes, or they may wear Western-style clothing, including jackets, sweaters, or pants

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• Weddings: • For Muslims and Christians, some traditions vary and some are similar. Syrians are

identified by their family ties and not by their religion. Whether Christian or Muslim.• The Christian Wedding • It is common for Christians to marry in a church. Friends and relatives are invited to

the wedding ceremony. After the wedding ceremony, friends and family gather, along with the bride and groom, at a reception

• Muslim wedding• Muslims do not marry in a mosque. Instead, an imam(the person who leads prayers in

a mosque) meets with all parties, including the parents. This meeting usually takes place in the imam’s office or at the home of the future groom, and at this time the marriage contracts are reviewed to make sure they are valid. Particular suras (chapters) or ayat (verses) from the Quran are recited. The documents legalizing the marriage are signed. The prospective bride and groom return separately to their respective homes. The next day there are separate parties for the men and the women.

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• Hospitality:• Syrians are very friendly and hospitable to visitors.

Interactions between people almost always begin with polite greetings and inquiries into each other’s health or their family’s health.

• In most homes, Muslim or Christian, it is common social practice that men and women gather separately. They will then meet at the table, and the host will welcome guests with a toast, typically accompanied by a nonalcoholic drink. The guest should respond with a toast, wishing good health to the host and his family

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Cuisine:• Syria’s multicultural past is evident in its cuisine. Syrian cuisine is

tasty and often combines European dishes with Eastern spices or adapts foods from other cultures. For example, a traditional pastry called batlawa, similar to the Greek baklava, has a French influence.

• When the meal begins, guests should accept as much food as possible. Saying “no thanks” can be seen as offensive to the host. The more the guests eat the happier the host be.

• The Arabic expression ahlan wa-sahlan means “welcome,” and the host will probably repeat this phrase several times during the visit.

Slide 9Gestures:• Certain gestures carry a lot of meaning. Here are some of the

gestures that can help you understand the full message being communicated.

• An outstretched hand and click of the wrist means “What do you want?” • Raised eyebrows and a slight sudden tilt back of the head means “no.” Making the same gesture with a click of the tongue means “no” as well. • All five fingers pointing upward means wait. But same gesture with going up and down with your fingers several times means “wait I will get you”

Slide 9Gestures:• Tap your hand on your head several times means “on my head”• Same thing you can do with eyes and with one finger pointing to your eye or

your both eyes and say “on my eye” when pointing to both eyes and say “from this eye before this eye”

• To dare or bet on something you touch your chin with you hand and say “hay daqnee”.

• • If an official motions as if to draw a line on his left palm, he wants to examine your documents.

• Using your both hands almost to clap means “No more” • • Placing the right palm on the chest with a slight bow of the head and closing

the eyes means “Thank you.” • Don’t make the “A-OK” signal (circle with index finger and thumb of one

hand); this gesture may be misinterpreted as obscene. • Both hands with all fingers pointing to your head means I can’t do this no

more or forget about it

Dos and Don’ts:• Do use your entire right hand only to call a person. Keep your palm down and wave

downward. • Do keep your feet down and your soles on the ground. • Do, if you are a man, stand when a woman enters the room. • Do stand when new guests arrive at a social gathering or when an elderly or high-

ranking official enters the room. • Don’t call women if you are a male soldier! Let a female soldier do that. • Don’t use the Western way of beckoning with one finger. It is very offensive. • Don’t point to anybody with a finger; use the entire right hand instead. • Don’t make the “A-OK” signal (circle with index finger and thumb of one hand); this

gesture may be misinterpreted as obscene. • Don’t point upward with the middle finger. It is obscene in the U.S. and equally so in

Syria. • Don’t use obscene or indecent language within earshot of Syrian citizens. Many are

familiar with American slang. • Don’t cross your legs when sitting in a chair or show the bottom of your feet to

someone. • Don’t lean against a wall when speaking with another person.