Intercultural activities in the English classroomBy: Ivan Aguilar

Objectives

By the end of this presentation we’ll have…• Reviewed the concept of culture• Explained how knowledge of culture

influences people’s ability to communicate in a second language

• Experienced intercultural activites• Identified a framework to introduce

intercultural activites in the English classroom

Why is culture important in Language Teaching?

1. The rise in economic importance of the pacific rim countries.

2. Immigration

3. The study of pragmatics

4. The study of non-verbal aspects of communication

5. Communication technology

So, what is Culture?

• Any construction of the human being

•Culture.- most representative elements of a

country’s culture (history, art, institutions, music) and way of life.

• Culture.-behavior, beliefs, perceptions expressed to language and determine the acceptance (sometimes rejection) of a person in the host community.

What is happening to English these days?

Native English Speaker

Speakers of other

languages

Non-native

English speaker

What is happening to English these days?

What are the goals of teaching culture in the English classroom?

Through teaching culture we help our students to

1. Access the culture through the language being taught

2. Aim for students to achieve socio-economic competence they feel they need

3. Achieve cross cultural understanding-awareness of their own culture and that of the target language.

4. Recognize that learning about a culture does not imply behavior change but awareness and tolerance

Concepts to keep in mind

1. Individualism-collectivism

2. Power distance

3. Uncertainty avoidance

4. Masculinity femininity

Crossing culture: example 1, names

SAKURA-JAPANBRIDGES-UK HUAMAN-PERU

Crossing culture: example 2, services

TAXI USA TAXI INDIA TAXI LATIN AMERICA

Crossing culture: example 3, celebrations

Easter-USA Semana santa-Peru

Vesak-Asian countries

Activity 1: In my country

• Watch the video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=sKzNPxu_QBU

Activity 1: In my country

• Watch the video• Answer these questions:

– Where is the event taking place?– What is happening?– Who are the people involved?

Activity 1: In my country

• If this took place in your country…– What would happen?– Who would be there?– What would they wear?– What would people do?

Reflection

• How would this activity benefit students?

Activity 2: Greetings

Activity 2: Greetings

• How do people give business cards in Japan?

• Practice giving your business cards to your colleagues

• Why (do you think) are business cards given in Japan the way that way?

• How did you feel giving the business cards the Japanese way?

Analyzing the experience

What information did you learn? How are the actions performed?

Why are these greetings the way they are?

What did you feel/think about practicing these greetings?

A framework to raise cultural awareness

What? How?

Information about the cultural aspect.Information about the actions.

The actual action, conditions and context

Why? Self

Explanations about the reasons for the actions.Cultural empathy/understanding

FeelingsReasoningAdaptingAssimilatingRejecting

An exercise

Imagine you are teaching English to people from different countries.

Choose an aspect of your culture they should be aware of

How would you teach it using the framework? (What/How/Why/Self)

A bilingual poem

If you’re sleepy in the jungle

And you wish to find a PILLOW,

Take a friendly word of warning:

DO NOT USE AN ARMADILLO!

Identity

…Though, as I hope this essay shows...

your acceptance, while it would thrill me...

will not define me.

My identity rests firmly...

and happily on one fact:

I am my mother's daughter.

Thank you.

Cristina Moreno.

Thank you