Teaching Cultural Competence

1. Teaching Cultural Competence

2. Agenda • Introductions • What is culture in your classroom? • Teaching culture and cultures at EF • What the Common European Framework says • From theory to practice • Personal directions

3. Over 400 schools and offices • English immersion in 8 countries • UK • Ireland • Malta • USA • Canada • Australia • New Zealand • South Africa • English in other environments • Englishtown.com • English First • English First Smart Schools • English First Kids • EF Corporate Language Training • Additional languages taught: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese ILS London ILS Cambridge ILS Boston

4. 125 nationalities in our schools

5. Discussion • How do you define culture? • What do our students think culture is? • What is the difference between ‘Culture’ and ‘culture’? Cultureculture

6. Teaching culture and cultures at EF

7. The Common European Framework Beyond language teaching… • Knowledge of the world • Sociocultural knowledge • Practical skills: social, living, vocational • Intercultural skills • Self-knowledge: attitude, motivation, values, believes, cognitive style, personality

9. Living conditions • living standards (with regional, class and ethnic variations) • housing conditions • welfare arrangements

10. Everyday living • food and drink, meal times, table manners • public holidays • working hours and practices • leisure activities (hobbies, sports, reading habits, media)

11. Interpersonal relations • relations of power and solidarity • relations between classes • relations between sexes (gender, intimacy) • family structures and relations • relations between generations • relations in work situations • relations between public and police, officials, etc. • race and community relations • relations among political and religious groups

12. Values, beliefs and attitudes • social class • occupational groups (academic, management, public service, skilled and manual • workforces) • wealth (income and inherited) • regional cultures • security • institutions • tradition and social change • history, especially iconic historical personages and events • minorities (ethnic, religious) • national identity • foreign countries, states, peoples • politics • arts (music, visual arts, literature, drama, popular music and song) • religion • humour

13. Body language • Knowledge of the conventions governing such behaviour form part of the user/learner’s sociocultural competence

14. Social conventions • punctuality • presents • dress • refreshments, drinks, meals • behavioural and conversational conventions • taboos • length of stay • leave-taking

15. Ritual behaviour • religious observances and rites • birth, marriage, death • audience and spectator behaviour at public performances and ceremonies • celebrations, festivals, dances, discos, etc.

16. Intercultural awareness • Negotiating the relationship from ‘origin’ to ‘target community’

17. From theory to practice How do you get culture in front of students? • Materials? • Activities? • Networking? • Exchanges? • Host families?

18. Culture Files • Guides to host culture • Destinations and topics • New language • Practice activities • Personal reflections • Diary and sketchbook • Contact list • Developed by teachers

19. Culture Files • Guides to host culture • Destinations and topics • New language • Practice activities • Personal reflections • Diary and sketchbook • Contact list • Developed by teachers

21. Englishman on the Road • Guest teachers • Sent from ILS • Great reviews • Fun topics Contact your local EF office to request a guest teacher.

22. Conclusion • What is culture in your classroom? • Teaching culture and cultures at EF • What the Common European Framework says • From theory to practice