Integrating Culture into Language Instruction

1. Integrating Culture into Language Instruction STARTALK : October, 2008

2. Culture and language “…communicating, building relationships, accomplishing tasks in the language of that culture using that culture’s set of rules.” --Patrick Moran

3. Characteristics Provide experiences that have learners interact with the language and culture

4. Characteristics • Provide opportunities for students to do something with what they have learned

5. Characteristics • Real-world projects based on student interests and choices

6. Characteristics • Culture Clubs for games, crafts, songs, dances, cooking lessons, movies, book discussions

7. Characteristics • Field trips: restaurants, stores, neighborhoods, museums • Community events: celebrations, fairs

8. Culture and Language: Inseparable • Interpersonal: culturally appropriate interactions • Interpretive: sufficient knowledge of the target culture to understand culture-specific meanings of messages • Presentational: the conscious or subconscious understanding of what can be said/written to whom, how, and in what circumstances

9. Culture and Language: Inseparable