Cultural Studies in Foreign Language Education

Cultural Studies in Foreign Language Education
Author: Michael Byram
Publisher: Multilingual Matters
Total Pages: 182
Release: 1989-01-01
Genre: Education
ISBN: 9781853590177

Written by the winner of the 1987 BAAL book prize, this book deals with the acquisition of understanding of foreign cultures and peoples. It is also a study of the philosophy and purpose of language teaching in all its facets, in the context of foreign language teaching in secondary education. The book is written for language teachers and, though it draws on disciplines not usually included in their education and professional training, it does so from within the profession's own perspective. It is an attempt to raise teachers' and learners' awareness of the full educational value of foreign language learning

Crossing Cultures in the Language Classroom, Second Edition

Crossing Cultures in the Language Classroom, Second Edition
Author: Andrea DeCapua
Publisher: University of Michigan Press
Total Pages: 361
Release: 2016-01-28
Genre: Education
ISBN: 0472036416

A MICHIGAN TEACHER TRAINING title Teachers are often in the forefront of today’s cross-cultural contact, whether in the language classroom or in the K–12 or university/college classroom, but they are not always prepared to handle the various issues that can arise in terms of cross-cultural communication. The intent of this book is to make education in cross-cultural awareness accessible to a broad range of teachers working in a variety of educational settings. Crossing Cultures in the Language Classroom attempts to balance theory and practice for pre-service and in-service teachers in general education programs or in ESL/EFL, bilingual, and foreign language teacher training programs, as well as cross-cultural awareness workshops. This book is unique in that it combines theory with a wide range of experiential activities and projects designed to actively engage users in the process of understanding different aspects of cross-cultural awareness. The goals of the book are to help readers: expand cultural awareness of one’s own culture and that of others achieve a deeper understanding of what culture is and the relationship between culture and language acquire the ability to observe behaviors in order to draw conclusions based on observation rather than preconceptions understand and implement observations of cultural similarities and differences develop an attitude of tolerance toward cultural differences and move away from the “single story.” The new edition has been thoroughly updated and includes a Suggested Projects section in each chapter. This section provides opportunities for users of the text to explore in greater depth an area and topic of interest. It also includes even more Critical Incidents--brief descriptions of events that depict some element or elements of cultural differences, miscommunication, or culture clash. Critical Incidents develop users’ ability to analyze and understand how multiple perspectives of the same situation are rooted in differing culturally influenced beliefs, behaviors, norms of interaction, and worldviews.

Culture in Second Language Teaching and Learning

Culture in Second Language Teaching and Learning
Author: Eli Hinkel
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 265
Release: 1999-03-13
Genre: Education
ISBN: 0521644909

This book identifies the many facets of culture that influence second language learners and teachers. The paperback edition identifies the many facets of culture that influence second language learners and teachers. It addresses the impact of culture on learning to interact, speak, construct meaning, and write in a second language, while staying within the sociocultural paradigms specific to a particular language and its speakers. By providing a comprehensive introduction to research from other disciplines on the interaction between language and culture, this volume offers an important contribution to the field of second language acquisition.

Teaching-and-learning Language-and-culture

Teaching-and-learning Language-and-culture
Author: Michael Byram
Publisher: Multilingual Matters
Total Pages: 236
Release: 1994-01-01
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 9781853592119

Offers some theoretical innovations in teaching foreign languages and reports how they have been applied to curriculum development and experimental courses at the upper secondary and college levels. Approaches language learning as comprising several dimensions, including grammatical competence, change in attitudes, learning about another culture, and reflecting on one's own. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Teachers as Mediators in the Foreign Language Classroom

Teachers as Mediators in the Foreign Language Classroom
Author: Michelle Kohler
Publisher: Multilingual Matters
Total Pages: 242
Release: 2015
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1783093064

This book uses examples of classroom interaction to reveal how teachers of languages act as intercultural mediators and the implications of this for practice. The book offers an account of what teachers are thinking, feeling and doing as they enact an intercultural perspective on language teaching and learning.

Fostering Culture Through Film

Fostering Culture Through Film
Author: Elda Buonanno Foley
Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
Total Pages: 215
Release: 2016-05-11
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 1443894052

The perceived lack of understanding of cultural diversity in the American learning community has led instructors to challenge assumptions and stereotypes while addressing misconceptions. Teachers of foreign languages and cultural studies, in particular, feel the need to redesign curricula and lesson plans to better serve the learning community of the twenty-first century. The common starting point resides in the paradox that exists in today’s connected world; while global access to information makes learners aware of the infinite variety of cultural diversity, it does not, however, make them critical thinkers. For this reason, there is opportunity to reshape critical thinking within a more global perspective, while enhancing the tools to identify, interpret, and compare the different cultural models that learners encounter. The book demonstrates the theories and practical applications by which instructors use contemporary film to provide insightful readings on diverse local communities, communities that form the basis of global culture. This collection of essays will serve as a pedagogical tool and resource, offering methods and examples of a communicative approach to analyze and integrate cultural diversities, similarities, and problems in the second language curricula, methods that expose students to different cultural models while scaffolding their critical approach to multiple layers of common and specific values. This work will encourage a dialogue and long-lasting conversation on methodologies and teaching strategies rethought, reapplied, and remolded to the new learning environments.

Critical Reflection and the Foreign Language Classroom

Critical Reflection and the Foreign Language Classroom
Author: Terry Osborn
Publisher: IAP
Total Pages: 166
Release: 2005-03-01
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1607524791

This book introduces pre-service and in-service foreign language teachers to the basic concepts of critical educational study as applied to the sociological position occupied by foreign language education in the United States. Although contemporary foreign language teachers typically know about second language acquisition and instructional methodology, they are not prepared to understand issues of power in relation to, for example, language variety, language status, and education. The author addresses issues such as the supposed "failure" of foreign language education, the educational filter role played by language classes, the concept of foreignness as seen in national standards, language curricula and textbooks, and the implications of these issues in terms of power relationships and cultural mediation both in and out of the classroom. The reader is encouraged to analyze the forms of cultural struggle which can be found within the foreign language classrooms of the United States including the likely impact those struggles have on members of the dominant and subordinate cultures. Teachers are led through the development of skills in critical reflection and pedagogical application geared to social justice.

Handbook of Foreign Language Communication and Learning

Handbook of Foreign Language Communication and Learning
Author: Karlfried Knapp
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter
Total Pages: 752
Release: 2009-12-15
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 3110214245

This volume focuses on how far the policies, principles and practices of foreign language teaching and learning are, or can be, informed by theoretical considerations and empirical findings from the linguistic disciplines. Part I deals with the nature of foreign language learning in general, while Part II explores issues arising from linguistic, socio-political, cultural and cognitive perspectives. Part III and IV then consider the different factors that have to be taken into account in designing the foreign language subject and the various approaches to pedagogy that have been proposed. Part V finally addresses questions concerning assessment of learner proficiency and the evaluation of courses designed to promote it. Key features: provides a state-of-the-art description of different areas in the context of foreign language communication and learning presents a critical appraisal of the relevance of the field offers solutions to everyday language-related problems with contributions from renowned experts