The Role Of Culture Of Teaching Foreign Languages

“Culture comprises traditional ideas and related values, and it is the product of actions” (Kroeber and Kluckhohn, 1952); “it is learned, shared, and transmitted from one generation to the next (Linton, 1945); and it organizes life and helps interpret existence” (Gordon, 1964).

One big part of my cultural is our history. As may of us know some things about our culture's history, we are looked upon to know as much as we can possibly find about ourselves. Our parents and grandparents say this because they don't want any part of our culture to fade away. This is represented everywhere I go. In our church we have greek school where we learn about how the church came about, customs, and ancient greece, even sometimes how to speak greek. This is also encouraged outside of the church just in our homes. This was extremely important when I was little. We would frequently watch what seemed to be very boring ‘greek history’ shows that made my 5 year old self wonder why we watched them. This was ‘fun’ for my grandparents but now I realised the reason why we watched them was because they were proud of who they were. All this sums up into how education is so important to everyone in our culture.

Culture shapes our image of people, food, the way we dress, and even our opinion on certain topics whether political or social. Important Information. In the text such as in “An Indian Father’s Plea”, “Everyday Use”, and Two Kinds, culture impacts the way one’s outlook is on the world around them.

Culture is one of the most relevant elements that can define not only a society but also a country’s cumulative beliefs and system. Often noted as the origins of a country, culture is definitive in the sense that it harbors all the elements that can provide justification on the traditions and norms set by the society for its members. More often than not, the society members follow norms in order to create a harmonious community, and the beliefs and the traditions serve as the poles or grounding rules for each member to follow. Culture is very dynamic in the way that it can change over a variety of foreign influences but what is permanent about it is that original elements about it often lingers with the influences, therefore making it multi-faceted and broad. More importantly, culture serves as an individual and unique trait each society has, and therefore sets it apart from other countries and other societies.

Ken Wiwa presents several ideas pertaining to language and culture within his essay, Get Beyond Babel. Wiwa explains that every language has a chance of dying out over time. For any language to survive through years of societal changes, it must be adapted so it can be used to embrace other cultures, new technology and new perspectives. Wiwa presents the concept that language is the same as culture. I do not agree with this concept because I believe that culture is carried by the people, not by the language.

Culture is a very vital part of the world as we know it today. There are very many different cultures all around the world. In the USA, we have a mix of all the different cultures and and family values. From the original Native Americans that inhabited America to the Middle Eastern people in Afghanistan. These people groups have brought their language, food, values, and customs with them.

Culture is a large part of every person’s life, it is what makes each person unique. Within culture there are many aspects such as food, music, clothing, tradition, and many more. Since culture makes up such a large part of our day to day lives, it is almost always responsible shaping and informing our view on the world.

Culture is the most basic cause of a person’s wants and behaviour. Growing up, children learn basic values, perception and wants from the family and other important groups.

Culture is very important to many individuals in this world. It plays key parts in a vast amount of people’s lives. While some may follow everything to do with their culture, your culture doesn’t have to affect your life. You can still choose to have your own personal views, or to follow your accustomed culture. People will all view everything differently depending on who they are, what cultural background they have, and what scenario they’re in.

Although one’s culture is based on their experiences they have had, it is also based on values of family and education that help shape one’s opinion and view.

In conclusion i feel that culture is important in our everyday live and make us who we are and the people we will become in the feature and influence the course of our lives

Language is an art form through which shapes our understanding of ourselves and our world. (BOSTES, 2012). It is through language; where human beings are able express their inner thoughts and emotions. Language is defined as the verbal behaviour; gestures, body movement (Pierce & Eplin, 1999). The NSW K-10 English Syllabus emphasises that language is central to the intellectual, social, and emotional development of all students and that the model of language development is through a sociolinguistic approach. Sociolinguistics is referred to as the study of language and its relationship with culture and society (Kennedy, 2014). Sociolinguistics is an approach through which correlates with the NSW K-10 English Syllabus, as learning English, is recursive and develops through ever-widening contexts (BOSTES, 2012). It is through English, where students develop their critical and imaginative faculties to broaden their capacity for cultural understanding. (BOSTES, 2012). Through the syllabus (the rationale, aims, objectives, outcomes, stage statements and content), is the notion of how students will develop an appreciation of language as well as the skills in composing, understanding values and attitudes. Thus, the study of English, as expressed in the syllabus, allows students to learn across the curriculum as well as develop an understanding about and dress contemporary issues they face (BOSTES, 2012).

This chapter was easy to follow for me because in my anthropology class we are studying the chapter on language this we. In my anthropology class I leaden that language is a key aspect to culture. As languages are disappearing and becoming more narrowed down to one language that most people are now speaking we a gradually losing culture. In a sense I can relate to this because my whole family speaks a different language other than english. I am able to fluently speak my fist language punjabi but my brother on the other hand is only able to understand it. He has a difficult time forming words and sentences in punjabi. Because he can’t speak punjabi very well its difficult for him to understand our culture. There are many words he doesn’t understand

Before today’s modern English, our language has gone through several changes and developments. Language is constantly “evolving”, but it is neither a bad or good thing. Language change is a natural occurrence and cannot be stopped completely.

Teaching the role of culture in foreign language classrooms should be considered just as important as all other lessons. According to Zimmermann (2012) Culture is “the characteristics of a particular group of people, defined by everything from language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts.” Culture is not just learning their holidays, religious beliefs, traditional food or even their language, it is much deeper than that, it is showing our students another world without promoting stereotypes. Hence, we must try and reach out to our students in many ways to figure out what interests them, what is appropriate and what are linguistically and culturally responsive that will give them