Global Convention on Language Issues and Bilingual Education Singapore 2006

Developing intercultural awareness through language teaching and learning – groups 1 and 2 of the IB Diploma

Overview definitions of culture and intercultural learning the role of culture in groups 1 and 2 the assessment of culture future directions: intercultural learning in groups 1 and 2

Importance of Culture If … language is seen as social practice, culture becomes the very core of language teaching…. Culture in language teaching is not an expendable fifth skill, tacked on, so to speak, to the teaching of speaking, listening, reading and writing” (Kramsch, 1993).

Origins of the Word The primary meaning … in husbandry [is] the tending of natural growth. [15 th century] (Raymond Williams, 1976)

Origins of the Word “The word [culture] charts within its semantic unfolding humanity’s own historic shift from rural to urban existence., pig-farming to Picasso, tilling the soil to splitting the atom.” (Terry Eagleton, 2000)

Culture: Three Broad Categories of Usage general process of intellectual, spiritual and aesthetic development a particular way of life, whether of a people, a period, a group, or humanity in general the works and practices of intellectual and especially artistic activity (Raymond Williams, 1976)

Language ab initio Syllabus Outline Reference to Culture During the language ab initio course students are expected to become familiar with aspects of the everyday life and culture of the countries in which the language is spoken.

Language A2 Syllabus Outline Reference to Culture The study of texts includes an exploration of the culture(s) related to the language studied. In this study students are encouraged to examine how cultural contexts influence language use.

Main Focus of these References knowledge appropriate use of language

“… cultural awareness is interpreted in a narrow and reductive way in the details of the curricula and does not include the attitudinal, affective dimension in any substantial way.” (Byram, 2005)

Intercultural Learning The process of becoming more aware of and better understanding one’s own culture and other cultures around the world. The aim of intercultural learning is to increase international and cross- cultural tolerance and understanding. (British Council)

Intercultural Communicative Competence ICC is an attempt to raise students’ awareness of their own culture, and in so doing, help them to interpret and understand other cultures. It is not just a body of knowledge, but a set of practices requiring knowledge, skills and attitudes. (British Council)

Why Is ICC Important in the IB Context? internationally mobile students development of the qualities essential to the ‘sojourner’ as opposed to the ‘tourist’ (Byram, 1997) native speakers of a target language cannot be the ideal

IBO Mission Statement The International Baccalaureate Organization aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

The aims of group 2 are to: encourage, through the study of texts and through social interaction, an awareness and appreciation of the different perspectives of people from other cultures

The aims of group 2 are to: develop students’ awareness of the relationship between the languages and cultures with which they are familiar

Factors in Intercultural Communication knowledge skills interpret and relate discover and/or interact attitudes education (Byram, 1997)Byram

Groups 1 and 2 Assessment Tasks Ab Initio: individual oral Language B: individual oral Language A2: written tasks Language A1: world literature assignment

ICC-related Assessment Tasks essay oral presentation world literature assignment written tasks

Groups 1 and 2 Curriculum Review and ICC relate the learning of culture to the IBO mission statement the learner profile the international dimension of the DP integrate ICC into the syllabus and the assessment

Byram, Michael (1997).Teaching and Assessing Intercultural Communicative Competence. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.