Incorporating Local Culture in English Teaching Harumi M. Ayu August 10, 2009 LBI FIB UI

Objectives: At the end of this workshop, teachers are able to: Understand the importance of establishing a sphere of interculturality. Critically examine the role of culture in English teaching/materials. Incorporate local culture in order to promote cross cultural understanding

Culture in Language Learning (Kramsch, 1993) Establishing a sphere of interculturality Teaching culture as an interpersonal process Teaching culture as a difference

Attributes of an International Language (Smith, 1976) There is no necessity for L2 speakers to internalize the cultural norms of L1 speakers of that language An international language becomes “de-nationalized” The purpose of teaching an international language is to facilitate communication of learners’ ideas and culture in an English medium

Selecting and Analyzing EFL Materials Prodromou (1992): Globally designed textbooks have continued to be stubbornly Anglo-centric. In choosing or using EFL materials, check whether the materials are culturally sensitive or not  questionnaire

Students need to consider their own culture in relation to another Classrooms need to establish a sphere of interculturality (Kramsch, 1993) Students need to consider their own culture in relation to another The process of learning about another culture entails reflection on one’s own culture as well as another culture

Group Task: Read the handout from Reward Identify specific cultural content in the textbook that could be puzzling for students  cultural assumptions Describe how you would use the materials to create a sphere of interculturality (i.e., to encourage students to compare the culture portrayed in these materials with their own culture)

Conclusion: Students do not need to accept the norms of native English speaking countries. The teaching of culture needs to focus on giving students knowledge about rather than suggesting they accept particular cultural values/beliefs. Teachers need to acknowledge the value of including information about the students’ own culture

Reference: Crystal, D. (1997). English as a Global Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Kramsch, C. (1993). Context and Culture in Language Teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Kramsch, C., & Sullivan, P. (1996). Appropriate pedagogy. ELT Journal, 50. 199-212. McKay, S. L. (2002). Teaching English as an International Language: Rethinking Goals and Approaches. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Prodromou, L. (1992). What culture? Which culture? Cross-cultural factors in language learning. ELT Journal, 46 (2), 39-50. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Smith, L. (1976) English as an International Auxiliary Language. RELC Journal, 7(2)