JoLIE 5/2012

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TEACHING ENGLISH THROUGH CULTURAL LENSES.

A PERSPECTIVE ON

INITIAL TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMS

 

 

Raluca Petruş

Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca

 

Muşata Bocoş

Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca

 

 

 

Abstract

 

This paper intends to provide details regarding the intertwined link between culture and language and the reasons for which this relationship should be made more aware and explicit in the field of teaching foreign languages at university level in the Romanian curricular context. The second part of the paper aims to present a study that has been conducted in order to better understand the would-be teacher’s interest in addressing different culture teaching objectives. The results indicate that the students need to further develop their reflexive attitude and be more aware of their own culture when teaching foreign languages.

 

Keywords: Language; Culture; Cultural variables; Sociocultural background; Authentic teaching resources.

 

 

References

 

Bocoş, M. (2007). Didactica Disciplinelor pedagogice. Un cadru constructivist, second edition, Piteşti: Paralela 45.

 

Byram, M. (1997). Teaching and Assessing Intercultural Communicative Competence, UK, USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa: Multilingual Matters Ltd.

 

Byram, M. (2009). Intercultural Competence in Foreign Languages. The Intercultural Speaker and the Pedagogy of Foreign Language Education, p. 321-332. In D. K. Deardorff, The Sage Handbook of Intercultural Competence, USA, UK, India, Singapore: Sage Publications Inc.

 

Castro P., & Sercu, L. (2005). Objectives of Foreign Language Teaching and Culture Teaching Time, p. 19 -38. In ‘’Foreign Language Teachers and Intercultural Competence. An International Investigation’’, UK, USA, Canada: Multilingual Matters Ltd.

 

Dypedahl, M., & Eschenbach, J., (2011). Introducing Intercultural Learning in a New Nordic Master’s Program. Acta Didactica Norge Vol. 5 Nr. 1 Art. 8.

 

Hall, E.T. (1959). The Silent Language. New York: Anchor Books.

 

Lundgren, U. (2009). Intercultural Teacher: A Case Study of a Course, p. 132-150. In A. Feng, & M. Byram, & M. Fleming (Eds.), Becoming Interculturally Competent through Education and Training, Multilingual Matters Ltd., UK, USA, Canada.

 

Meier, A.J. (2003). Posting the banns: A marriage of pragmatics and culture in foreign and second language pedagogy and beyond, p. 185-210. In A. F. Guerra, & A. M. Flor, & U. J. Esther(Eds.), Pragmatic Competence and Foreign Language Teaching, Publicacions de la Universitat Jauame I, Castello.

 

Meyer, M. (1991). Developing Transcultural Competence. Case studies for Advanced Foreign Language Learners, p. 136-158. In D. Buttjes, & M. Byram (Eds.), Mediating Languages and Cultures: Towards an Intercultural Theory of Foreign Language Education, Multilingual Matters Ltd., England, USA.

 

Pulverness, A. (2005). Materials for Cultural Awareness. In B. Tomlinson, (Ed.), Developing Materials for Language Teaching, first published 2003, reprinted 2005, London, New York: Continuum.

 

Sercu, L. (2005). The Foreign Language and Intercultural Competence Teacher, p. 130-159. In Foreign Language Teachers and Intercultural Competence. An International Investigation, Multilingual Matters Ltd, UK, USA, Canada.

 

Sercu, L. (2005). Teaching Foreign Languages in an Intercultural World, p. 1-18. In Foreign Language Teachers and Intercultural Competence. An International Investigation, Multilingual Matters Ltd, UK, USA, Canada.

 

Smolcic, E. (2011). Becoming a Culturally Responsive Teacher. Personal Transformation and Shifting Identities during Immersion Experience Abroad, p. 15-30. In K. E. Johnson, & P. R. Golombek (Eds.), Research on Second language Teacher Education. A Sociocultural Perspective on Professional Development, New York, UK: Routledge.

 

Wiseman L.R. (2002). Intercultural Communication Competence. In W. B. Gudykunst, & B. M. Mody (Eds.) Handbook of International and Intercultural Communication (2nd edition), p. 207-224, Sage Publications Inc., California, UK, India.

 

 

Web resources

 

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Halliday, accessed on April 28th, 2013.

 

 http://www.international.gc.ca/cfsi-icse/cil-cai/magazine/v02n01/doc3-eng.pdf, accessed on March 25th, 2013.

 

 

How to cite this article: Petruş, R., & Bocoş, M. (2012). Teaching English through cultural lenses. A perspective on initial teacher training programs. Journal of Linguistic and Intercultural Education – JoLIE, 5, 95-108. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29302/jolie.2012.5.6

            

 

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