How to Include the Teaching of Culture in the Lessons by Hugo Dart Proverbial Wisdom What is culture? A body of knowledge places symbols artifacts works of art institutions ways of living A framework in which people live their lives and communicate shared meaning with each other Aspects and manifestations of culture Which ones should we explore? What can we bring into the classroom? Pictures Realia Group Work History Group Work Projects Teens Basic Intermediate Flex Advanced Top Flex Some cuture-related topics in our syllabi Teens: hobbies, animals, shopping for clothes and personal items, festivals, holidays, routines/school life, technology and communication, people’s appearance, food, music, vacation plans Basic: celebrities, TV shows, sports, clothes, shopping habits, countries/languages/nationalities, food, hobbies, holidays and celebrations, travel/vacation, jobs, home habits and evening routines, anedoctes about things that went wrong Intermediate: human/natural wonders, eating habits, dating, gadgets and technology, music, movies, shows, the news, style and fashion, manners, culture and culturally acceptable behavior, superstitions, money management, environmental problems Flex: clothes, food and cooking, vacations, outdoor activities, invitations and favors, shopping, travel plans, transportation problems, bargaining, tipping customs Top Flex: gestures/customs, stores, salon services, food, museums and art, the internet, personal values, cultural awareness, reading habits, holidays, local customs Advanced: music, spending habits, fashion/style, shopping and ads, parentteen issues, history’s mysteries, lying, heroism, superstitions, traveling, the news, humor Bibliography • Corbett, John. Intercultural Language Activities. Cambridge University Press, 2010. • Peterson, Elizabeth & Coltrane, Bronwyn. Culture in Second Language Teaching. CAL – Center for Applied Linguistics. http://www.cal.org/resources/digest/0309peterson.html • Research Centre for Language and Cultures. Teaching and Learning Languages: A Guide. Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. http://www.tllg.unisa.edu.au/guide.html • Smith, Jim. The Lazy Teacher’s Handbook. Crown House Publishing, 2010. • Tang, Ramona. The Place of "Culture" in the Foreign Language Classroom: A Reflection. The Internet TESL Journal. http://iteslj.org/Articles/Tang-Culture.html • Tomali, Barry. Making culture happen in the English language classroom. British Council – TeachingEnglish. http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/articles/making-culturehappen-english-language-classroom Links • http://www.inspirationalstories.com/proverbs/ • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XtvFzVT2F8 – 60 Tips: Best TV Shows for Learners of English • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6zcRYLpZjc – Border Security: Australia's Front Line – season 11, episode 9 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIyFColD18c – Yes Minister – “The Death List” • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sWVCEbnGTg – Clip from The Young and the Restless, 7-8-13: “The Truth Must Come Out” • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgPFEYH9y-Q – “I Wish I Was in Glasgow” by Billy Connolly [email protected]