Intercultural activities

in the English
classroom
By: Ivan Aguilar
 Objectives

By the end of this presentation we’ll have…

• Reviewed the concept of culture
• Explained how knowledge of culture
influences people’s ability to communicate
in a second language
• Experienced intercultural activites
• Identified a framework to introduce
intercultural activites in the English
classroom
 Why is culture important in
Language Teaching?
1. The rise in economic importance of the
pacific rim countries.
2. Immigration
3. The study of pragmatics
4. The study of non-verbal aspects of
communication
5. Communication technology
 So, what is Culture?
• Any construction of the human being

•Culture.- most representative elements of a

country’s culture (history, art, institutions, music)
and way of life.
• Culture.-behavior, beliefs, perceptions expressed
to language and determine the acceptance
(sometimes rejection) of a person in the host
community.
What is happening to English
these days?
Native
English
Speaker

Non-
Speakers
native
of other
English
languages
speaker
What is happening to English
these days?
 What are the goals of teaching
culture in the English classroom?
Through teaching culture we help our students to
1. Access the culture through the language being
taught
2. Aim for students to achieve socio-economic
competence they feel they need
3. Achieve cross cultural understanding-awareness of
their own culture and that of the target language.
4. Recognize that learning about a culture does not
imply behavior change but awareness and tolerance
 Concepts to keep in mind
1. Individualism-collectivism
2. Power distance
3. Uncertainty avoidance
4. Masculinity femininity
 Crossing culture: example
1, names

BRIDGES-UK SAKURA-JAPAN HUAMAN-PERU

 Crossing culture: example
2, services
TAXI USA TAXI INDIA TAXI LATIN
AMERICA
 Crossing culture: example
3, celebrations
Easter-USA Semana santa- Vesak-Asian countries
Peru
 Activity 1: In my country
• Watch the video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pla
yer_embedded&v=sKzNPxu_QBU
 Activity 1: In my country
• Watch the video
• Answer these questions:
– Where is the event taking place?
– What is happening?
– Who are the people involved?
 Activity 1: In my country
• If this took place in your country…
– What would happen?
– Who would be there?
– What would they wear?
– What would people do?
 Reflection
• How would this activity benefit students?
Activity 2: Greetings
 Activity 2: Greetings
• How do people give business cards in
Japan?
• Practice giving your business cards to
your colleagues
• Why (do you think) are business cards
given in Japan the way that way?
• How did you feel giving the business cards
the Japanese way?
 Analyzing the experience
What information did you learn? How are the actions performed?

Why are these greetings the way What did you feel/think about
they are? practicing these greetings?
 A framework to raise cultural
awareness
What? How?

Information about the cultural aspect. The actual action, conditions and
Information about the actions. context

Why? Self

Explanations about the reasons for the Feelings

actions. Reasoning
Cultural empathy/understanding Adapting
Assimilating
Rejecting
 An exercise
Imagine you are teaching English to people
from different countries.
Choose an aspect of your culture they
should be aware of
How would you teach it using the
framework? (What/How/Why/Self)
A bilingual poem
If you’re sleepy in the jungle
And you wish to find a PILLOW,
Take a friendly word of warning:
DO NOT USE AN ARMADILLO!
Identity
…Though, as I hope this essay
shows...
your acceptance, while it would
thrill me...
will not define me.
My identity rests firmly...
and happily on one fact:
I am my mother's daughter.
Thank you.
Cristina Moreno.
Thank you