At Crossroads of EFL Learning and Culture: How to Enhance Cross-cultural Awareness in EFL College Students

Abdul Aziz Fageeh

Abstract


It may be a truism that culture and language are intricately interwoven and that language is the basis of culture, but this tradition has been mostly absent in the concern for second culture acquisition. Theoretically, there is a solid recognition in pertinent literature that teaching English cannot be isolated from teaching its culture. This article, basically a discussion paper, introduced cultural awareness as a significant step towards activating a sound theory of English teaching and learning pedagogy. Towards this purpose, the article has outlined the concepts of culture in English language teaching (ELT), acculturation, cultural competence and cultural awareness as basic steps for inducing effective communication. The differences between Arabic and English cultures, and the need for cultural awareness were also discussed. The article has also discussed how to foster students’ cross-cultural awareness in EFL teaching, and the implications of this in EFL teacher education programmes. Key words: Cross-cultural awareness; Language; Culture; EFL; ELT; Acculturation; EFL teacher educationResumé: Cela peut être un truisme que la culture et la langue sont complexent entrelacés et cette langue est la base de culture, mais cette tradition a été surtout absente dans la préoccupation pour la deuxième acquisition de culture. Théoriquement, il y a une reconnaissance solide dans la littérature pertinente apprenant l'anglais ne peut pas être isolé d'apprendre sa culture. Cet article, essentiellement un journal de discussion, la conscience culturelle présentée comme une étape significative vers l’activation d'une théorie du son d'enseignement d’anglais et l’étude de pédagogie. Vers ce but, l'article a souligne les concepts de culture dans l'enseignement de l'anglais (ELT), l'acculturation, la compétence culturelle et la conscience culturelle comme des étapes de base pour inciter la communication efficace.Les différences entre des cultures arabes et anglaises et le besoin de la conscience culturelle ont été aussi discutées. L'article a aussi discuté comment favoriser la conscience multiculturelle des étudiants dans l'enseignement d'EFL et les implications dans l'enseignement des professeur EFL.Mots-clés: Conscience multiculturelle; Langue; Culture; EFL; ELT; Acculturation; EFL enseignement(éducation) de professeur

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/j.ccc.1923670020110701.006

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