Teaching culture in efl classrooms

PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER’S DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM Writing task 3 – Final draft João Henrique G. Moreira

Teaching culture in EFL classrooms

Culture relates to everything that characterizes the social existence of a folk, nation or groups within a society. Culture in EFL teaching covers many areas. The best approaches of this subject help students negotiate unfamiliar situations while still recognizing the importance of their own culture. As cultural aspects encompass such a varied range, I decided to delimitate three aspects which I believe are important to be approached in EFL classrooms and which students would be interested in. Therefore, three of the cultural aspects which teachers should approach are important dates – for they express their historical identity of a folk, clothing – which is also interesting because it shows how people express their feelings through their clothes and also tells us about the climate where they live - and cuisine – that shows the relations with food, which in many cultures are more than just nutriment. When teaching important dates, it is interesting for the teacher to start by showing the similarities existing between the mother tongue culture and the target language culture. Students will feel more motivated if they study something which they can make a comparison with. Independence Day and April Fool’s Day are two dates which exist both in Brazilian culture and in other English-speaking ones. Teachers should then approach the differences between important dates. Valentine’s in Brazil is only for couples to give cards and presents to each other. In the U.S. this date is somehow different; people give presents and cards to whoever they like, whatever they are in a romantic relationship or are just friends or family. Also, Independence Day is celebrated in different dates in Brazil and in the U.S.. Brazil also does not celebrate Thanksgiving Day – which is really important for Americans