The relationship between language and culture is deeply rooted.

Language is used to maintain and

convey culture and cultural ties. Different ideas stem from differing language use within one’s culture
and the whole intertwining of these relationships start at one’s birth.

presents our knowledge on the social and cultural aspects of language and how this knowledge can
contribute to our English teaching methodology so that our students can speak culturally and socially
appropriate English.

Though the development of modern linguistics in the beginning of the 20th century was put forward by
some anthropologists such as Frans Boaz and Edward Sapir, who consider that language and culture are
interlocked and interdependent, further development of linguistics seen as American structuralism by
Leonard Bloomfield in his Language (1933) ignored the social-cultural aspects of language.

This school of thought, which is much influenced by behaviorism psychology, considers language as a
separate discipline and that investigations of language were done on the basis of observable linguistic
behavior. Its theory of language teaching is seen as an attempt of conditioning.

To understand culture, you need to go further than textbooks and dictionaries. You can use a wide range
of alternative resources to get relevant information about the locals:

1. Movies – Spanish speaking students who watched English movies improved their listening and
speaking skills faster than their colleagues. Watching subtitled movies or TV programs instead of
dubbed ones can give you an accurate image about how native people speak.
2. Newspapers and magazines – There’s a significant difference between what you learn at school
and what you find in magazines. This happens because columns stay in line with how people
actually speak to each other in everyday life. They respect all grammar rules
3. Blogs – They have the advantage of connecting you with the local vocabulary
4. Original literature – Reading original versions of novels is both a reason and a method for
learning a language. You get to see how the author has built phrases and what new meaning he
or she gives to various words.
5. Traveling – It remains the most important resource when looking to improve your language
skills. You’ll not only listen to how natives speak, but you’ll get to communicate with them as
well. Traveling is the most efficient way of learning a language because it gives you less
alternatives.

Components of Culture

1. Food

One of the most heated debates an American can ever get into is talking to an Italian about pizza.
The latter might swear up and down that traditional Neapolitan pizza is the only legitimate form of
the food. It’s a yeasty flatbread baked with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese on top, and you
have to go to Napoli to get it. It’s even protected as a Traditional Speciality Guaranteed Dish by the
European Union.
2. Art
The language we use for understanding culture and art impacts how we see it. Categorical terms
like ‘rococo,’ ‘impressionist,’ or ‘Ming dynasty’ help us contextualize a piece of artwork, but they
also influence our observation of it.

3. Mythology
The words might be in several languages at different points, because as the traveler reaches a
certain point in the song, they should be arriving at a tribal border. Their ability to recite the
songline became their passport. The songlines follow the routes travelled by the great animal
spirits who are the aboriginal creator deities. So in this case, understanding culture is
inseparable from language, mythology and landscape. The songlines show how understanding
culture unlocks the depth of indigenous languages on the Australian continent. Many of these
languages are disappearing, and with them, their cultures

4. Idioms

5. Tone and Ettiquette

Many languages use honorifics that denote social status. This tells volumes about the
hierarchies implied in the culture. Without understanding these invisible social structures and
where they come from, you can’t use honorifics effectively and understanding culture becomes
impossible.

If you don’t want to offend people and embarrass yourself, supplementing your language
learning by understanding culture is essential. That way you know whom to address how, and
when
6. Language in wordwide
Language isn’t just a bunch of names for objects. It’s a way of understanding culture. It’s how we
organize the world, including the kitchen table, the gallery wall, religious metaphors, social
hierarchies, and abstract space.

Language literally changes the way you see the world. By adopting a second language and, you
are dipping your toe into a whole new framework for seeing life and understanding culture.

Implications for language teaching

Teachers must instruct their students on the cultural background of language usage. If one
teaches language without teaching about the culture in which it operates, the students are
learning empty or meaningless symbols or they may attach the incorrect meaning to what is
being taught. The students, when using the learnt language, may use the language
inappropriately or within the wrong cultural context, thus defeating the purpose of learning a
language.
Techniques for Teaching Culture in the Foreign Language Classroom
1. Expose Your Students to Authentic Materials
If you don’t already know, authentic materials are what native speakers use on a daily basis.
For example, you find yourself walking on the streets of Paris, taking in the French scene,
when suddenly, a young chap hands you a flyer. You look at it and discover it’s about a free
concert that evening. What you have in your hands right there is authentic French material.

2. Compare Students’ Own Culture with That of the Target Language

Own culture can be used as a foil for the target culture. They’ll be able to appreciate it more
because they’ll have a way of comparing practices and traditions. The quirks of the target
culture can make for memorable points of comparison.

3. Introduce Your Students to Live Native Speakers

also need to discuss with the speaker beforehand the things she can talk about so she
doesn’t talk about things the class has already learned by heart. Ask her to talk about what
it’s like living in her country. What are some practices and traditions? What kinds of things
might make a Japanese person tick, for example? What food do the Spanish eat for dinner,
and at what time? What’s winter like in Russia? What sports do Koreans tend to love? Do
the French really eat frog legs and snails? If so, what do they taste like?

In addition to culture-heavy topics, you could also ask her to deal with some language-
related topics. Ask her, for example, to name the different ways the Spanish say “goodbye.”
She could explain the differences between adiós, chao, hasta luego, hasto pronto and nos
vemos and discuss their nuances.
4. Food: Always a Good Idea
When you eat something new and different (that’s maybe even a little weird to them), the
fact of cultural diversity will be driven harder into their minds. There’s nothing like tasting
something new (and surprisingly good!)
to understand that a new language is a different way of seeing, using and arranging things.
A cooking class and a language class in one? It’s not at all impossible. You don’t even have to
know how to cook in order to effectively teach culture! The ingredients and recipes
themselves, as well as the process of cooking and the thought behind the steps, will do that
for you.
5. Teach Memory-friendly Songs
So lead your class in a song. Pair the words and phrases with exaggerated and creative
actions/gestures to further cement them in the memory. You can easily find songs for
teaching the target language, whether it’s French, German, Spanish or even Latin.
If you can play an instrument, all the better. It doesn’t matter if you’re teaching a room full
of professionals. Songs are not for kids alone. They are for anyone who wants a faster way
of memorizing and understanding language.
6. Use Online Resources That Add Value to Your Lessons
I have a theory that Google already has the solutions to all your problems. They are just
sitting there, waiting for you to happen upon them.
If your goal is to teach culture in the language classroom, there are several online resources
that you can run to.
Check these out:
World Stories: This is a repository of children’s stories from all over the world. Each story
reflects the culture of a country. So if you’re on the hunt for tales that not only teach
beautiful moral lessons but give insightful peeks into a culture, this site is a good bet.
Great Websites for Kids: Here’s an extra-robust collection of different websites that are
great for teaching kids about different cultures and their histories, geographies and
religions. If you want to bring extra value to your language lessons, check them out.
Time for Kids: The children’s version of Time has a special section that deals with different
countries and interesting facts about them. There are pictures that your students can view
on their own to go on a trip around the world, all while sitting at home!
Scholastic.com: This site has a great section on teaching cultural diversity. It includes lesson
plans, articles and activities that language teachers can use to supplement their core
language programs.
These resources show the “big picture” and feature the multiplicity of cultures and
perspectives that exist.