Journal of English Language Teaching

Exploiting heterogeneity: Culture awareness and the EFL classroom

Sangeetha Puthiyedath

Materials Development, Testing and Evaluation, EFLU, Hyderabad

Keywords: Cultural awareness in language learning, intercultural communication, multiculturalism, socio-cultural sensitivity.

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Abstract

Can the EFL classroom be perceived as a space to raise cultural awareness and strengthen the idea of multiculturalism? Culture is considered as the domain of literature, and language teachers generally tend to shy away from any nuanced discussion concerning it. Even when we include concepts like critical reading and critical thinking in the EFL classroom, there is a resistance to introduce contested or controversial areas like what constitutes cultural awareness and the place of multiculturalism. However, perceptions are changing and prominent applied linguists have even described “culture” as the fifth skill placing it along with the four major skills, namely LSRW (listening, speaking, reading and writing).

Language is an expression of the culture that engenders it and carries embedded within it the markings of that culture. Therefore, if one approaches the question putting aside preconceived notions of what is viable within an EFL setting, one realizes that language teachers are situated in a unique position – they are already teaching a seminal aspect of culture! This paper proposes to examine the viability of introducing culture and intercultural communication and multiculturalism in the EFL classroom. It will also attempt to explore pedagogical tools and practices that can be used in the EFL classroom to facilitate such a study.

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