Joe McVeigh

March 21, 2007, TESOL Seattle

Joe McVeigh

Techniques for teaching culture in the classroom

1. Literature and poetry

o What do you think about when you think about teaching culture?

o What do you mean by culture?

2. Exploring values

3. Exploring proverbs

4. Survival basics

5. Classroom culture

6. Register and politeness

7. Culture assimilators or critical incidents

8. Exploring idioms & expressions

9. Explaining the cycle of adapting to culture shock

10. Students as experts

o What should we teach?

o How should we teach?

o Additional Techniques

Bibliography and recommended reading

Althen, G., Doran, A.R., & Szmania, S.J. (2002). American ways: A guide for foreigners in the United States (2^nd ed.). Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press.

Brake, T. & Walker, D. (1995). Doing business internationally: The workbook to cross-cultural success. Princeton, NJ: Princeton Training Press.

Clark, R.C. (2004). The ESL miscellany: A treasury of cultural and linguistic information (new 21^st cent. ed.). Brattleboro, VT: Pro Lingua Associates.

Datesman, M.K., Crandall, J., & Kearney, E.N. (2005). American ways: An introduction to American culture (3^rd ed.). White Plains, NY: Pearson.

DeCapua, A. & Wintergerst, A. (2004). Crossing cultures in the language classroom. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.

Fantini, A.E. (Ed.). (1997). New ways in teaching culture. Alexandria, VA: TESOL.

Gaston, J. (1984). Cultural awareness teaching techniques. Brattleboro, VT: Pro Lingua Associates.

Jerald, M. & Clark, R.C. (1994). Experiential language teaching techniques: Out-of-class language acquisition and cultural awareness activities (2^nd revised ed.). Brattleboro, VT: Pro Lingua Associates.

Kohls, L.R. & Knight, J.M. (1994). Developing intercultural awareness: A cross-cultural training handbook (2^nd ed.). Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press.

Kohls, L.R. (1996). Survival kit for overseas living: For Americans planning to live and work abroad (3^rd ed.). Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press.

Moran, P.R. (2001). Teaching culture: Perspectives in practice. Boston: Heinle & Heinle.

Seelye, H.N. (1993). Teaching culture: Strategies for intercultural communication. (3^rd Ed.). Lincolnwood, IL: National Textbook Company.

Thomas, D.C. & Inkson, K. (2003). Cultural intelligence: People skills for global business. San Francisco: Berrett-Kohler.

Valdes, J.M. (Ed.). (1986). Culture bound: bridging the cultural gap in language teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

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