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I think the fruits of exploring [the appropriate ways to interact with native speakers] helps to lead the individual not only to learn more about the target language and its culture, but, through comparisons and reflection and introspection, to discover more about one’s own language and one’s own culture.
— Alvino Fantini, School for International Training, Brattleboro, Vermont
What is the importance of integrating culture into the study of a foreign language? In this session, you’ll review relevant research, observe video discussions and classroom examples, and do a culminating activity on integrating culture into your lessons. At the end of this session, you will better understand how to:
intercultural competence
Intercultural competence refers to the ability of an individual to move beyond his or her own language, culture, and world view and interact effectively with members of another culture.
Knowledge, Attitude, Skill, Awareness (KASA)
Knowledge, Attitude, Skill, and Awareness (KASA), created by applied linguistics professor Alvino Fantini, are the categories by which intercultural competence is often analyzed. Knowledge refers to a person’s understanding of the target language and culture. Attitude is a person’s willingness to try to understand and adapt to the expected norms of the target culture. Skill refers to the behaviors of a person when he or she interacts in the target culture. Awareness refers to an understanding of your own cultural values, the cultural values of the target culture, and the similarities and differences between them. A person’s awareness is enhanced by his or her knowledge, attitudes, and skills, and can also lead to the development of deeper knowledge, attitudes, and skills.
Check out these additional resources to explore the topic further.
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century. National Standards in Foreign Language Education Collaborative Project. Yonkers, NY: American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, 1999. (To purchase the Standards document, go to www.actfl.org or call 1-800-627-0629.)
Damen, Louise. Culture Learning: The Fifth Dimension in the Language Classroom. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1987.
Dodd, Carley H. Dynamics of Intercultural Communication. 5th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 1998.
Fantini, Alvino E. “A Central Concern: Developing Intercultural Competence.” In About Our Institution, edited by Alvino E. Fantini, 25-42. SIT Occasional Papers Series. Brattleboro, VT: The School for International Training, 2000.
Fantini, Alvino E. “Comparisons: Towards the Development of Intercultural Competence.” In Foreign Language Standards: Linking Research, Theories, and Practices, edited by June K. Phillips, 165-218. Lincolnwood, IL: National Textbook Co., 1999.
Fantini, Alvino E. “Language: Its Cultural and Intercultural Dimensions.” In New Ways in Teaching Culture, edited by Alvino E. Fantini, 3-15. Alexandria, VA: Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc., 1995.
Fantini, Alvino E. “Teacher Assessment.” In New Ways in Teacher Education, edited by Donald Freeman and Steve Cornwell, 43-55. Alexandria, VA: Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc., 1993.
Fantini, Alvino E., and Beatriz C. Fantini. “Artifacts, Sociofacts, Mentifacts: A Sociocultural Framework.” In New Ways in Teaching Culture, edited by Alvino E. Fantini and Beatriz C. Fantini, 57-59. Alexandria, VA: Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc., 1995. (This text is available in the Before You Watch section.)
Fantini, Alvino E. Language Acquisition of a Bilingual Child. Avon, England: Multilingual Matters, 1985. Also La adquisición de lenguaje en un niño bilingüe. Barcelona, Spain: Editorial Herder, 1982.
Fantini, Alvino E., et al. Beyond the Language Classroom: A Guide for Teachers. Brattleboro, VT: The Experiment Press, 1984.
Galloway, Vicki. “Giving Dimension to Mappaemundi: The Matter of Perspective.” In Teaching Cultures of the Hispanic World: Products and Practices in Perspective, edited by Vicki Galloway, 3-38. Mason, OH: Thomson Learning Custom Publishing, 2001. (This text is available in the Before You Watch section.)
Hall, Edward. Beyond Culture. New York: Anchor Press/Doubleday, 1977.
Kohls, L. Robert, and John M. Knight. Developing Intercultural Awareness. Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press, 1994.
Lange, Dale L. “Planning for and Using the New National Culture Standards.” In Foreign Language Standards: Linking Research, Theories, and Practices, edited by June K. Phillips, 57-120. Lincolnwood, IL: National Textbook Co., 1999.
Lusting, Myron W., and Jolene Koester. Intercultural Competence. New York: Harper Collins, 1993.
Moran, Patrick R. Teaching Culture. Boston: Heinle and Heinle, 2001.
Samovar, Larry A., and Richard E. Porter. Communication Between Cultures. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Co., 1991.
Samovar, Larry A., and Richard E. Porter. Intercultural Communication: A Reader. 6th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Co., 1991.
Stempleski, Tomalin, and Susan Stempleski. Cultural Awareness. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993.
The following lessons from Teaching Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices are listed in the order in which they appear in the “Rooted in Culture” video:
Lesson Title | Instructor | Language | Grade Level |
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Happy New Year! | Leslie Birkland | Japanese | 9-11 |
Communicating About Sports | Jie Gao | Chinese | 6 |
Politics of Art | Lori Langer de Ramirez | Spanish | 12 |
Performing With Confidence | Yvette Heno | French | 10-12 |
Routes to Culture | Pablo Muirhead | Spanish | 9-10 |
Daily Routines | Margaret Dyer | Japanese | 5 |
Holidays and Seasons | Margita Haberlen | German | 3 |
A Cajun Folktale and Zydeco | Paris Granville | French | 8 |
Hearing Authentic Voices | Davita Alston | Spanish | 8 |
Interpreting La Belle et la Bête | Michel Pasquier | French | 11 |
U.S. and Italian Homes | Marylee DiGennaro | Italian | 9 |
If you are taking this workshop for credit or professional development, submit the following assignments for session 5: Rooted in Culture.