Cultural based content approach in EFL classes. (c2013)

Abstract

Culture has become an increasingly important component of English language teaching in recent times. Understanding the cultural context of day to day conversations means more than just being able to produce grammatical sentences. It means knowing what is appropriate to say and in what situations. It also means understanding the beliefs and values represented by the various forms and usages of the target language. Based on a mixed- method approach conducted in a Foreign Language Class in UAL, this paper highlights the importance of a culture-based language course and its impact on students’ language acquisition. It further evaluates teachers’ efficiency if they are supported with the material needed. The main results revealed that unless students understand the culture of the native speakers of English language, they will not be able to reflect a correct performance of the English language or communicate correctly even if they are aware of the vocabulary and grammar .Moreover, the results indicated that teaching is more efficient if supported with cultural resources. Further research is suggested.