Читать книгу Cultural Awareness - Barry Tomalin - Страница 4

In Classical-Humanist models of language education, culture (which usually meant high culture with a capital C) traditionally occupied a prominent position. More recent models have tended to stress the behavioural aspects of culture, and in particular its role in communication (and communication breakdown). Indeed, the concept of ‘culture’ has become something of a fashionable cliché in language-teaching circles in recent years.

This book strips away the layers of obfuscation which clichés invariably generate. It reminds us of why ‘culture’ is a valuable component of foreign-language programmes, and shows us how we might go about incorporating it into our teaching.

The title is not without significance. It remains doubtful whether culture, high or low, can really be taught, though generations of learners have been taught about culture. This book attempts to show that what we can do is to raise awareness of cultural factors. In so doing, we shall aim to sharpen observation, encourage critical thinking about cultural stereotypes, and develop tolerance. These are educational issues which reach out well beyond mere language teaching. Cultural awareness-raising is an aspect of values education. As such it offers a welcome opportunity for transcending the often narrow limits of language teaching.

The book might equally well have carried the title Culture as a Language-Learning Resource, for the activities, at the same time as raising cultural awareness, also offer a rich array of interesting and highly motivating language-learning resource material. The dual aims of the book are thus closely intertwined: to raise cultural awareness, and, in so doing, to promote language learning.

The authors adopt a common-sense, pragmatic approach, allowing the materials to speak for themselves. This will be welcome in a field notorious for obscurantism and vague, high-sounding terminology.

Perhaps the most valuable message of the book is that, while cultures may differ, people none the less share a common humanity.

Alan Maley