Teaching Culture in the EFL ClassroomPractical Techniques

Incorporating Culture in the EFL Class.

• 1- When students travel to any country in the English-Speaking world to learn English , they don’t only learn the language but also they learn about the culture of the people who speak it as a first language .

• 2- The cultural components in EFL class aim at raising learners’ cultural awareness and engaging them cognitively, behaviorally and affectively in culture learning.

Cultural Aspect 1 :Greeting

Greeting

• This activity you can really do it with any level and you can adapt it as you see fit, but it's really getting the students to learn about greetings, international greetings, and then it leads into American greetings and how they can interact with that.

Greeting

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t8CeX3mYJ8

Cultural Aspect 2 :Distance

• You can write some tips from the clip’s content here .

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z32ZsruIPk

Cultural Aspect 3 :Education

A typical school day1- The students start arriving to the school’s playground from about 8:45 am. Most of the children walk from near by housing estates but some travel to school by car.

2- The children wear a school uniform and carry their homework and packed lunch in a school bag.

3- School begins at 8:55 am. The duty teacher blows a whistle and the children line up in their class groups. They wait quietly for the teacher to send them to their classrooms.

4- On arriving in their classrooms, the children empty their bags and put their homework in the marking trays/boxes. They hang their bags and coats on the pegs in the cloakrooms (each class has their own cloakroom). The children then go back into their classrooms.

Cultural Aspect 4 : Money British Currency

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnGIvhGqQ40

1 - The British currency is the pound sterling. The sign for the pound is pound sign

2- GBP = Great British Pound sign

3- In England , they don’t use the Euro. Although a few of the big shops will accept Euro, it is rarely used across Britain.

4- Since decimalization in 1971 , the pound has been divided into 100 pence.

Cultural Aspect 4 : MoneyBritish Currency

• 5- The pound (pound sign) is made up of 100 pence (p) exactly like the dollar is split into 100 cents.

The singular of pence is "penny". The symbol for the penny is "p"; hence an amount such as 50p is often

pronounced "fifty pee" rather than "fifty pence".

4- Current coins are:

1 penny, 2 pence, 5 pence, 10 pence, 20 pence, 50 pence, 1 pound, and 2 pounds.

5- Current bank notes are:• The 5 pound note, the 10 pound note, the 20 pound

note and the 50 pound note.

Cultural Aspect 5 : Accents

Why is English spoken with different accents?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saDQ1xnUIa8

In Britain, every part of the country has its own way of speaking English. People in Yorkshire sound very different to people in Surrey; a Somerset accent is very different from any Scottish accent and it's hard to believe that people from Birmingham are speaking the same language as those from Cornwall. Most people in Britain can guess where someone comes from by the way they speak, either by their accent or by the words they use.

Identification of an accent can place the speaker in a general area of Britain. Geordie, Scouse, and Cockney are well known dialects from Tyneside, Liverpool and London respectively.

Today the 'home counties' accent is usually accepted as Standard English. The home counties are the counties nearest to London .

Cultural Aspect 5 : weather

• 1- It's true! British people often start a conversation with strangers and friends by talking about the weather.

• 2- As weather is a neutral topic of conversation, it's usually safe to use it to strike up a conversation – at the bus stop, in a shop, or with a neighbor over the garden fence.

• 3- Although British people like to complain about bad weather, they generally put a brave face on it.

• 4- If someone complains about too much rain, you might hear:

"Never mind – it's good for the garden.“• 5- If someone complains that it's too hot, you could hear:

"At least my tomatoes will be happy."

Cultural Aspect 6: Etiquette

• Which of the following social customs are similar or different to your country?

• The English are said to be reserved in manners, dress and speech. We are famous for our politeness, self-discipline and especially for our sense of humour. Basic politeness (please, thank you, excuse me) is expected.

• How to greet someonehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=DMVJTs1UkBE

• English people are quite reserved when greeting one another. A greeting can be a bright 'Hello' 'Hi' or 'Good morning', when you arrive at work or at school. 

• Acceptable Behavior in England .

• https://www.youtube.co

m/watch?v=rIN7BN3zeps

Cultural Aspect 6: Etiquette

Visiting people in their houses

When being entertained at someone's home it is nice to take a gift for the host and hostess. A bunch of

flowers or chocolates are all acceptable.

DOs and DON'TS in BritainIn Britain...Do stand in line:

In England people like to form orderly queues (standing in line) and wait patiently for your turn e.g. boarding a bus. It is usual to queue when required, and expected that you will take your correct turn and not push in front. 'Queue jumping' is frowned upon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ezwu9XP1MmA

Cultural Aspect 6: Etiquette

Do say "Excuse Me":

If someone is blocking your way and you would like them to move, say “ excuse me “ and they will move

out of your way.

Do say "Please" and "Thank you":

It is very good manners to say "please" and "thank you". It is considered rude if you don't. You will notice in England that we say 'thank you' a lot.

Do Shake Hands

Do Smile:•A smiling face is a welcoming face.

Cultural Aspect 6: Etiquette

In Britain...

Don’t

Do not greet people with a kiss:

We only kiss people who are close friends and relatives.

Avoid talking loudly in public It is impolite to stare at anyone in public.

Do not ask a lady her age It is considered impolite to ask a lady her age .

Avoid doing gestures such as backslapping and hugging

This is only done among close friends.