A Perspective-Based Reading of Culture in English Language Teaching: From the Conventional Perspective to the Intercultural Language Teaching Perspective

Khaled Jebahi

Higher Institute of Human Sciences of Medenine, University of Gabes, Gabes, Tunisia;Northern Border University, Arar, KSA.

DOI: 10.4236/ojml.2013.33029                

Abstract

This paper reviews culture as perceived in a number of language teaching perspectives. The term “culture” and its relation with language has been a center of interest in different fields of studies. Because the term “culture” is borrowed between disciplines, it is understood differently and altered in the process by the goals and traditions of the borrowers. As such culture remains an elusive concept for the language teacher. Here, I attempt to understand how culture has been understood in different English language teaching perspectives in the last fifty years. This reading helps understand how change in the teaching approach affects how culture is dealt with in class and in teaching materials.

Keywords

Culture; Perspective; Language Teaching; Language Learning; English

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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