In this week’s Times Educational Supplement (TES), I look at how
traditional topics can link in with developing cultural awareness and the
current Olympic theme.
The resources mentioned in the article can be accessed here
with more links provided in my recent Olympic blog post.
Nobody really thinks too hard about their own culture until
they find another to compare it to. A lot of my pupils think that everywhere is
exactly the same - just like home.
Cultural awareness is often presented as an add-on to
language classes. But you do not need to choose between culture and grammar.
There are many opportunities to combine both. And with the Olympics
approaching, what better time to explore different countries and their
cultures?
A mixture of English and the target language can be used to teach the key facts as well as specific words related to a particular
competitor, their sport or country. As English and French are the official
languages of the Olympics, the official bilingual website will help pupils to
do research by accessing authentic documents in French. Interviews with famous
Olympians such as David Douillet, France's judo champion, or German tennis star
Steffi Graf can then be written up and performed by pupils.
Use the topics you teach to show similarities and differences.
Focusing on the similarities will help pupils to avoid stereotypes and consider
the differences from a more equal footing.
The routine of school offers a fantastic opportunity to
develop cultural awareness. Why not look at the different training regimes of
French, Spanish or German athletes? You can go on to discuss children's school
routines in those different countries.
Photographs can help to highlight similarities - and
differences - and can make topics like clothes and uniforms more engaging. The
opening and closing ceremonies of past Games feature many examples of national
fashion and costumes that can be described by pupils.
A lesson on greetings in a foreign language can be
transformed by using videos, pictures and websites. For instance, pupils can
learn how people in France exchange kisses on each cheek to say hello and
goodbye. In Spanish class, they could compare different styles of housing with
homes in the UK.
I like to challenge stereotypes by showing videos of world
music artists. In preparation for the Olympics, matching national anthems to
the correct countries is also a good way to revise the names of the countries
and reflect on national identity.
Last but not least, make best use of your native speakers.
Whether they are foreign language assistants, link schools abroad, parents,
visitors or native language teachers, they are living proof that people and
cultures are not all the same.
No comments:
Post a Comment