Should culture be an overt component of EFL instruction outside of English speaking countries? The Thai context
Should culture be an overt component of EFL instruction outside of English speaking countries? The Thai context
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Will Baker
Bio Data
Mr. Will Baker is presently working as an EFL instructor at the Department of English, Silpakorn University, Thailand. He mainly teaches academic reading and writing to EFL students. He holds an MA Applied linguisitcs and TESOL, Liecster University, UK, Advanced Certificate in TESOL, Liecster University, UK Trinty TESOL, Golders Green College, UK, BA Philosophy, Bristol University, UK. His research interests are: Cultural awareness and second language acquisition, MA Dissertation Learning strategies in academic reading and writing. He is currently undertaking research on this subject for Silpakorn University. Academic writing. Article English Past Simple and Present Perfect in relation to Thai learners available at http://www3.telus.net/linguisticsissues/thai.htm
Culture has become an increasingly important component of English language teaching in recent times. There are a number of reasons for this related to a view of language that incorporates a wider social and culture perspective, and to the increasingly multicultural use of English. To illustrate this multicultural use of English this paper will examine the use of English in Thailand and the teaching of culture. This will then be followed by a discussion of some of the difficulties involved in teaching culture awareness outside of the central English speaking countries, especially which culture to focus on and overcoming stereotypes. Some suggestions will be made as to how these difficulties may be overcome and how we might approach the teaching of cultural awareness in a systematic way as applied to the Thai environment.
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