The relationship between language and culture and culture

 Individual written essay

“Do we teach language using culture or do we teach culture using language”. 

       Culture refers to the cumulative deposit of knowledge, beliefs, values, attitudes, roles, spatial relations concepts of the universe is the system of knowledge shared by a relative group of people. According to (Kramsh, 1993), culture refers to ‘membership in a discourse community that shares a common system of standards for perceiving, believing, evaluating and action’ (p. 127). In interaction involves communication between people and it is through verbal and non-verbal language.

       Human language refers to the grammar and other rules to make utterances and sounds in a way that others can understand. If language is mankind’s greatest invention, it is ironic that it was never invented. Language and culture are closely related and interactive. Language is a means to develop and transmit the culture as well as communicate within the culture. (Damen, 1987)

       Learning and speaking another language is like thinking in different way from the one that speakers have learned in their community or society. Language is a medium to symbolize culture reality, the foreign language classroom has the responsibility to teach students other cultures to changes those stereotypes, language reflecting ones’ perceptions, perspectives and attitudes toward the world. Language is a main component of culture along with values, beliefs, and norms as well as customs; language is a product of culture, transmitted from one generation to the next in the socialization process (Hamers, 1989).

      In the foreign language it is important to understand the context, for all teachers in a daily experience of teaching it is relevant cultural models that make learning the new language meaningful, and influence of cultural aspects on language learning. Acculturation model is an important concept for second language students because their need to acculturate in order to learn a language.

      In conclusion, remember that “ culture is created and lived through  dialogue between the teacher and students and between them” (Kramsh, 1993) the process of acquiring the culture of specific and general knowledge, skills an attitudes it is very relevant the best communication and the other hand the interaction with the individual and other cultures.   Language is a medium to symbolize culture reality. Teachers and learners should be aware of culture issues the language can be beneficial for the process of language learning.

 Reference

Damen, L. (1987). Culture Learning: the fifth dimension in the language classroom. London: Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

Hamers, J. F. (1989). Bilinguality and bilingualism . New york: Cambridge University Press.

Kramsh, C. (1993). Context ans Culture in Language Teaching. united kindong : Oxford university press.

 

PowToon presentation

Interview to an English teacher

Topic of the interview: language and culture

Date and time, it was performed: 23 June 2020 4: 35p.m

Place where it was performed: at home, she works in Colegio Anglo Americano

Interviewed name: Doris Matta Guerra

Profession: English teacher

Courses in charge: 10°-11°

Summary of the answers and comments: She said that culture can be defined as acceptable interaction with social groups and there is a strong relationship between culture and language, culture is the identity, culture learning takes place through symbolic integration, the language is the vehicle or tools that you can express with others. Language and culture are closely related and interactive both coexist culture and language.

Them the teacher talk about motivation is very important when do you need the learn any language, more important that learning as much as you can is making sure you have fun with the stuff you have already learned. It is relevant to understand the context there a lot of difference between the culture of Canada. England or USA, it is important to know how people live in specific place and the connections.

The other hand is very different the traditions in each country for example the Christmas in EE. UU or in Colombia traditions contributes a sense of conform and belonging.

 

Write a significant reflection about the answers of the interviewed: In my opinion it is very important to understand the relationship between language and culture are closely related and interactive. It is important the ability to use language and other means of communication as a means of establishing relationships not only between two communicating individuals but also among groups living in the same society. Language teachers and students should be aware for the culturally appropriate ways and behavior for example the use of the language in specific context depend of the cultural structure.