Targeted to Advanced English (B2+) speakers.Read more
This requirement applies mainly to courses for language teachers, CLIL methodology, and other programs where a strong command of English is needed. Participants at this level can work fluently and confidently with complex content in academic or professional contexts. Test your level here.
Language Teachers.Read more
The listed audiences are those for whom the course is especially recommended, but courses are not exclusive to them and are open to everyone. In fact, most of our workshops are built around the collective sharing of participants’ experiences and having a variety of profiles enriches the learning process and is highly encouraged!
Advanced Course.Read more
This course is designed for participants with some prior knowledge of the topic. Still, it is open to everyone, as the variety of backgrounds makes the learning process more engaging. If you are looking for an introductory course instead, we recommend exploring our catalogue further.
Description
Today’s students need to cope with intercultural encounters in many of their daily life situations, be it when traveling abroad or staying in their hometown. Because of this, language teachers need to integrate cultural education in the classroom. But how can we teach language and culture at the same time?
This course will introduce the participants to different techniques for inserting cultural elements in language curricula and classroom activities. Because language and culture are not separated, neither can they be taught separately. Accordingly, the course will emphasize the importance of teaching culture along with language.
By learning about the Intercultural Language Teaching Approach, participants will realize the importance of shifting their teaching objectives: from those focusing on promoting fluency in a foreign language to those aimed at developing the intercultural speakers of the future.
Hands-on activities will boost participants’ confidence and motivation in introducing such an approach in their classroom. Course participants will also explore multiple methods, approaches, and teaching strategies for teaching culture in a way that best fits their students.
They will acquire the necessary tools to foster cultural understanding through the use of authentic materials and different types of media. The course will provide model exercises to promote cultural awareness and intercultural understanding.
Engaging in many hands-on activities, participants will learn how to help their students become aware of the fact that every member of a given culture has a different viewpoint, and that all viewpoints should be valued and respected.
By the end of this course, participants will know how to use a variety of techniques to teach culture along with the target language, and to encourage curiosity, awareness, and empathy among students from different cultural backgrounds.
What is included
Learning outcomes
The course will help the participants to:
- Realize the importance of integrating culture in foreign language teaching;
- Discover new techniques and activities for teaching culture;
- Lead conversation and dialogue in intercultural settings;
- Apply different techniques for introducing students to different cultures;
- Master several activities to make students solve cultural conflicts;
- Enhance students’ cultural awareness;
- Encourage students to avoid prejudices and stereotypes.
Tentative schedule
Day 1 – Introduction to the course
- Introduction to the course and the Academy;
- Introduction to the host city and the week’s cultural activities;
- Icebreaker activities;
- Presentations of the participants’ schools and institutions;
- Expressing participants’ expectations about the course.
Defining Culture
- Culture-Language a symbiotic relationship;
- “Big C” culture vs. “Small c” culture.
Day 2 – Teaching Culture in the Foreign Language Classroom
- What culture?
- Culture as a skill;
- Goals and principles for teaching culture;
- Practical activities to understand each others’ cultures: we speak and behave differently because we belong to different cultures.
Day 3 – Techniques and Activities for Teaching Culture
- Cultural Island;
- Cultural Capsules;
- Cultural clusters;
- Culture assimilators;
- Cultoons.
Day 4 – Intercultural Competence in the Language Classroom
- Different models of Intercultural Competence;
- Selecting the right tools for developing intercultural competence;
- Story circles and intercultural competence development;
- The Intercultural Speaker vs. The Native Speaker.
Day 5 – Materials and Resources for Teaching Culture
- Cultural Literacy;
- Types of texts;
- Using videos to teach culture;
- Cultural dimension in textbooks;
- Course evaluation: round-up of acquired competencies, feedback, and discussion;
- Awarding of the course Certificate of Attendance.
Day 6 – Structured cultural activities
- Structured cultural activity(ies) according to the hosting location;
- Learning journal: individual written reflection on the course experience;
- Course reflection: self-reflection and review of course materials and resources.
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