Let The Learning Begin - Unit 1

The first week of learning how to teach English has flown by. There are moments when I feel in over my head already but I believe this is worth it.

Something that has really struck me over this first week of learning, is the role of culture within a language. I had never really pondered the concept of languaculture, that is, the indivisible nature of language and culture. When I speak English and interact with other English speakers, I do not consider the cultural signals we are sending to each other. The textbook “Teaching by Principles: an interactive approach to language pedagogy”, explains this type of culture as “’little c visible’ culture” which it explains includes, “gestures, body language, use of space, dress, food, leisure life, and daily customs" (Brown & Lee, 2015, p. 157). The way I speak, the gestures I use, all portray the Mennonite, Canadian culture I grew up and socialized in. I was taught to dress modestly, to eat whatever was put on my plate and to honour those in authority. If you would observe me on a regular workday, you would most likely see those things played out in my exchanges with people and my environment to one extent or another. The understanding of the connection between language and culture truly opened my eyes to notice my own interactions as well as the interactions I witness between others.

Bringing culture into the study of a language delves into a whole other realm. The question of how to teach, not only a language but also a culture, is massive. It is one thing to teach the type of culture that includes history, geography or the arts but it is a much greater challenge to teach gestures, body language or even the use of space. This type of culture is deeply rooted in the values of a society and therefore, much harder to pass on. Though teaching culture is a real struggle for English teachers it is one that is debatably fading.

The push for diversity is being emphasized over and over by the world around us. Different people groups are being called on to preserve their uniqueness. Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau only a few days ago on September 7, notably said during a panel discussion, how “the world is moving toward more diversity, not less” ("Trudeau: The world is moving towards more diversity not less | Watch News videos Online", 2018). Trudeau took the opportunity to encourage diversity and that diversity creates a stronger, desired environment. With these thrusts being underlined and celebrated, the need for instruction of an English culture along with the language appears not to be as essential. There can be no doubt of the distinct culture that accompanies English native speakers, yet the necessity of passing on that culture to others of different cultures is dwindling dramatically.

The desire for the English language continues to increase but no longer as a way to impart the values of English countries but now as a “tool for international communication in transportation, commerce, banking, tourism, entertainment, technology, diplomacy, research, publishing, and information sharing on the Internet” (Brown & Lee, 2015, p. 163). The change in function of the English language has evolved over time. We as English teachers must recognize both the desire for the English language as well as the desire for diversity within that knowledge.

Languaculture is extremely influential and must be channeled carefully in order to preserve both language and culture, no matter how they mix. It is this lesson which I want to keep in mind as I move forward in my teaching adventure.

Bibliography

Brown, H. D., & Lee, H. (2015). Teaching by principles: An interactive approach to language pedagogy (Fourth ed.). White Plains, NY: Pearson Education. 

Trudeau: The world is moving towards more diversity, not less | Watch News Videos Online. (2018, September 7). Retrieved September 13, 2018, from https://globalnews.ca/video/4433686/trudeau-the-world-is-moving-towards-more-diversity-not-less 

For more resources look these up:

http://www.languaculture.org/

https://ucdlc.ucdavis.edu/sites/llc.ucdavis.edu/files/attachments/linguaculture_by_carl_blyth.pdf

https://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2015/11/26/diversity-canadas-strength

http://www.cultivatingculture.com/2013/04/05/the-importance-of-cultural-heritage/