Job Discussion Forums

[stoth1972]

I am going to post this on all the ME boards, simply because I frequent them the most. Please, Veiled Sentiments, don't slap me on the hand for posting and re-posting. Thanks to all of you who have already given your time, opinions, experiences, and anecdotes. It is TRULY appreciated!

I am, however, still looking for a few more voices to add to my data. I am conducting a study on the references to English-speaking culture(s) in ESOL coursebooks. If you are currently teaching English to non-native speakers and would like to answer a questionnaire (10 minutes of your time), please PM me. Thanks in advance!

[007]

Dear Sloth1972,

Unfortunately, I am not teaching English to non-native speakers, but still I am interested in your study, especially concerning the effect/influence of English culture and its inclusion in text books for students with other cultural backgrounds.

I wonder if you have crossed the study of Alptekin et al (1984) who suggested that English teachers should not be teaching English with reference to English-speaking countries' cultures. He suggested that English should be taught independently from any cultural content outside the learner�s sphere.
Also, there are other authors who claim that you cannot teach English without including a reference to a specific culture! Other suggested to teach an �International English�, without references to any culture!

Will Baker investigated the same problem within the Thai context, in a paper titled � Should culture be an overt component of EFL instruction outside of English speaking countries? The Thai context� (Ref. http://www.asian-efl-journal.com/dec_03_sub.wb.php). However, Baker recognized that there are problems in deciding what culture to teach.
More on the above study can be found in the above link.

Personally, I think with the students of the ME, at least with SA students, your idea of including references to English-speaking cultures in ESOL books, is counter-productive, at least from the ideological point of view of the Saudi culture!

1. Alptekin, C. and Alptekin, M. (1984) 'The question of culture: EFL teaching in non-English speaking countries' ELT Journal 38/1:14-20

[stoth1972]

Thanks for the link, 007. Going to check it out now.

I do have that study from Alptekin et al (got a copy of ELT journal on CD Rom a couple years ago-best thing that ever happened to me). Cem Alpketin published a bit more recently in the ELT journal on the same topic.

I agree w/ you, particularly w/ a country like KSA. In getting teacher opinions (particularly those in the Gulf), I'm finding some contradictions that I never expected. I'll keep you posted!