Hello Everyone!
This is my first time on the ESL Cafe, so I hope I am posting to the right page.
I am a Faculty Developer with the Academy of Art University in SF--twice a year we hold a teaching conference for our instructors. Since our school is 30% (and growing!) ESL students, we are planning a session about ESL Cultural Issues. I was wondering if anyone out there knew of some good resources to look at or if there are any particular issues/hot topics to hit. Any help would be most appreciated. Thanks!
A.T. Garcia
ESL Cultural Issues Resources
Moderators: Dimitris, maneki neko2, Lorikeet, Enrico Palazzo, superpeach, cecil2, Mr. Kalgukshi2
English as a signifier of status
For worse or for better, there has been growing attention on the cultural status of knowing English. For instance, the ability to speak English allows individuals to communicate with millions of other people from around the world. Some globalization critics and nationalists, especially in smaller countries, have attacked English as subverting national and group identities. English speakers tend to be the more educated, more affluent, and more successful individuals in several developing countries.
You will also find a rich literature on the use of English in advertisements in non-English speaking countries for the same reasons. Modern technological products and companies, such as LG, advertise in Europe in English their message that "Life is Good". The clear implication is that buying their LG product makes "Life Good" and as does speaking English since only English speakers can understand their ads.
Good luck.
Eric
[email protected]
www.compellingconversations.com
You will also find a rich literature on the use of English in advertisements in non-English speaking countries for the same reasons. Modern technological products and companies, such as LG, advertise in Europe in English their message that "Life is Good". The clear implication is that buying their LG product makes "Life Good" and as does speaking English since only English speakers can understand their ads.
Good luck.
Eric
[email protected]
www.compellingconversations.com
I've recently written a couple of articles on the subject:
http://edition.tefl.net/articles/cultur ... classroom/
http://edition.tefl.net/articles/more-c ... classroom/
And some ideas on how to use that directly on a lesson about cultural issues:
http://edition.tefl.net/articles/cultural-training/
http://edition.tefl.net/articles/cross-culture-lesson/
http://edition.tefl.net/ideas/culture-i ... ng-topics/
Hope some of that helps
TEFLtastic blog- http://tefltastic.wordpress.com
http://edition.tefl.net/articles/cultur ... classroom/
http://edition.tefl.net/articles/more-c ... classroom/
And some ideas on how to use that directly on a lesson about cultural issues:
http://edition.tefl.net/articles/cultural-training/
http://edition.tefl.net/articles/cross-culture-lesson/
http://edition.tefl.net/ideas/culture-i ... ng-topics/
Hope some of that helps
TEFLtastic blog- http://tefltastic.wordpress.com
Last edited by alexcase on Mon Oct 14, 2013 6:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
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The University of British Columbia in Canada has long done research on this topic. Here is one article:
http://www.csse.ca/CCGSE/docs/JPaulGray ... nStowe.pdf
Ling Shi has done really good work if you look up her papers.
Bernie Mohan has gotten to the heart of the issue with his work on Social Practice.
The office of our instructor's organization called TAG has printed many brochures that would be useful for your teachers.
http://www.tag.ubc.ca/
TAG regularly gives workshops for our instructors and perhaps one of the workshop leaders could be persuaded to come to your conference.
http://www.csse.ca/CCGSE/docs/JPaulGray ... nStowe.pdf
Ling Shi has done really good work if you look up her papers.
Bernie Mohan has gotten to the heart of the issue with his work on Social Practice.
The office of our instructor's organization called TAG has printed many brochures that would be useful for your teachers.
http://www.tag.ubc.ca/
TAG regularly gives workshops for our instructors and perhaps one of the workshop leaders could be persuaded to come to your conference.