Language Orientation Instruction and cultural education

[Machjo]

For those who aren't familiar with Language Orientation Instrucion (LOI), please read:

http://esperantic.org/esf/es10.htm

I've found that, since middle schools and university students in China learn only two ethnic languages in from primary school onward (i.e., Chinese and English), they develop a somewhat myopic view of the world arond them, based on stereotypes , racial, national or otherwise, which are commonly rooted in these two languages, and a nearly complete lack of knowledge of cultures otehr than those of China, the British Commonwealth and the United States (with the exception of neighbouring countries to some degree).

An ideal solution, perhaps, would be to introduce LOI in primary school to provide the students with not only a solid linguistic base, but also to provide them with an introduction to inter-cultural studies, prior to their learning of English in middle school. This would have the two-fold effect of allowing the students to learn their second foreign language at a faster rate (especially considering that English and Chinese are of two unrelated language families), and provide the students with a wider world view prior to the learning of their second foreign language in middle school. An additional advantage from a financial perspective would be that a Chinese teacher could teach it better than a foreigner in most, if not all, cases.

One difficulty, however, is that, since English is practically required in China as of primary school, it can sometimes be hard to introduce LOI into the curriculum, since it would have to be introduced in addition to, not instead of, English. And to introduce LOI in middle school would be even more difficult due to the increased workload for the students at that level.

If LOI cannot be introduced, then another option would be to try to introduce intercultural education within the English curriculum itself. But in China, practically all the text books focus on Enlgish-speaking countries and holidays, there are few non-native speaking foreigners with whom students can exchange ideas(and parents would generally not be interested in a non-native speaking foerign English teacher), and many schools (bear in mind that many school administrators themselves have gone through the same myopic education system) deem pen friend relationships to be useful only if the penfriends are native English speakers.

I've had many discussions exchanging ideas on how to teach international culture within teh English language curriculum when all the textbooks and other resources, not to mention the school administration, view English stricty from an ethnic perspective. I don't deny the fact that English culture is an ethnic culture first and foremost, with its own festivals, world view, lifestyle, etc.; but if it's going to be tought as an international language, then I believe introducing an international slant to is essential if we want the students to have a more balanced world view.

Are there any other ideas on intercultural education in primary and middle school?