Culture

Although students are ostensibly studying the target language, they are simultaneously studying how that language interacts with the target culture. Therefore, the conversation partner must always be alert to cultural nuances associated with language. In order for a student to correctly practice a greetings situation, for example, the student must learn and demonstrate understanding of the body language that accompanies the greeting. The words cannot be learned in a vacuum but must be learned in an appropriate cultural context.

Culture I (Arabic)

Here the conversation partner has brought cake to use as a prop. Students are practicing the grammatical construction for accepting an act of hospitality, but the conversation partner is making certain that they also learn the nuances of accompanying behavior in the target culture.

Culture II (Arabic)

Here students are listening to a song and discussing it. This is a listening exercise at the same time that it is a cultural exercise because they are discussing the song and its role in the target culture.

Culture Example II (Swahili)

Eid and Ramadan make up part of the discussion in this Swahili clip.