The Purpose of Intercultural Learning. Teaching about British Culture in the English Foreign Language Classroom

Seminar paper from the year 2010 in the subject Didactics - English - Pedagogy Literature Studies grade: 13 Justus-Liebig-University Giessen (Anglistik) course: Seminar: Teaching about Britain in the Foreign Language Classroom language: English abstract: When it comes to the English foreign language classroom often people's first associations are grammar rules or learning vocabulary. In fact it needs much more to learn a language and be able to use it properly than just achieving grammatical skills and knowledge in terms of vocabulary. In order to internalize and successfully apply English as a foreign language in spoken and written code it will not suffice to merely learn about syntax lexis phonology and other features that structure the language. The learner should also be aware of the specific cultural background which speakers of the English language have. Cultural awareness is necessary in order to show etiquette and avoid misunderstandings in intercultural communication. Thus intercultural communicative competence is a quality which helps speakers of English as a foreign language to successfully communicate with native speaker. English - as much as any other language - has developed over centuries and was shaped by culture. Therefore intercultural learning plays an important role in foreign language learning and should be systematically integrated in the English foreign language classroom.As a matter of fact English has become the official language of many nations worldwide and every nation developed its own history and culture there are many cultures involved when it comes to learning about English culture. Since the English language originates from Britain this term paper will focus on approaching British culture in the English foreign language classroom and its necessity for the development of an intercultural communicative competence.The term paper will commence by giving a definition of culture and what it has to do with language in g