LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND SOCIETY: IMPLICATION IN EFL TEACHING by Melanie Masaquiza

Language, Culture, and Society: Implication in EFL Teaching.

masaquizamarion — 2024-12-16 00:48:29 UTC

The relationship between language, culture, and society is central to the teaching of English as a foreign language (EFL). The way speakers perceive the world is influenced by their language and cultural context. This is relevant because English is spoken in diverse regions of the world and exhibits cultural and linguistic variations.

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Examples of differences include terms such as:

“Check” in British and American English: check, account, or exam.

“Period” in the U.S. vs. ‘Full stop’ in the U.K. for the ‘.’ symbol.

Specific words that reflect unique geographic realities, such as “Prairie” in the US.

These variations demonstrate how cultural and environmental context influences language.

Key Theories

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Sapir-Whorf hypothesis:

-Linguistic determinism: Language structure determines how we think about and perceive the world.

-Linguistic Relativism: Differences in languages reflect different ways of thinking about and categorizing the world.

Examples:

Some Eskimo languages have multiple words for “snow.”

In Asian languages, there are specific terms to describe relatives according to their age and kinship.

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Importance of cultural context:

The meaning of words and phrases is derived from the physical and social environment.

Example: Japanese has a rich variety of terms for the seasons of the year due to the country's climatic diversity.

Sociolinguistics:

Studies how language reflects and is influenced by society.

Differences in pronunciation and vocabulary may be associated with social factors, such as class and status.

Study Methodology

naomyyulianarodriguez — 2024-12-16 01:25:53 UTC

-Participants: Students from two universities:

Naresuan University (NU) in Thailand.

Chinese Culture University (CCU) in Taiwan.

-Instrument: Questionnaire with 40 questions, divided into two areas:

Perception of English learning.

Understanding of Western culture.

-Sample: 184 students responded to the survey.

Perception of English learning:

naomyyulianarodriguez — 2024-12-16 01:30:58 UTC

Students at both universities consider learning English essential to their future and supported by their families.

-Differences:

Thai students (NU) show more enthusiasm for playful activities and games in class than Taiwanese students (CCU).

NU students find English easier to learn than CCU students.

Importance of intercultural teaching:

naomyyulianarodriguez — 2024-12-16 01:35:37 UTC

-A language cannot be taught without its cultural context.

-Students must learn not only vocabulary and grammar, but also the cultural norms of native speakers for effective

communication.

Recommendations for teachers:

-Integrate games and activities to make learning more dynamic.

-Balance teaching between native and local teachers.

Emphasize the use of English in real contexts, such as writing emails or following news in English.

Relationship between language, culture and society:

-Language reflects the beliefs, values, and social structures of a community.

-Changes in language can be influenced by social and cultural factors.