ABSTRACT
Many teachers of Modern Foreign Languages would agree that developing an awareness of the culture of the people whose language is being taught is integral to teaching a Modern Foreign Language. The original proposals for the National Curriculum for Modern Foreign Languages in England and Wales for ages 11-16 (DES, 1990:36) make this intention quite explicit (NB examples printed in italics are non-statutory):
The promotion of understanding of and respect for other cultures is one of the most important aims of modern language studies. It should be inherent in course activities and materials, wherever possible through discussion in the target language. Learners should therefore have frequent opportunities to:
• work with authentic materials deriving from the communities/countries of the target language and especially from links with schools abroad, for example objects, audio and video recordings or excerpts from newspapers and magazines
• come into contact with native speakers in this country and where possible abroad
• from these materials and contacts, appreciate the similarities and differences between their own and cultures of the communities/countries where the target language is spoken
• identify with the experience and perspective of people in the countries and communities where the target language is spoken
• use this knowledge to develop a more objective view of their own customs and ways of thinking.
