The Integration of Culture into Foreign Language Classrooms

Abstract

The integration of culture into foreign language education is a necessity in order to teach students in the best manner possible and allow them to learn a second language correctly and successfully. Culture is the driving force behind learning other languages. Culture can be defined as “anything and everything humankind has invented” and varies from country to country and household to household (Pfister 4) Students need to learn about foreign cultures for a number of reasons such as understanding others’ viewpoints, personal encounters with foreign cultures, and to put the language into context. Not only is the teaching and learning of culture very important in schools but it is required by national and New York State standards. The national standards for foreign language are: communication, comparisons, connections, communities, and culture. The New York State standards for foreign language are: communication and culture. By having culture as one of the five national standards and one of the two New York State standards for foreign language, teaching culture is required and clearly important that it is taught to all students. To demonstrate how culture can be integrated into the foreign language classroom, below are ten lesson plans that have both culture and other aspects of the Spanish language in them. The first five lessons are related to the culture of Mexico and the last five lessons focus on Spain’s culture.