Topic 4

Value of the knowledge of the foreign language as a means of communication between people and cultures. Interest in language diversity through the knowledge of a new language.

Assesment of knowing foreign languages as an instrument for communication between people.

Developing interest for linguistic diveristy through the knowledge of a new language and its culture.

Knowing a FL is a necessity for social and educational reasons within the European Community.

The FL Curriculum for Primary Education states as one general objective: the value of the FL and languages in general as a vehicle of communication and understanding among people from different origins and cultures.

Language is the main means of communication (Crystal).

The fact that so many languages exist prevents people from understanding each other

Barriers.

To allow our students to reduce those barriers:

1. Increasing the availability of translating and interpreting services: no exact equivalence so there will be loss of information.

2. Developing an auxiliary or artificial language understood by everyone: like Esperanto. Should be easy to learn, applicable to mother tongues, standardized and neutral.

4. Increasing motivation and opportunities to learn foreign languages: According to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (2001), FLT must be increased and if possible, children must learn more than one language. English is important for international business affairs, in this globalized world.

3. Developing an existing language understood by everyone: lingua franca or vehicular language. Historical attempts (Latin, French for diplomacy, German for scientists...). English is now the widest spread spoken languge in the world. Handicap: significant variations like accents, so it is not standard.

Reasons why learning a FL is a necessity within our society and why it should be promoted at school:

1. It is a need in a plurilingual world due to business reasons or just finding a job because (Europe) demands citizens to be able to communicate and interact with each other.

2. It promotes understanding, tolerance and respect, it broadens our minds.

3. Prepares for an ever-changing environment, overcoming insecurity and developing conficence (face travelling and working abroad).

4. Improves Communicative Competence by incorporating other linguistic codes, concepts, strategies, abilities, attitutdes...

5. Improves latter perfomance, children are sponges.

6. Congnitive and social skills: realise that there are other ways of thinking.

7. Positive attitudes: learning through active tasks and projects.

8. Better undarstading of one's own culture and language, by comparing.

Culture: ideas, social behaviour, knowledge, lifestyles and customs of a concrete society in a historical moment.

Culture and language are inseparable, interrelated and complement each other. Language is the main means by which culture is expressed.

Why should culture be taught:

1. To be aware of the existance of different culturally-conditioned behaviours.

2. Understanding that social variables (age, sex, social class...) influence the ways people speak and behave.

3. Avoid stereotypes, to encourage tolerance, respect and empathy.

4. Stimulate students intellectual curiosity.

5. Increase awareness of cultural connotations of words and phrases in the target language.

New ways of teaching language and its culture:

1. Establishing a sphere of interculturality: relating the new culture with one's own.

2. Teaching culture as an interpersonal process: depends on linguistic context and sociocultural background.

3. Teaching culture as difference: social variables do not depend on culture.

4. Crossing disciplinary boundries: sociology, history, geography... not only grammar.

How to teach culture:

1. Coming in contact with native speakers.

2. Working with authentic realia materials.

3. Celebrating International Mother Language Day (UNESCO February 21st).

4. Culture-based activities: projects, webquests, roleplays, drama...