How is colombian culture portrayed UPB Académico

Summary

This video discusses the importance of textbooks in teaching English as a foreign language, focusing on the role of culture in language education. The speaker highlights the challenges of integrating cultural teaching, as textbooks often reflect Anglo-centric views from countries like the UK or the US. Different definitions of culture are explored, including visible culture (traditions, customs) and invisible culture (beliefs, behaviors). The video encourages students to analyze various textbooks for cultural representation, questioning whether these resources promote intercultural sensitivity and how Colombian culture is portrayed in these texts.

Takeaways

• 😀 Textbooks play a significant role in teaching English as a foreign or second language, but they also need to incorporate culture.
• 😀 Most English textbooks in Colombia are produced in countries like the United States or England, leading to a specific cultural portrayal in these texts.
• 😀 Culture is an important element in language teaching, but implementing it can be challenging due to its multiple definitions.
• 😀 There are more than 400 definitions of culture, including the distinction between 'big C' and 'small c' culture.
• 😀 'Big C' culture refers to arts, music, literature, and traditions of a country, while 'small c' culture includes beliefs, behaviors, and values.
• 😀 Scholars like Hinkle (2001) distinguish between visible culture (traditions, customs) and invisible culture (values, expectations).
• 😀 The task for students is to select 5 to 10 textbooks and evaluate them using a provided rubric to explore the cultural elements within.
• 😀 It is important to consider whether textbooks provide cultural content or if they encourage intercultural sensitivity among students.
• 😀 Textbooks often include cultural artifacts, flags, and celebrations, but the key is whether they foster genuine intercultural understanding.
• 😀 There is a need to assess how Colombian culture is represented in textbooks and consider the implications of this representation for students.
• 😀 The broader socio-political context, including the digital age, should also be taken into account when examining the portrayal of culture in textbooks.

Q & A

Why is the teaching of culture important in language learning?

Teaching culture is important because it helps students understand the context and nuances behind language use. Language is deeply intertwined with cultural values, beliefs, and behaviors, which makes it crucial for language learners to be exposed to these cultural aspects.

What is the challenge when implementing culture into English language teaching?

The challenge is that culture has multiple definitions, making it difficult to pinpoint exactly what should be included in language teaching materials. Additionally, textbooks often provide a limited or one-dimensional view of culture, which may not fully represent the diversity of the target language's speakers.

How do textbooks from England and the United States portray culture in English language teaching?

Textbooks from England and the United States typically portray a version of culture that reflects their own national identity. These portrayals might not accurately represent the culture of the students' own countries or the diversity within English-speaking societies.

What are the two types of culture described in the transcript?

The two types of culture are 'big C' culture and 'small c' culture. 'Big C' culture refers to the arts, literature, and music of a given country, while 'small c' culture includes everyday behaviors, beliefs, values, and social norms.

What does 'big C' culture include, according to the transcript?

'Big C' culture includes music, literature, art, and other high cultural expressions that are typically considered part of a nation's heritage.

What does 'small c' culture refer to?

'Small c' culture refers to the everyday practices, beliefs, and behaviors of a society, such as social customs, rituals, values, and ways of interacting.

What is the difference between visible and invisible aspects of culture?

Visible culture refers to traditions and customs that can be easily seen, such as holidays, dress, and rituals. Invisible culture, on the other hand, includes the underlying beliefs, expectations, and societal norms that guide behavior, often without being directly observable.

What should teachers look for when analyzing textbooks for cultural content?

Teachers should assess whether the textbooks provide opportunities for students to engage with the emotional content of cultural facts and information, or if they foster intercultural sensitivity by exploring diverse perspectives and cultural values.

How can textbooks contribute to intercultural sensitivity in students?

Textbooks can contribute to intercultural sensitivity by presenting diverse cultural viewpoints, encouraging critical thinking about cultural differences, and helping students understand and respect the values, behaviors, and beliefs of other cultures.

What is the implication of Colombian culture representation in English textbooks, according to the transcript?

The representation of Colombian culture in English textbooks is often limited or not well-developed, which can be problematic as it may fail to reflect the richness of Colombian society. This can have implications for how students from Colombia relate to the content and how they perceive their own cultural identity within the global context of language learning.