Culture and language in second and foreign language teaching

Abstract

I will try to do three things in this paper: - to begin what I consider to be the necessary development of a theory of cultural learning for language teachers - whether involved in second or foreign language teaching. - to demonstrate how research and theory in second language or bilingual/bi-cultural situations can be usefully linked with foreign language teaching in schools. - to suggest that cultural learning must become a more explicit and structured part of foreign language teaching if it is to have the positive effects on pupils' attitudes and perceptions which are vital in any society which wishes to belong to the international community.