CULTURE &

LANGUAGE
Sara Montoya
Language & Globalization
Dr. Carl E. Anderson
March 4, 2021
What is CULTURE?
Traditions and customs that govern behavior and beliefs,
and it is transmitted through learning.

• Culture is LEARNED
• Culture is SHARED
• Culture is SYMBOLIC
• Culture is ALL-ENCOMPASSING
• Culture is INTEGRATED

Culture has four main elements:

• LANGUAGE
• SYMBOLS
• VALUES
• NORMS
 CULTURE
ICEBERG
The ‘Cultural Iceberg’ model, developed by
Gary Weaver (1986)
 Culture in language teaching
• Culture is used to learn the language and vice versa
• Academic environment may or not may share the culture
• Students use the language to explain culture
• Language materials are used to contrast different cultures
• Cultures creates a sphere of intercultural language
• International language materials enrich the cultural environment
• Culture allows to have diverse contexts to use, for example English, as
an international language
• Culture permits learners to understand better how language behaves in
different settings
• Culture improves the understanding of a language, hence students will
use it wisely
• Culture helps students reflect about local and global uses of language
• Language and culture together make learners grow interculturality and
respect
 The Colombian contexts
• When materials do not address local culture appropriately
• Unprepared teachers
• Lack of motivation of students
• A limited knowledge of culture limits language development
• Language learning is meaningless
• Learning exercises may go against values and standards

• Technology may affect positively how culture is perceived

• Curriculums are designed towards international English
• There are more publishers focusing on 21st century skills
• Research helps to understand the phenomenon of culture and
language
RECOMMENDATIONS
• Introduce suitable and authentic materials for the
context
• Prepare teachers in better methodologies
• Address approaches like CLIL
• Use materials to enhance first local culture and then,
extend language use to discuss other cultures
• Government should invest more in Colombian language
teachers
• Use culture to enhance community knowledge
• Culturalize language learning by giving it specific
purposes
• Local immersion programs
• If culture is not a privilege, language is more available
REFERENCES
Celestial Peach (2019). The Cultural Iceberg — A Model for Cultural Appreciation? Retrieved from
https://www.celestialpeach.com/blog/cultural-iceberg-cultural-appreciation

Intercultural English (2108). The Cultural Iceberg [YouTube video].

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9Z83I_g4Hw&ab_channel=InterculturalEnglish

Kovács, G. (2017). Culture in language teaching: A course design for teacher trainees. Acta
Universitatis Sapientiae, Philologica, 9(3), 73–86. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/ausp-2017-0030

Major Elements that Define Culture (2014). [YouTube video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=jt2tikGSu98&ab_channel=desoriente0

McKay, S. L. (2002). Teaching English as an interntional language: Rethinking goals and

approaches. Oxford, UK: Oxford University
THANKS FOR
YOUR
ATTENTION!