Cultural Competence: Effects and Applications on L2 Readers
In this study we investigate how cultural competence benefits L2 readers. We also explore teaching cultural competence in the L2 classroom. It is common to find language classrooms where general culture is taught, but no cultural skills are imparted to the L2 students (Strzalka, 2005). Our idea of cultural confidence is defined as the adequate and appropriate knowledge of customs, habits, values and ideas from a target language and their necessity for L2 readers when encountering authentic L2 texts. One of the most useful tools the L2 reader has available are different types of schemata stemming from content, formal, or linguistic areas (Aebersold & Field, 1997). We review concepts of culture, cultural awareness, and schema theory in the classroom, and also investigate some pedagogical uses for promoting cultural competence in the L2 reading classroom. After all, teaching culture and teaching intercultural competence go hand in hand (Dybiec, 2005), both of which benefit L2 students. Furthermore we see how the proper selection of EFL textbooks, presentation of cultural competence in the classroom, and technology can benefit L2 readers. L2 readers and instructors should approach the idea of cultural competence openly, and be prepared to adapt to the ever-changing environment of ESL / EFL reading.
cultural competence L2 reading L2 students L2 classroom
Eric M. Scott Hui-Tzu Min
Department of Foreign Languages and Literature,National Cheng Kung University
国际会议
2009 International Conference on Applied Linguistics & Language Teaching(2009应用语言学暨语言教学国际研讨会)
台湾
英文
185-189
2009-04-01（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）