Week#3

Discussion Questions - Week#3

- What generalizations do you think people make about Korea and Korean culture?
- What generalizations do people (perhaps including you) make about other cultures?
  (For example: Japanese, Chinese, Americans, French, teachers, old people,  
                         vegetarians,   people of color, people with pierced tongues, fat people, etc.)
- Are some of these generalizations ‘more accurate than others?
- Can you think of generalizations you’ve made that have been proven false?
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- What are some of the things non-Koreans do that can result in being perceived as aggressive?
- What are some things that Koreans might do outside of Korea that can result in being perceived as aggressive?
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- What are some examples of historical context that help others understand Korean culture?
- Can you think of historical context from other cultures that help us better understand them?
- Other than traveling outside of Korea, what are ways you can ‘practice’ cross-cultural communication?

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What example of these come to mind when thinking about your own culture?

• Cultural knowledge  - The knowledge of the culture’s institutions, the Big C, (traditional music, clothing, holidays,etc)
• Cultural values  -  The ‘psyche’ of the country, what people think is important, it includes things like family, hospitality, patriotism, fairness etc.

• Cultural behaviour  -The knowledge of daily routines and behaviour, the little c,
• Cultural skills  - the development of intercultural sensitivity and awareness, using the English language as the medium of interaction.

- Do you think including culture as part of ELT is important?
    If so, when and how should we introduce the teaching of culture in ELT?   
   What is ‘English Culture”?
- What materials (audio, text, visual aids, videos) are most effective for teaching culture?
- What kinds of activities lend themselves to learning about and appreciating other cultures?



Reading Assignment
Teaching Culture in Adult ESL: Pedagogical and Ethical Considerations
  http://tesl-ej.org/ej33/cf.html


Coming up: Korea Expat Bloggers (click Resources at culturebridges.net )