Describes in detail a sociocultural index developed in an effort to order and systematize cultural topics, thereby bringing an element of scientific logic to the study of culture in the foreign language class. (PM)

Area/cultural studies have not enjoyed their rightful place in foreign language teaching because of their lack of orientation. They should not only be seen as revealing "sets" of data; they should be analyzed for patterns in terms of the target area rather than the native culture. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

This article explains why students should be aware of cultural difference between the source and the target language if they are to make effective use of the latter. (Author/DB)

This self-instructional unit concerns eating customs in Germany, aimed at the second-year high school student. The general goals are: to enable one to eat a meal in Germany properly and to develop appreciation for different customs. Self-quizzes are included, and activities and materials for a German meal are suggested. (CHK)

Presents strategies for exploring the cultural content of feature foreign films in the language or culture and civilization classroom. Examples are taken from Francois Truffaut's "L'Argent de poche" and from Agnes Varga's "L'Une Chante, L'autre pas." (AM)

This resource book is intended as an aid to persons working with Thai Dam refugees. To help the language teacher, some differences between Lao and English are discussed, specifically tonal inflections, positioning, declension of pronouns, conjugation of verbs, interrogatives, classifiers and predicate adjectives. An outline of cultural differences…

Culturally differentiated patterns of behavior among Englishmen and Jamaicans are discussed in this article. The attitudes of Jamaicans toward English concepts of authority, governmental administration, and education reveal potential problems in communication in cross-cultural education programs. (RL)

This curriculum guide is presented as a supplement to the text "Learning Spanish the Modern Way, Book 2" (lessons 15-23). Topics included are designed for the level-2 program by the New York State syllabus and emphasize cultural aspects of life in Spain and Mexico. The importance of Spanish, geography of Mexico and Spain, Spanish influence in the…

Four units on the French economy, designed for classroom use at the intermediate level, are related in their educational objectives: to shed light on French culture and strengthen second language skills. Each unit describes its specific objectives, materials, texts, instructional procedures, and student evaluation methods. Sample tests and…

Concern for cross-cultural understanding and sensitivity to differences in people's values, assumptions, and modes of thought and feeling is growing in society, schools, and the foreign language department. In order for foreign language teachers to select what is worth teaching for the purposes they want to serve, they should make selections on…

In the Philippines, school children must contend with the use of English and Pilipino as media of instruction. Since they are taught by teachers who have not mastered English, either, the result is predictable: rote learning. In this process, pupils also learn the hierarchical authority structure of the school system, that is, the rules governing…

This study delineates the interaction of language and culture as it relates to foreign language instruction and describes appropriate teaching strategies for the implementation of culture in the foreign language classroom. The study is based on the thesis that language and culture are not separable; the teaching of culture is properly a part of…

The paper attempts to illustrate the importance of an accurate sociocultural description of a number of unconscious verbal and gestural behaviors which help to distinguish a Frenchman from an American. An accurate description of many of the most elementary signs and gestures is needed to help to dispel the notion that there is a one-for-one…

This volume is intended as a guide to cross-cultural communication for American guests and Colombian hosts interacting with each other. For this study, American guests and Colombian hosts were asked to talk about themselves and each other. Part one, "Scenes of Guest-Host Miscommunication," discusses scenes of interaction between the…