The application of mobile technologies to learning has the potential to facilitate the active participation of learners in the creation and delivery of content. Mobile technologies can also provide a powerful connection between a variety of formal and informal learning contexts and can help to build a community of learners. However these versatile…

With the research of the relationship between inter-culture and language teaching development, people are well aware of the necessity of integrating inter-culture into language teaching. While providing the opportunity for the students to improve their intercultural communication competence, here, the research presented on the integration of…

Lifelike, interactive digital characters, serving as mentors and role-playing actors, have been shown to significantly improve learner motivation and retention. However, the cost of modeling such characters, authoring and editing their interactions, and delivering them over limited-bandwidth connections can be prohibitive. This paper describes a…

Discusses problems and techniques in the teaching of literature in the context of the teaching of foreign language and culture. (AM)

In general, language for business courses do not include the study of literary texts, despite significant research that demonstrates the value of literature as a way to gain competence in a foreign culture. Carefully selected, adapted, and programmed as a culture complement to the main textbook, literary texts can be a valuable resource in the…

Discusses the importance of cultural education in the FL classroom, three techniques for teaching culture are discussed: (1) the culture capsule, (2) the culture cluster, and (3) the culture assimilator. Examples are given, and values and drawbacks are discussed. (AM)

Suggestions are made for the direction by language teachers of time spent abroad by language students. Techniques are described which capitalize on the foreign setting as a means of language learning. (RM)

Describes how the use of stamps from francophone and other countries may be an adjunct to the teaching of French language and culture. (AM)

This article argues that drama is an under-exploited resource in the foreign language classroom for promoting intercultural competence and developing an awareness of the interpersonal dimension embedded in the language we use. Drama also offers ample opportunities to explore nuances of the foreign culture as well as conflict situations and…

Outlines of suggested classroom activities for use in cross-cultural instruction are presented. The outlines for French, German, and Spanish classes require students to interact as participants in the target culture. Topics focus on greetings in the second language. The goals, activities, procedures, dialogue presentation, and cultural contrasts…

Introductory remarks, critical of teaching methods in language programs, lead the author to explore the concept of "culture" and its place in the curriculum. Several definitions of culture are proposed and followed by contrastive examples in French and Spanish. The teaching of culture through language instruction is suggested to be a means of…

Enjoyment of ethnic food can be the "point de depart" for tracing the heritage of the people being studied and for broadening students' horizons. This article outlines a study of food throughout the centuries, particularly in Europe. The "gastronomic route" begins historically with the Minoans around 2000 B.C., continues with…

This guide presents an analysis and rationale of foreign language programs in elementary and secondary schools, stressing development of cultural understanding through language instruction in the basic skills of the target language. Major sections cover: (1) purposes of foreign language instruction; (2) contributing disciplines--psychology,…

Eleven articles focus on the necessity of including cross-cultural studies in language programs in American schools. The notion of culture, it is emphasized, must not be seen as the narrow study of literature, art, music, and philosophy. The articles include: (1) a one act tragedy on the omission of cultural studies in secondary schools, (2)…

This curriculum unit is part of a larger project designed to introduce communication-based, culturally specific instructional materials on French-speaking African societies into the foreign language curriculum with the goal of increasing the appeal and relevance of French language study, especially to African-American students. The materials,…