Why a comparative approach to the teaching of culture is valuable

1. Notes on Intercultural Competency
in Virtual Exchanges
see the Cultura Project at MIT for more information
http://cultura.mit.edu
these slides come from a talk by the Cultura Authors,
Gilberte Furstenberg and Sabine Levet at CALICO 2013.
Wednesday, July 3, 13

2. MLA Report (2007)
The development of students "translingual and
transcultural competence […] is one of five imperative
needs to which higher education must respond in the
next ten years if it is to remain relevant”.
http://www.mla.org/flreport
Wednesday, July 3, 13

3. The Council of Europe
Necessity to integrate the 'Intercultural Dimension'
into the aims of language teaching
--à Publication of a handbook (2002)Developing
the intercultural dimension in language teaching – a
practical introduction for teachers.
Wednesday, July 3, 13

4. Definition of Intercultural skills
by CEFR (a guideline published by the COE)
Wednesday, July 3, 13

5. Definition of Intercultural skills
by CEFR (a guideline published by the COE)
Ability to bring the culture of origin and the foreign culture into
relation with each other.
Cultural sensitivity and the ability to identify and use a variety of
strategies for contact with those of foreign cultures.
Capacity to fulfill the role of cultural intermediary between one’s
own culture and the foreign culture and to deal effectively with
intercultural misunderstandings and conflict situations.
Ability to overcome stereotyped relationships.
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages : learning,
teaching, assessment
Wednesday, July 3, 13

6. A new challenge for us?
—Above all, we want to demonstrate that an
Intercultural Dimension does not mean yet another
new method of language teaching but rather a
natural extension of what most teachers recognize
as important […]
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages :
learning, teaching, assessment
—However, we are very adept at teaching
language, but not necessarily at teaching
intercultural communication.
—What skills do we need to have, as teachers?
Wednesday, July 3, 13

7. Report of the Council of Europe
(continued)
The 'best' teacher is neither the native nor the non-native
speaker, but the person who can help learners see
relationships between their own and other cultures, can help
them acquire interest in and curiosity about 'otherness', and
an awareness of themselves and their own cultures seen from
other people's perspectives. (2002)
Wednesday, July 3, 13

8. Why use a comparative
approach?
A demonstration ---à
Wednesday, July 3, 13

9. French coffee cups…
What can you say?
Wednesday, July 3, 13

10. Coffee cups in France and in the US
Wednesday, July 3, 13

11. Making more comparisons…
Wednesday, July 3, 13

12. Coffee cups as seen in a somewhat
larger context: can you say a bit more?
Wednesday, July 3, 13