Techniques for integrating the teaching of culture into the English language or ESL classroom. Handouts and bibliography available at www.joemcveigh.org/resources

1. Practical Techniques for Teaching Culture in the Classroom Joe McVeigh NNETESOL Nov 5, 2011

2. 1 Literature and poetry

3. The Blind Men and the Elephant A Hindoo Fable by John Godfrey Saxe (1816-1887)

4. The Blind Men and the Elephant It was six men of Indostan To learning much inclined, Who went to see the Elephant (Though all of them were blind), That each by observation Might satisfy his mind.

5. The Blind Men and the Elephant The first approached the Elephant, And happening to fall Against his broad and sturdy side, At once began to bawl: “ God bless me! But the Elephant Is very like a ______!”

6. The Blind Men and the Elephant The second feeling of the tusk, Cried, “Ho! What have we here So very round and smooth and sharp? To me ‘tis mighty clear The wonder of an Elephant Is very like a _______!”

7. The Blind Men and the Elephant The third approached the animal, And happening to take The squirming trunk within his hands, Thus boldly up and spake: “ I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant Is very like a ________”

8. The Blind Men and the Elephant The fourth reached out an eager hand, And felt about the knee, “ What most this wondrous beast is like Is mighty plain,” quoth he; “ ‘ Tis clear enough the Elephant Is very like a __________”

9. The Blind Men and the Elephant The fifth who chanced to touch the ear, Said: “E’en the blindest man Can tell what this resembles most; Deny the fact who can, This marvel of an Elephant Is very like a __________”

10. The Blind Men and the Elephant The sixth no sooner had begun About the beast to grope, Than, seizing on the swinging tail That fell within his scope, “ I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant Is very like a __________”

11. The Blind Men and the Elephant And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long, Each in his own opinion Exceeding stiff and strong, Though each was partly in the right, And all were in the _______ !

12. Culture a question of perspective

15. What do you think about when you think about teaching culture?

16. What do you mean by culture

18. Elements of a particular culture

19. 2. Exploring values What are some key values of the target culture that you teach to?

24. What are some elementary cultural norms that will help people adapt to the target culture that you teach to? 4. Survival basics

26. What types of cultural norms do ESL students need to learn in order to thrive in the academic world? 5. Classroom culture

31. A male American exchange student in Britain is in conversation with an English girl during a break between classes. The conversation is friendly enough until the boy compliments the girl on her pants. After this exchange, the tone of the conversation becomes decidedly frosty and the girl leaves abruptly. What, the American wonders, did he do wrong? Culture assimilator

34. 8. Exploring idioms and expressions

37. Explaining the cycle of culture shock

38. Symptoms of culture shock

41. 10. Students as experts Students research a particular area of the target culture, then present their findings in written, oral, or poster form. Possible topics: food, work, holidays, attitudes towards money, family structure and life, education.

47. Wintergerst & McVeigh Tips for Teaching Culture (Pearson)

50. I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the cultures of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any. —— Mahatma Gandhi Cultural Awareness

52. Valuable skills for dealing with another culture

55. Thank you Thank you ! Download copies of the handout and PowerPoint slides at www.joemcveigh.org/resources