This document discusses the importance of learning foreign languages and their cultures. It states that English has become the global lingua franca for communication between speakers of different languages. Learning another language gives one the ability to understand other cultures better and promotes tolerance. The document advocates teaching cultural aspects along with the language to avoid stereotypes and educate students. It also outlines objectives, competencies, contents, methodology and evaluation criteria for foreign language education with a focus on sociocultural knowledge and intercultural awareness.

1. TOPIC 4. VALUATION OF THE KNOWLEDGE
OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE AS AN INSTRUMENT
OF COMMUNICATION AMONG PEOPLE AND
COUNTRIES. INTEREST IN LIGUISTIC
DIVERSITY BY KNOWING A NEW LANGUAGE
AND ITS CULTURE.

2. LINGUA FRANCA
Nowadays, English is the most widespread language in the world. Lingua franca
can be defined as any language that is widely used as a means of communication
among speakers of other languages.

3. The importance of English language
• English is the major language of news and
information in the world, of business and
government.
• It is also an official language, or the official
language, of many international organizations,
including the United Nations
• It is often used as a means of communication
between people who have different native
languages.
• Learning another language gives the learner the
ability to know other cultures.
• American popular culture (primarily movies and
music) carries the English language throughout
the world.

4. KNOWING A NEW LANGUAGE
AND ITS CULTURE
The teaching of culture into the foreign
language curriculum involves the
conventions, customs, geography,
traditions, songs, games, beliefs and
system of meaning of another country.
It helps avoid the stereotypes that many
people have from other countries and thus
helps to educate our students for a more
tolerant world.

5. Sociocultural aspects in the Royal
Decree 1513/ 2006
OBJECTIVES
“To value the foreign language
and languages in general as a mean of
communication and understanding among
people from different places and different
cultures and the use of languages like a
tool of learning different contents”.

6. BASIC COMPETENCES
a) Linguistic competence in communication.
c) Competence in the knowledge about and interacting
with the environment: A language is the main vehicle for
human thinking, the most powerful tool for interpreting and
representing the reality and the learning instrument par
excellence.
e) Social and civic competence: Languages are also
vehicles of communication and cultural transmission;
knowledge of a culture different from their own, contributes
to the respect and acceptance of behavioural and cultural
differences, promoting tolerance and integration.
f) Cultural and artistic competence: Linguistic production
has a cultural component. It involves knowledge of
monuments and other art expressions, festivities,
celebrities, etc.

7. CONTENTS
• Block 4. Sociocultural knowledge and
intercultural awareness.
“Languages are vehicles for
communication and cultural transmission.
Learning a foreign language involves
knowing other cultures and fosters the
respect and acceptance of behavioural
and cultural differences, promoting
tolerance and integration”.

8. METHODOLOGY
The methodological proposal is based
on the development of students’
communicative competence through
meaningful and communicative situations
close to our students’ interests.
We will promote a critical attitude
towards sociocultural information and we
will avoid the creation of stereotypes.

9. EVALUATION CRITERIA
Evaluation criteria in the area of foreign languages
include sociocultural aspects:
• To show interest and respect toward the people who
speak the foreign language and its culture.
• To identify some features, costumes and traditions from
the countries where the foreign language is spoken.
• To recognise the linguistic diversity and the value of
learning foreign languages as an instrument of
communication with other people from other countries.

10. ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE CULTURAL CONTENTS
• To find a pen pal.
• To watch foreign movies
or listening songs.
• To read or watch foreign
news online.
• Celebration of foreign
language days.