An Intercultural Approach to Spanish Language Teaching

It is commonly said that “language and culture are intertwined,” and second-language (L2) teachers generally assume that teaching culture is an in dispensable part of their job. But what is culture, exactly, and what are the connections between language and culture? What aspects of a second culture (C2) can L2 learners really access and acquire? How can cultural learning be evaluated? This class will use the notion of interculturality to explore theoretical definitions of culture, techniques for presenting and engaging learners with culturally rich materials, and how to enrich language learning through cultural exploration. By the end of the class, teachers-in-training will have developed a portfolio of original activities that will allow their students to investigate cultural products and practices, understand the related cultural perspectives, and participate in culturally appropriate interactions. (1 unit)