Language and Cultural Awareness
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Second language learners come from diverse social, linguistic, political, and cultural backgrounds and have different notions of teaching and learning. Language teachers must be cognizant of the contrasting cultural values of their students and understand how the social and linguistic variables influence and determine the learning process.
The following recommendations are made by second language acquisition researchers and sociolinguists who believe that being aware of individual variation and sensitivity to the contrasting linguistic and cultural backgrounds can make the learning atmosphere conducive.
Be sensitive to those starting: allow time and silent periods.
Boost confidence and do not ridicule.
Go at the learners' pace and take interest in the learners' lives.
Leave time to check understanding, and encourage learners' questions.
Remember that content, meaning and the desire to communicate are all important; content must be
intellectually and emotionally stimulating.
Real motivation is important; always find out learners' reasons for learning.
Remember the importance of learner independence and encourage discovery techniques in
learners.
Plan carefully; know what you are doing and communicate this. Avoid keeping a hidden agenda.
Pace, clarity and being comprehensible to learners are vital.
Do not be tempted to teach without proper training.
Contextualize material and encourage possible guessing.
Never ridicule and allow errors something. Focus on meaning, not on form.
Remember the importance of learner independence and agreed aims.
A stress-free environment is important for confidence; learners need time.
Do not neglect planning, sharing learning objectives with learners and discussing reasons for
learning.
The classroom is a place where creative ideas are conceived, where our students learn lessons in tolerance, humility, and cross-cultural awareness, where both faculty and students embark on the journey of knowledge and wisdom by forging an intellectual alliance, where every individual is dedicated to the interactive process of teaching and learning, and where our students become better citizens by setting higher objectives for themselves.
