Integrating Culture into English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Classes: To What Extent Does Culture Play Important Roles in EFL Learning?

Abstract

Language and culture are closely intertwined, yet they are often treated as two separate elements in second or foreign language class. Traditionally, culture was often linked to tangible objects like artwork, literary works, or festivals. In this sense, language seemed to be separated from culture, and the primary focus of the second or foreign language learning and teaching was on the students’ linguistic proficiency. However, EFL teaching fashion has recently experienced a positive transformation in which cultural components have been integrated to provide students with not only linguistics but also cultural knowledge. Also, a number of previous studies have been done to investigate the role of teaching culture in foreign or second language classes, including which components of culture should be included. Using a review of empirical research, this paper offers recommendations for EFL teaching and learning. Drawing on several findings from previous studies, it further suggests that EFL teaching and learning focuses on developing both linguistic skills and intercultural communicative competence because as the technology advances, communications with other people from diverse cultural and language background all over the world becomes more frequent. So, both linguistic competence and intercultural understanding are equally important for EFL speakers to bridge the gap between their own culture and other cultures.