EKIS3130 Teaching Languages through Critical Cultural Content (5 cr)

How can “culture” be addressed in the language classroom in meaningful, authentic, non-stereotyping ways? This course is designed for pre-service teachers of languages, who are interested in using cultural content in their lessons. After an introduction to content-based language teaching (where language is taught together with content), we delve into explorations of terms such as “culture” and “intercultural sensitivity”, and learn about culture-centered teaching approaches and their meaning for the language classroom. Based on relevant literature, we will discuss (if and) how cultural and potentially sensitive topics could be taught and develop hands-on strategies for applying culturally sensitive and sustaining pedagogies in lesson design and implementation.

• Learning outcomes: After this course, students will be able to ...

  • identify the main tenets of content-based instruction (CBI) and Understanding by Design (UbD).

  • apply CBI and UbD principles to lesson planning. 

  • refer to different theories and understandings of “culture” and reflect on them critically.

  • apply different concepts of “culture” to their own experiences, the readings, and their lesson planning.

  • critically discuss the concept of “authenticity”.

  • identify and explain the main tenets of culture-centered pedagogies.

  • apply some central concepts and ideas of culture-centered pedagogies to their lesson planning.

  • identify strategies for addressing “sensitive” culture and language issues in the classroom

  • discuss the connection between culture-centered pedagogies and social justice work in educational contexts 

Students should have completed most of their intermediate English studies.

A collection of readings will be provided on SISU or Moodle.