Week 3: Exploring Culture

It is easier to learn a second language than to learn a whole new culture. Learning a second culture is more complex. Getting used to another culture while at the same time maintaining the first culture is not an easy task. It is interesting how there has been various researchers and studies on the concept of culture, but it is still challenging to come up with a set definition for it. I enjoyed the readings, especially the one by Wintergerst because he gave some tips on how to explore culture in the classroom. The tips give me an idea on how to help students be aware of their own culture and of others. It is also helpful to see some sample lesson plans to start using the tips within the classroom. I will probably use them in my bilingual or ESL classroom in the future. Also, the Big C culture (grand themes) and Little C culture (minor themes) are interesting ways to teach the concept of culture. I liked how Wintergerst uses each to organize the concept of culture that can be used in the classroom. As a future language educator, I will create a multicultural community in my classroom where students accept other cultures and are aware of their own and others' culture. As Kumar mentions, teaching culture is both rewarding and challenging for language teachers, but at the end it is rewarding to be able to help students develop their own cultural identity. It is not easy to teach culture, but we can help them be aware of cultural differences and similarities that will help them understand various cultures. I like how hinkel brings up the idea of second culture acquisition and how the minds, selves and worlds are organized. He discusses lexical networks, metaphors and mediational tools between a variety of cultures. As a second language learner myself, I have seen myself struggling with cultural differences, between Peruvian and American. At the beginning, it was more difficult to assimilate to the new culture, but after years of observing, practicing and living within the American culture, I have been able to avoid less cross-cultural and intercultural misunderstandings. I have tried not to forget my own culture and its beliefs while adding the aspects of the new culture to my life.