Culture plays an integral part in the foreign language classroom. TAs and faculty members met for a Bring Your Own Brainstorm lunch in October to discuss how culture influences language and how to use culture effectively in foreign language lessons. Confidence and a sense of accomplishment are good motivators. Use role play for dialogues and supply props to enliven the atmosphere of impromptu dialogues. In another form of role play, have students become characters from another culture.
Students make a ten- minute historically accurate presentation using first person.
Use maps to teach geographical awareness and other cultural concepts. Visual and audio aids reinforce material covered in the lesson. Use positive reinforcement to build confidence. Introducing students to a target culture motivates them to travel to the country. Teaching games and songs, using children's books and menus, and showing television commercials give students a taste of life in another culture.