Speaker
Description
Developing students' knowledge of culture and intercultural communicative compentence (ICC) has long been recognzied as pivotal in language teaching. However, research across different contexts indicated that these important aspects continued to be undervalued and overlooked in teaching practice. Previous research has also proven that unless the teachers strongly believe in these pedagogical goals and. feel confident with their teaching implementation, teaching ideas or principles advocated by experts and theories might never enter the classroom doors.
This study explores the perceptions of 65 Master TESOL students concerning the teaching of cultural knowledge and ICC in language classrooms, focusing on its importance, key objectives in teaching and activities they perceive to be most effective for achieving these objectives. Findings from both quantitative and qualitative data indicated the teachers' strong awareness of the need to include culture and ICC as crucial aspects intertwined with language teaching goals. The participants identified developing students' openness, respect and appreciation for other cultures, improving understanding, appreciation and confidence in their own culture, and enhancing their ability to communicate appropriately and effectively in multicultural contexts as their most important instructional goals. Culture comparison, group projects, cultural quizzes and contests together with the use of authetic online videos and cultural artefacts were perceived to be most effective means for developing students' cultural knowledge and ICC. Based on these findings, practical classroom teaching implications will be provided to teachers in Vietnamese and similar contexts.
Biography
Quan Nguyen is a senior lecturer in Can Tho University where he has been involved in teaching, teacher professional development and student supervision for over 25 years. He got his MA degree in Linguistics and Literature from the University of Antwerpen, Belgium and his Doctoral Degree in TESOL from the University of Wollongong, Australia. Over the past 10 years, Quan Nguyen has also been serving as an academic and international relations advisor and a TESOL freelance trainer through which he has engaged in diverse research and training programs with teachers working in both public and private sectors. His research interests and publications focus on teacher education and professional development, teacher cognition, listening and speaking skills pedagogy, intercultural communication, SEL and teachers’ and students’ wellbeing and life values.
| Affiliate type | University |
|---|