Intertwining language teaching with culture : promoting intercultural communication

Abstract EN

The era we are living in is characterized by the shrinkage of time and space bringing together different societies with their respective technologies, economies, politics, cultures and languages.

That integration, referred to as globalization urged communities to form global citizens in their educational institutions, so as not to fall out of this interconnected world.

A global citizen is required, above all, to acquire intercultural communicative competence.

Out of those considerations, theorists have begun to develop language teaching approaches that promote intercultural communication.

Applied linguists and teachers have started, on their part, to look for appropriate curricula, methods and techniques for the implementation of those approaches.

This paper has reviewed the theoretical works in the field of intercultural communication pedagogy.

It has compiled some quotations defining culture, and has shed light on the fact that culture is tinged in language.

It has recapitulated the approaches, methods and techniques used in the teaching of culture.

The article has argued for an eclectic approach which helps the learners accept and straddle different culture.