Introducing Intercultural Content
to Senior High English Class: An
Example for Taiwanese Context
Gateway 5
Cindy Lee
Contents
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Preface
Challenges
Principles of Lesson Plan
Example Lesson Plan
Resources
Preface
•This session provides an initial
attempt to introduce a selfdesigned lesson plan for senior
high school context.
•Welcome you to try out the
sample syllabus and share your
experience!
Challenges
•How to insert new cultural elements
into the fixed syllabus?
•How to attract students’ interest in
learning cultural content above
grammar and vocabulary?
•How to squeeze the new cultural
activity in the already tight
schedule?
Principles of Lesson Plan (1)
Here the lesson plan is based on two
teaching methods: TBLT and CBI.
•Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT)
–Activities that involve real communication
are essential for language learning.
–Activities in which language is used for
carrying out meaningful tasks promote
learning.
Principles of Lesson Plan (2)
• Content-Based Instruction (CBI)
– The students learn the language as a byproduct of learning about real-world
content.
– Students use the language as a means of
acquiring information, rather than as an
end in itself.
– For example, students learn about history,
science, etc. in English.
Principles of Lesson Plan (3)
• Objectives- Learning by Doing
–Encourage students to participate
in activities and collect
relevant material
- Enhance students’ four skills
through various communicative
tasks
- Help students acquire cultural
‘knowledge’
Sample Lesson Plan – (1)
Topic: Holiday and Celebrations
• Example Textbook:
Far East English Reader
• Sample Unit:
Lesson 1- Valentine’s Day in Book II
• Time for the task:
Students’ preparation: 3-4 hours (pre-class)
Students’ presentations: 40-45 minutes (in
class)
Teacher’s comment: 5 minutes (in class)
Sample Lesson Plan – (2)
Pre-class Task
1.Divide students into several groups (5-6
people in one group)
2. Each group choose one country under three
categories: English-speaking country, nonEnglish speaking country and Taiwan
3. After decide the country, each group select
one interesting festival or holiday there for
later 5-minute presentation
Sample Lesson Plan – (3)
Requirements of Presentation
• Each group has to introduce the selected festival to the
rest of class by answering following questions:
– What was the origin of the festival?
– How did people celebrate it in the past?
– What does the festival mean to the modern people?
– How do people celebrate it nowadays?
• Each group has to prepare an ‘visual aid’ for the
presentation. It can be:
– A poster, photos, relevant pictures, objects, video
tape or a role play, etc.
Sample Lesson Plan – (4)
Forms of Presentation
• Oral Presentation:
The group members deliver a speech with the
visual aid in turn
• Role Play:
Group members use costume or properties for
stage play to demonstrate the celebration
• Story Telling:
One of the group members acts as a narrator
and others play the origin of the festival.
Example Lesson Plan - (5)
In-class Activity
1. Students’ presentations
• 30-40 minutes (subject to the size of class)
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Each group has about five minutes.
Before presentations, the teacher could inform
the class about the further discussion
afterwards.
Attention is required.
Students are encouraged to speak English, but
of course, this is also subject to the class’
overall language proficiency.
Example Lesson Plan - (5)
In-class Comment & Reflection
2. Teacher’s comments (10 minutes)
2-1 Give positive comments to every group’s
performance
2-2 More importantly, ask students to compare
and contrast the foreign and Taiwanese festivals
2-3 Possible questions for reflection are:
-What do foreign and Taiwanese people care
through these festivals? (values)
-Why do/don’t Taiwanese people do the same
thing like the foreigner (give one example)?
(Life styles)
Example Lesson Plan - (6)
Teaching Notes
• The answer to the question for reflection can be an
open or negotiated one.
• Students should be encouraged to make
assumption.
• The point is to lead students to be aware of
cultural values and intercultural differences.
• A teacher is unlikely to know ‘everything’ about
world festivals and cultures! It is also a great
opportunity for you to ‘learn by teaching’!
Example Lesson Plan - (6)
Resources
•Students should be encouraged to do research in the library.
Information about festivals can be easily found in various
travel guides of international countries, 光華雜誌, 空中英語
教室, etc.
•Another option is to use the Internet. Useful links can be found
on this website. Some information about Taiwan in English can
refer to 交通部觀光局 http://tiscsvr.tbroc.gov.tw/en/ which also
provides relevant photos.
Resources
• http://www.etweb.fju.ed.tw/culture
– More lesson plans in [Pedagogy] and the
Internet resources in [Links] can be found in
this website.
– You are welcome to use the lesson plans and
modify them to fit your your need!
– You may have even more or better ideas about
how to teach intercultural competence.
– Look forward to hearing from your experiences
or comments!
End
Thanks!